SUM WHITE STUFF
Tuesday Sept. 9, 2014
Summer white, snow to shock the system – brighten the green that will so swiftly be coloured autumn … what a lovely quiet white, silent white that fell through the night, silence of millions wet globs of nearly-flakes, nearly water …
I’m having the time of my life.
Every day.
I was interviewing someone yesterday for my FACILITYCalgary publication. I was asked, “why do you do this?”.
I offered easy standard answers – why it is practical, effective and part of my publication, part of my business, a good thing to do.
Truth is, I love it.
The writing, sure – everyone who knows me knows that. But the interviewing, poking around in someone’s life, asking questions without regard to boundaries, without regard to what may or not be off-limits. Driven by curiosity. Driven.
I love asking people questions – seeing what they reveal, then asking more questions about that. Not to be difficult or subversive … but for intellectual curiosity, for stimulation of conversation, for knowing, for understanding another person.
I find understanding of myself in that.
Far more than I might have ever imagined.
Having the time of my life exploring my life, exploring others too.
Intriguing.
Absorbing.
Riveting.
Add it all up, it’s a beautiful day – again.
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary
morning walk: -1C/30F, overcast, streets wet, lawns white-carpeted, water running down gutters and downspouts, last night’s snow is melting. The density of wet is 100% humidity in barely solid form; Gusta loved it – she likes that cool we on her belly. One tree broken on our property. The rest, severely bent, bowed and stress-tested but surviving to be snowed on another day. Warmer temps by Thursday according to the weatherman.
Reader feedback / comments always welcome:
Thanks. Hi Mark, Everything you've written in the past few weeks I've savored bite by bite. I know well what you talking about. I have a lot of satisfaction from there and now, have a life much like the dream for me. Thank you for sharing what you live. I totally understand and get excited with your achievements, MMP, Toronto, ON
Loverly habit my dear sir. To look back on your day for the aha moments, the moment of deserved accolades, the best of the best so to speak. Some days that moment or accomplishment is the overriding memory of the day and then some days it is hard to uncover that moment from the bottom of the s*(% pile. Hope the good days outnumber the bad ones in your life for you certainly do brighten my day with your musings. GW, Bon Wier, Tx.
Relieved to see the 's' at the end of the second word versus "Jerks Rule". I learned a long time ago that the jerks in our lives are the sandpaper God uses to smooth out our rough edges. In Christianese it goes something like this, "the jerks are the instruments God uses to crucify our flesh". Either way you look at it the end result is a growth opportunity in our own lives. Learning to not knee jerk to the jerk is the lesson. GW, Bon Wier, Tx.
