[stylist] Two poems plus answer to Lynda
Jackie Williams
jackieleepoet at cox.net
Fri Nov 14 16:50:11 UTC 2014
Lynda,
So much to discuss. I will start, but someone coming in 15 minutes.
When reading the poem of the Ruwenzories, if blind, please keep reading
through the stanza break at the bottom of the first page. The rules for
entering these contests are extremely strict about format, page numbering,
etc.
Now for answers to your questions. I was badly battered some 19 years ago,
left with a broken nose, gashed forehead, punctured eardrum, internal
injuries, etc. Shortly after I developed Menieres syndrome and had
intermittent hearing in my left ear, finally losing all hearing there, and
vertigo so badly I could often not get up, or walk. They drilled out my left
cochlea which of course, means I also cannot have a cochlear implant. From
that time, my hearing has been very distorted, I have no directionality of
sounds, and my balance is terrible, though I no longer have vertigo. The
hearing in my right ear has been in a steady decline, and that is where my
hearing aid is fitted. This is one reason I do not get in on the conference
calls, or no longer enjoy music. My life was music and dance from all over
the world, so it has been rough.
The hearing aid I wear now has something I wear around my neck with about 8
different settings for the hearing aid itself, but has to be re-charged
about every four hours, except for the very basic setting.
I understand JAWS very well, but phones, even those made for those with
hearing aids, are extremely problematic.
Yes, my husband and I travelled extensively from our post in Uganda, East
Africa. Like servicemen, we had a three week break every two years because
of the difficult area we lived in.
My most favorite places to live were in Africa, and Greece. I loved the
people of Greece with their outspoken and sometimes flamboyant ways in
argument, but the ready enjoyment that quickly followed. I loved the islands
with their mystic lore, the food, meat on a stick when the bus stopped for a
quick rest, and most of all, their dancing. I learned so many of their
circle dances, as well as the Jewish ones.
At the girl's school, a USAID project in Tororo, Uganda, where we were for
five years, the African girls from 29 different tribes taught me the African
dances, and I taught them folk dances from around the world. My climb up the
Rewenzories, or possibly you know them as The Mountains of the Moon, was a
ten day harrowing climb. We hit the summit above Speke glacier to look down
into the Congo. That climb is the high point of my entire life. On the way
back, I broke my foot, and had to make two segments of the descent being
tied to a pole, hung in a potato sack sling, with Zed, the headman taking
the lead down a very narrow trail, sometimes with my head down. I could feel
their muscles quiver through the pole. I have a book in progress about the
entire five years called, "Lizard in the Bean sauce." The lizard is Idi
Amin, who indeed poisoned the entire country with his violence and murder.
I liked France and Germany least of the many countries we visited.
I agree, however, that one must have a few months at least to get to know
the customs, and know the people.
I could go on forever, but time just does not permit. I can write to the
list soon and attach some of my African poems, little capsules or slices of
life.
Jackie
Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz
-----Original Message-----
From: Lynda Lambert [mailto:llambert at zoominternet.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 1:25 PM
To: Jackie Williams
Subject: Re: [stylist] new blog article published
Hi Jackie,
thanks for your response to my blog about listening to Mozart. It would be
wonderful if you could hear this music again and with the hearing aid that
might be possible. Have you been losing your hearing over a period of time,
or is it something that happened sunnenly? II s it connected with your sight
loss in any way? I met a young man who had a disease and was losing his
hearing and sight at the same time - he was a student wehre I taught - but I
met him a number of years after he had left the college - he spoke with me
about the loneliness he ad at the college and how he never fit in due to the
losses he was experiencing. After I met him, he was going to go to the Helen
Keller school - I think it is in NY state? Not sure. But we lost contact
after that and I often think of him and hope he is doing well. He was a very
bright young man - a father with a little boy.
I will try to answer your questions here:
when I talked about skipping down the mountain trail, we were descending
from Werfen caves where only 1 percent of tourists go to Werfen - they are
ice caves - and the climbing inside the caves is treacherous and steep for
hours - we had just finished that day of climbing, and had left the cave
entrance and two of us skipped together rapidly down the path for a little
distance - just about out of control when we stopped and were laughing so
hard we were bent over double and could barely breathe. It is like when Gary
Snyder ran down the mountain in one of Jack Kerouack's books. It was an
insane kind of thing - not the kind of skipping you would do on a sidewalk
in the city or on a leisurely country road. It was on the wild side.
