I don’t know if you are familiar with the song, “Hooked On A Feeling” by Blue Swede.  Every time I hear this song I am hooked on the feeling I get from two of the lines and the music.  The 2 lines being, I’m hooked on a feeling.  I’m high on believing.”  There is more to the second line, but I use my own words to finish it.  Anyway, I am suddenly hooked on a feeling that I want to write.  This unexpected desire to write is unusual for me.  Since it’s my main creative endeavor, I find writing is more obligatory than pleasurable  Although, I do occasionally have fun with it.
 
Now, here I am with the desire, but no subject matter.  Tell me, did you ever get a feeling about something, but couldn’t quite define it?  That’s where I am.  I’m going to take a pause and consider where to go from here.
 
Okay.  I’m back.  Here’s the thing.  Our brains actually have an aspect that is always in need to know mode.    We want answers.  We want to know the whys and wherefores.  However, we may not always get those answers.  My question then is, so what?  What if we don’t know the whys and wherefores?    Perhaps a little uncertainty now and then is not a bad thing.  What if we just flow with the not knowing and see what happens?  That’s what I came to, just enjoy being hooked on that feeling.  If it leads somewhere that’s fine.  If it doesn’t, that’s okay, too.

​Comments are welcomed.

Wabi Sabi was mentioned in a post about what seems like months ago.  I said I would offer a better description of this Japanese philosophy of aesthetics and way of life.
 
“In a few words, one could say that wabi sabi is the beauty of imperfect things. Of course, that would be overly simplistic explanation for such a deep and profoundly rooted notion in the Japanese spirit. Something between an artistic concept, a philosophy of life and a personal feeling, wabi sabi is everywhere
 
In Japan, wabi sabi is imperceptible but everywhere: a crack on a teapot, the wood of an old door, green moss on a rock, a misty landscape, a distorted  cup or the reflection of the moon on a pond.
 
The term wabi sabi is composed of two kanji characters. The second part, sabi (寂) is said to date back to the eighth century, when it was used to designate desolation in a poetic way. From the twelfth century, the term evolved and referred more precisely to the delightful contemplation of what is old and worn. It was also used to talk about the beauty of faded or withered things. Sabi could also mean “old and elegant”, or “being rusty”, with an untranslatable impression of peacefulness.
 
The term wabi (侘) only appeared in the fifteenth century to designate a new aesthetic sensibility closely related to the tea ceremony, which referred to the general atmosphere and to the objects used during this formal service. The definition of wabi can be traced back to loneliness or melancholy, to the appreciation of a serene life, far from the urban hustle and bustle.”
 
Wabi Sabi is about appreciation and acceptance, striving for excellence rather than perfection,  finding happiness in the simplicity and impermanence of all things.  Of course, there is much info about Wabi Sabi that can be found on - where else – the world wide web for anyone interested.   For great depth and history,  I’d recommend taking a glance at japanobjects.com.

​Comments are welcomed.

There I was, stuck with this expensive duvet cover that I couldn’t get off my bed fast enough.  There was no shaking the images of birds, papayas and oranges floating around in my head.  How did my friend and the store owner not notice they were part of the pattern?  I was obsessing about this to say the least.  The store policy was credit or exchange only.  This could have worked out had the expiry date not lapsed.  Perhaps I will try to sell the birds and fruit. 
 
Several days later I was out with my BFF who understands my quirks and eccentricities including the color thing.  I felt prompted to take one more look in the store of my recent purchase.
 
Something strange, mysterious, yet pleasant happened.  The store owner brought a series of duvet covers that were not part of the dozens I saw previously.  Where did these suddenly come from?  Three appealed to me, but the price was prohibitive.  Then, there it was.  The exact color I had in mind and a Damask floral  pattern.  Nary a bird or piece of fruit to be found, and within my price range.    Mission accomplished.  But wait.
 
The cover is a Queen size for a double size mattress.  One would expect plenty of overhang all around.  Nada.  How was this such a misfit?  Oh, no!  Will I have to do a return?  Had my visits to this lovely linen store turned into crazy town?
 
My daughter stopped by the next morning to take a look.  She asked what was described to me.  After I told her, she said they got it right this time.  Whew!  I showed her  the length shortage.  She asked where the zipper was.  It was at the foot of the bed where I always placed them.  She turned it around, putting the zipper on the side.  It never occurred to me to try that.  Why would I?  I’d always put the zipper side at the foot of the bed.  Wonder of wonders!  It suddenly fit properly all around.  And, the pattern worked any which way the cover went.  Go figure.     Okay.  Now I look forward to where the next adventure my quirks and compulsions take me.

​Comments welcomed.

As mentioned last week, my intent was to offer some of the main points of Wabi-Sabi.  I am postponing it until next week.  A situation came up with duvet covers that prompted me to write about obsessions, quirks, oddities.  You know, those delightful character eccentricities that make life so interesting.  I apologize up front for the length.  I neither enjoy writing nor reading long blogs, but…
 
My duvet cover obsession has been going on for over a year.  Thoughts of getting a new cover had been rattling around in the recesses of my mind even longer than that.  I had very specific colors in mind. In addition it had to have a  pattern free from geometric shapes, critters, and food items.  One of my quirks is that I cannot have any of the afore mentioned on any décor item in my home.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am a big fan of birds, fruits and veggies in real life, just not on any form of ornamentation.  A floral design is acceptable.
 
I began the quest last Spring searching every store that sold bedding in the greater Toronto area.  Everything I looked at was flawed in some way.  For example, one was absolutely perfect until we caught sight of birds.  I simply cannot sleep when I know there are birds flying around on top of me.  I never realized how many duvet covers had birds, butterflies and dragon flies as part of the motif.  There was also  a fair share of fruits and geometrics to be found.  Eventually, I gave up deciding to wait until the next year, which is now.
 
I started out about mid-Spring.  Once again I scoured every place that sold bedding.  I kept running into the same issues as the previous year.  Close to giving up, I decided to visit one final bedding and linen store. I was accompanied by a friend who along with the owner did their best to describe the colors and patterns of the myriad of duvet covers.  Their kindness and patience was greatly appreciated.  Finally, there was one that seemed to fit my requirements according to the description.  I bought it, brought it home and placed it on my bed.  It seemed to be okay, although I was not entirely sure.
 
To digress for a moment, it is worth noting that colors along with everything else in the universe, have their unique energies.  Although, I am no longer able to see things, I can feel the energies of colors, which Is why I may be so particular.  Some may say fussy and annoying.  Thus, I had that scintilla of uncertainty about this cover.
 
Back to the story.  A few days later my daughter and granddaughter came by for a visit.  I invited them to see my new duvet cover.  They took a long look and asked what I was told about the colors and pattern.  Apparently, it turned out not to be what I believed it to be.  And, horror of horrors, on the sides that hung down there were – wait for it – birds and fruit.  Bleepity bleep bleep!!
 
Okay.  I’ve written enough for now.  Please come back next week if you want to know the rest of the story.  Sorry, Wabi-Sabi, I have to put you off for yet another week.

Comments are welcome.