be true be blue

In 539 the Persian King Cyrus frees the Jews held in Babylon since 733. 

From 539 to AD 70 the Persians have no animosity towards the Jews.

When did the dislike for Israel begin?  1948? Are today’s ‘Persians’ upset about losing something?  Are they jealous of what became of the people they freed?

In a few minutes I’ll head to the bank.  I have a plan to manage the salary, we’ll see how efficient this plan is.  In the meantime Saffiq will come and show me around and I’d like to buy a new mattress.  If he’ll let me.  He might take it upon himself on behalf of the US government to buy it.  Well, I can’t argue with that.  They might be pleased to know one class likes how Hodal sings. 

How can I hope to make you understand

why I do what I do               

why I must travel to a distant land

far from the home I love

A samyog in the mountains of Nepal.  It’s one of those that is clearly understood.  Can I even talk about it here?  Let’s just say a strange thing happened today on my way to the bank.

Money sent can be saved.  Let it grow.  It ought to be safe in a bank, right?  ya hope. 

9.2.15

I like wearing flannel.  A cool morning, I finished my cereal last night, the nuts are gone and I’m almost out of boxed milk.  It’s Wednesday, right?  No email from the bank, omg I’m thinking this might actually work out, internet banking in Afghanistan.  Right, it takes 40 days to get a debit card, why not 40 nights as well, no I won’t know what to do if I can send money from this computer I sit at, calmly, the floor fan remains on.  It will certainly make things a lot easier.  Driving to the bank took 30 minutes and from the back seat very brief glimpses of the old city, not enough to be remotely satisfied.  I know they are nervous about taking me out of the comfort zone even though all has been calm for a while. 

It takes a little crazy to stay here, it takes something to keep you going.  Whatever it takes?  Whatever it takes unless whatever it takes interferes with your job.  Ya, right, controlled moments of crazy, timed before and after your responsibilities. 

Ya, timing is ingrained, it makes me wonder how much Aryan blood I have, if any, at least 50%, right?  The locals here identify with Aryans, the Brahmins in Sarangkot claim they have Aryan blood in them.  The Rajasthani’s say they are Aryans. How bizarre to imagine somehow I am related to all of these groups through one group that 3000 years ago marauded their way through the Persian steppes.

And as far as I know the 2700 year old shaman had Celtic blood, crossing from the farther west.    The sun appears in the room at 7:12am.  I have to take a shower.

8.04pm

The crickets outside my open window are loud.  A clear sky, temps are comfortable now at this time of night, comfortable enough to turn off the swamp cooler minus water.  And my salary has yet to show up in the bank here.  C’mon fellas. 

Big blue was turned off ten minutes ago and the solar I hope will come on.  There it is.  My head lamp is almost done, I should look for candles when I go out tomorrow.

And I never got a mattress and the bank hasn’t sent me a link to access my salary as of now.  I know, be patient. 

9.3.15

What’s the word for coincidence in Pashto?

Said Wali said there wasn’t a word but he knows what it is. 

Hannukah wouldn’t let me walk to the market alone and he made a big fuss and we asked Saffiq and other joined in and then Said Wali called, ‘hey you want to go to the market?’   

Out of the blue and you are true. 

And it was good he took me.  I didn’t remember where the money changer was and the place I was buying the 2% milk had two left and they had expired a month ago.  I wonder if the last milk I bought there was also a month old.  So he took me to another place.  I also bought a cheerios box, also a month past its expiry, a big bag of pistachios, sugar free buscuits, orange juice, a loaf of bread for mornings when there is power for the toaster and that’s enough. 

Tomorrow is off, what are you going to do?  Work on Saturday’s workshop, make tests, start a new book, take a nap, putz around.  Let’s see how bad the world is today.  No, let’s see how good the world is today and ignore how bad the world is today.