Wit – Zwart

Happy Saturday morning. Had I only been invited to the White House and the impressive NATO meetings there earlier this week, I would still be tasting one of many Double Espressos. Sadly, that wasn’t the case, no invite and therefore no Double Espresso offerings. Still, my own morning brew is just lovely.

What I also don’t think I lost much on were the vast array of speeches; speechifying on any number of topics. Considering the importance of the folk in the gatherings these speeches just had to be important, uplifting – especially those on drawn out wars, and long.

In fact, the renowned Babylon Bee wrote this satire piece on the keynote address: “U.S. — In a much-needed surge in popularity after disastrous debate performances and gaffe-filled public appearances, President Joe Biden’s popularity skyrocketed overnight after he announced Donald Trump as his vice-presidential running mate.”

Personally I would urge these NATO aficionados to pay less attention to the fancy-dinner circuit, and a little more to what powerhouses such as the following two bring to the ‘table’.

Aleksandr Isayevitch Solzhenitsyn – (1918 – 2008) author and Soviet dissident. Spent 8-years in the Soviet Gulag and then in internal exile for criticizing Joseph Stalin. In 1970 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This is one of his countless shrewd insights:

“We know they are lying
they know they are lying
They know that we know they are lying
We know they know we know they are lying
But they are still lying”

Nelson Mandela – (1918 – 2013) South African political anti-apartheid activist. Jailed for 20-years and later became the first leader of democratic South Africa.

“Our world is not divided by race, color, gender, or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divide themselves by race, color, gender, or religion.”

A Film’s Loss – Most who know me know that I am not huge into movies. Other than several old silence black and white flicks my appreciation revolves around maybe a couple of dozen or so films.

In that small listing are two, The Shining and Popeye. One of the prominent characters in each was Shelley Duvall. In Popeye she played the character of Olive Oyl – and it’s been stated that it was Duvall’s portrayal of her character that pushed the movie into being a massive popular hit.

As we journey around this infinite universe at over 50,000mph it’s no secret that some of us will fly off every day or so as we spin through our galaxy and its beyond. This week it was Shelly Duvall’s turn to explore what lies beyond.

Zwart – Wit – was spotted on the shelf of the Aldi’s (Aldi Nord) in Amsterdam, and my eyes opened wide. Have you ever had a flash-back of some very long-ago sight, smell, sound, or taste? How about one with sight, and smell, and taste all in one package?

There it was on that Aldi shelf just as what I remembered getting as a kid. The white powder delight was then also sold in a cone shaped wrap as it was still. I remember enjoying it by licking your finger, putting it into the stuff, and then into your mouth. Nothing like it. Ever!

Made of anise, salt, powdered sugar, and licorice and my ‘white’ powder came through US Customs without a hiccup. After decades of only remembering this was marvelous!

The Remains – played their ’60 and ’70 sounds a couple of days ago; for two hours straight (without intermission). Two hours with The Remains at a cemetery – Spring Grove Cemetery that is. This surely was one perfectly fine evening.

Urban Jazz – was also on the platter this week. An outdoor concert on the city’s central square complete with a sandwich from Potbelly’s and a can of Heineken was most excellent.

Excellent except for the guy at whose table I found an empty seat; he had one additional ‘add-on’. My new urban tablemate friend advised me that he too loved Jazz, but enjoyed it even more with some ‘weed’; did I mind if he lit a ‘doobie’?

I advised him that this was the new America, and so to proceed as he wished.

Turns out that this guy was schooling wise barely pitiful; however, street-smarts and insight-wise he was brilliant. I ended up hearing some great music and having a fantastically insightful discussion.

I took a picture of him (it was his Tee I liked) and sent it to Marcia who was home. This resulted in her getting worried and calling me to check if all was OK.

Mentioning Marcia. Last Saturday the Kroger grocery delivery came early, and this gave me time to dash off to Findley Market where, on Saturdays Marin’s Blue Oven Bakery sells their restaurant quality breads. If you’re not early enough, then it’s the ‘empty rack’ syndrome.

I got hot soft Pretzels straight from the onsite oven, a loaf of salted Rye Sourdough, and an apricot/walnut Loaf.

Marcia had a pretzel and a slice of the apricot/walnut bread. Within the hour she was on her back on the couch and couldn’t get up – something about stomach and being so full of bread.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

We all have been exposed to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, author and the grandfather of modern fantasy. Question; what was he also known to have done:

1) wrote on scientific subjects
2) held the position of Postmaster General
3) was his town’s Mayor
4) wrote part of the Oxford English Dictionary
5) Fought in the war of 1812