that i had a most interesting time yesterday? yes i did, but i am not willing at this point to blog about it; the episode was much too precious and the storyteller is much too greedy.
once a week i go to my post office box and get my paper mail. usually it is mostly bills and other correspondence that gives me quite a bit of back office work of which i am not necessarily very appreciative. in simple words, bills, taxes, and the whole administrative bungle that goes with my civil life. ah! and you thought that i did not have a life!!! but then, you think?
today i trodded down to the post office after i did the lunch time friday grocery shopping, was expecting a book order to come in, instead there was a package with three bottles of rather fine wine. once again, so much for expectations.
i write best to the sound of J. S. Bach's music, today i am listening to Abdul Majeed Abdullah instead, you go figure! it must be the mildly warm temperatures in the helvetic capital and the amusement of expectations failed, or my longing to find myself again in the middle east. for years i have been looking for an opportunity to travel to yemen, and for al i know i might not be ready to deal with the place, and my local foreign office does not necessarily recommend travel to yemen. slowly it is starting to dawn on me why i have a certain affinity risky endeavors. finally i am starting to get what it is that has people climb the north face of the eiger, trek out to mount everest, risking life and sanity. risking sanity can only be a positive proposition, however most of us hold dearly on to life, especially when spiritually dead.
among my pile of the usual administrative paper mail, there was a marketing brochure inviting to participate in the Royal Open in Evian and experience the Evian Masters golf course. i read the brochure with great amusement. the royal parc evian hotel is indeed pure luxury, and just across the lake from lausanne, a short and agreeable boat ride away. i have had the privilege and good fortune of being invited to sojourn -- yikes! what does english do to beautiful french words? -- there last year, and ever since then i get regular post from the hotel management, although they ignore my blogging activity, and even if they don't, what is certain is that "cairo otaibi" is not on their database, although other otaibis may be. all out of context jokes aside, the truth for me is that it is indeed a pleasure to be constantly reminded of how rich the world is, not just the otaibi clan, although as a large saudi clan, it has of all kinds among its members. although i am fond of hiding my contempt in subtle sarcasm, there is none here. i just woke up in a story telling mood today and the sheer confrontation with luxury makes me reflective and grateful that i am where i am, doing what i am doing.
that said, who invented the avocado anyhow?
Technorati Tags: evian, france, lac leman, lausanne, switzerland, unfocused
