What I Stole On Christmas

I've had just enough time to...   steal from others :)

It was this Laos monkey that taught me how to steal...

A close friend gave me a couple of books for Christmas, one of which teaches me how to steal. I was flattered that she considered me an artist (the good thing about friends is that they exaggerate) but obviously she also thinks I should go and steal some more or she won’t be giving one with the title “Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon. So on a quiet Christmas, I finished the book in a few hours (it was an easy read) and steal as many ideas from it as I could. I find I do not have to steal everything as I had the same conclusion as the author in a number of instances. As he encourages me to steal, I am sure he won’t mind me sharing some of my theft with you so that you can steal from him too.

When caught, it said Picasso said it is alright to steal...

The work starts with a quote from Picasso “Art is theft”. That coming from such an accomplished artist, we cannot help but take note. This is followed by one of my favorite poet, T.S.Eliot “Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different from which it was torn.” These two quotes about sum up what the book is all about and I like it for that happens to be how I felt too.

The Wood Monkey said the real culprit is Austin Kleon...

“Nothing is original” the book declared for “all creative work builds on what came before”. It quoted the French writer Andre Gide, “Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” Put the two together and originality is just a different way of saying the same thing that had been said before. All knowledge is based on past knowledge. I like to say something in a similar vein to my mentees “For each of you, there is a teacher who has a way uniquely suited to you. Either you suit yourself to the teacher or you find the teacher suited to you, if I am not him.” I smile recalling all the silly things I said.

I liked the quote by German write Goethe too “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love”. I like to tell my friends that if we were to walk through an interesting flea market, each of us will immediately focus on different objects and that will reveal a lot about us. I must thank the author for assuaging one of my guilt when he boldly states that “Nothing is more important than an unread library”. So, there is at least one guy out there who do not think my collection of hundreds of unread books is a waste. Thank you.

The Laos Monkey said that is how Kings get to sit on the throne...

Chapter  2 tells you –“Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started”. And if it is necessary to – “Fake it till you make it”. I like to use as an example of a Jackie Chan interview when I emphasized this point. He told how in the days of his early success, he hated the obligatory visits to the orphanage and children hospital which his agent thought is necessary for his image. He did not feel the love he was faking. Then, something strange happened. Gradually along the way, the act became real and he began to feel true compassion. So he too advocate fake it till you make it, even for charity.

Well, if you think I’m going to retell the whole book; sorry. You will have to read it for yourself. But I will leave you with one more secret. Secret #6 that resonates with me – “Do good work and share it with people”. Don’t expect any return. Just do it for love. And love will find you. Oomph! 

The Teddy Bear says if you want to steal, steal like an artist...

Christmas Comes Early to Parma.

I've had just enough time to...   wink at the cherub

The Sleepy Cherub that spoke to me without opening its eyes...

Wandering through the narrow streets of Parma, we came across a brightly lighted window that drew us light moths to a flame. Peering in, we were greeted with the sparkling decorations of Christmas which brought us cheers. There is something magical about Christmas. Something that lightens our spirits and drives away our woes, at least until the resolutions of the New Year when reality once again intrudes. That autumn night, Christmas came to us early in Parma.

The delightful interior of the decoration shop.

It was the sleepy cherub that spoke to me. I pointed it out to my friend who took a shot and posted on her Facebook. Her friend thousands of miles away fall in love with it and wanted it as a Christmas present. So we went back to the shop the next day. The wonder of modern technology. But personally, I think it was the cherub’s design to draw us back to the shop. I am not complaining or I can’t be sharing this story and these pictures of the interior of the shop with you. Now, do you still not believe in the magic of Christmas?

The Happy Son & Father-In-Law - what a cheerful couple :)

So we found our way back to the shop the next night. With the intention to buy something, I could bring myself to ask the shopkeeper if it is okay for me to take a few shots. I can understand “yes” in Italian especially if spoken with a smile. But first we bought the cherub so it can fly all the way to the Philippines to spread cheers in a foreign land. I asked the shopkeeper if the older gentleman working alongside him is his father. He said “father-in-law”. Ah, that is an important word to know. I thought that was so nice, he and his father-in-law working together so warmly together like father and son. I told them so. I pointed to the two of them and gave them the thumb up. It looked like  with just a couple of days in Italy, I’m already learning how to use my hands like a true bred Italian. We bought a few other souvenirs among which is a cute metal bird attached to a long spring that can spring up and down to give it as a Christmas present to my new friend whose birthday I just discovered was on Christmas eve. Wish that I could remember the Italian word for it which started with a “po…….” that the father-in-law kept trying to teach me, unsuccessfully. 

Another view of the delightful shop.

As we left the shop with our presents, we were imbued with a warm glow. We must have caught some of the spirits of Christmas that will nourish us through the approaching cold winter. To All my Readers & Friends, I wish you all and your family –

“Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!”

"Merry Christmas!"

Italian Carol - Christmas - Natale - Tu Scendi Dalle

Reflection On A Quiet Christmas

I've had just enough time to...   enjoy a quiet Christmas

Taken in the park on Christmas day

This Christmas, I decided to do something different. Under a cool, overcast sky; I took a walk in the park and have it all to myself. Everyone is out there somewhere celebrating Christmas or visiting friends or be just at home with their family. I took a long, slow walk playing out the year that had gone before and relived that long journey as I walked, alone with my thoughts. I liked doing that sometimes. Long walk in lonely places and nothing was lonelier than the park today.

I chose a bench to sit down and savour a different feel to this Christmas. Surrounded by trees and the songs of birds, there was not a Christmas tree or blinking lights in sight nor any replays of Christmas songs. But I could not get away that easily. Among the greens, white Christmas rose to the surface and I could not get rid of it. So I might as well change a few words and sing a few lines.

I’m reflecting on a quiet Christmas

Not like any I used to know

Where the dewdrops glisten and I listen

To the birds singing in the trees

I’m reflecting on this quiet Christmas

With every Christmas wish I made

‘May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be divine’

A couple having their marriage photos in the park

I thought about the miracle this Christmas. A friend had a stroke and internal bleeding in his brain. A young man with an unemployed wife and a young child. What will become of them? The doctor told the wife to take him home and ‘get ready’. Within days, he is out from bed and moving around apparently on the way to full recovery. We are hopeful and fearful at the same time but each day is a blessing and a miracle.

After enough reflection and recharging of my soul, I went home to take a bath but decided to go back and took a shot to share my quiet Christmas on a day when I do nothing and yet felt strangely fulfilled. The bench I sat on was now taken up by a young couple with cans of coke, snacks and a portable radio. The scene I wanted to shoot was now taken by a couple taking their marriage photos in the park. I smiled at the change of the situation though it denied me my shot. So I went to another part of the park to take a different shot which is the one you saw. On the way back to the car, I saw the marriage couple going up the stone bridge and shot them. I was so engrossed in what I did that I did not take note where I was standing and a large weaver ant crawled up my leg and bit my upper thigh. With an instinctive flick of my hand, I sent it to Ant’s heaven.  

It was just an ordinary day in the park. It was also Christmas. Nothing happened yet a lot of things did. Even in reflecting, we should not overdo it. So I walked back, satisfied with how I spent my quiet Christmas. “Merry Christmas and May All Your Christmases Be As Nice.”

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