Yes, all of my academic education and adventures in other countries
occurred after my marriage at age 17. I was usually alone when I was
traveling - met up with students at the airport, and accompanied them on the
trips.
Yes, I have found the Germanic people exceptionally gracious and generous in
all my time there.
I love their forthrightness - most say what they think and it's refreshing
to be around people like this. They ask very direct questions and sometimes
it may seem rude but at least you know what they want to know. No guessing.
But, my grandparents were German and we grew up with the Germanic aesthetic
and expectations so I am comfortable there.
they speak English in the bigger cities but not in the villages usually. In
the villages, children do not learn anything but German - the children do
not learn English except in the more urban places. The family I live with in
Austria speaks almost no English - if the Germans can speak English, they
will want to speak to you in English because it annoys them when you stumble
around in German - if you speak to them in German, they will typically
answer you in English. Most will refuse to speak to you in German unless you
are very very fluent and speak very good or perfect, German.
Yes, things are done exactly on time - and you always know what to expect.
If there is a rule, everyone knows there are consequences - so you would
never, ever get on a bus without your ticket or without paying - no way!
Probably my life's scope was set at a very early age. I am mostly German -
except for my Father's father who was Irish. I never knew his family at
all, so my only influences as a child and growing us is German. When I
arrived in Austria the first time, I felt like I had lived there my entire
life. My mother did not like my father's kin and said they were dirty, and
from what I can recall of a very few visits with them, she had good reasons
for thinking this My father was orphaned very young so he was on his own at
an early age - we know very little about them. . I felt like I came home.
When my sister went with me one time, she said, "Everywhere I look, I see
myself here." when I am out walking in the villages, cars stop to ask me
directions and they are shocked when I say I am not Austrian. They always
begin to laugh. I am so at home - there is nothing I love more than sitting
with a group of people who are speaking and singing in German. I love the
language and the early history of the culture. I taught Ancient to Medieval
art history and philosophy so of course the Germanic culture was part of
that course AKA The Barbarians, to the Romans who were confused by the
sounds of the language - so different than theirs.
What brought you to Germany and how was your experience there? I have
traveled all over Germany and Austria extensively -
I know you have lived in several different cultures, and which is the best
fit for you?
I can say there is no place that I did not like in all the places I have
been. I enjoy people so much, so usually the realize that and it is ok. I
did have a store clerk in Salzburg say to me, "You are so different than
most Americans. You speak so well. Most Americans sound so harsh and speak
so fast I cannot understand them." One thing I know about Germans and
Austrians, if you are warm and friendly and treat them with respect, they
give you many gifts - they will add extra things in your packages and you
won't know it till you return back home and open your packages. This has
happened to me many times - they love to give gifts to people they like.
They will often even take a percentage off your purchases when they ring
them up at the counter if you are especially nice. My students always came
to class and showed off the special gifts they received and they would be so
delighted. I was given beautiful shawls, candy, vases, blouses, hand milled
soap, lotions, and lots more things over the years for no reason at all but
just as a gesture of love from people who I encountered. I think if you
were there by yourself, and you were there for a long time, you would have a
much better picture of them. Just a week is not time to be out and about
and be with them a lot in a more personal way.
Lynda
-----Original Message-----
From: Jackie Williams
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 1:34 PM
To: 'Lynda Lambert' ; 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [stylist] new blog article published
Lynda,
Your blog is so detailed about so many things, it is difficult to make the
comment meaningful.
It has made me want to listen to Mozart and I have several C Ds that I put
away when my hearing became so difficult. I think I have a better hearing
aid now.
I do find it difficult to imagine skipping down a steep mountain path with
elbows hooked. I have never descended a steep mountain trail that would
allow that, and there have been many.
I have many questions about your M.F.A. Were you married when you were in
Austria and Germanyy? Did you find the German people to be friendly and
accepting of you? Did many of them speak English, or expect you to speak
German? My husband and I spent over a week in Munich, the Alps, with our
three very young boys, skiing, and I read "Heidi" to my sons. It was very
difficult , also given that my husband got very ill after one day on the
slopes. The trains ran on the dot, with not one second for error. I am half
German, but I did not relate very well.
It seems to have "set" your life's scope to an extent, and it certainly
turned out well for you.
Jackie
Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 2:07 PM
To: Jackie Williams via stylist
Subject: Re: [stylist] new blog article published
Hope you enjoy this. Here is where my mid took me today in my writing life.
This is the first piece in my new blog. (I have two blogs now!) Lynda
http://llambert363.wordpress.com/
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