Quote Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo View Post
Just remembered that tonight's the longest night of the year. It's the winter solstice and the right time to do some witchcraft......
I think today is officially the last day of the extended Saturnalia celebrations as well. Time to party it up!


Quote Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo View Post
Charity and volunteering are strange concepts in this country. Nobody will help you for free even if the helping hand costs nothing. Well, there are exceptions but only a few. My mother always helped old ladies in the neighbourhood with shopping or simply staying with them for a cofee and never thought to ask something for that. If she went to buy a bread it wasn't a big deal to buy one more for a neighbour who couldn't leave the house. Matter of fact in our small aromanian community we developed a solidarity that always looked strange to romanians. It was a cultural shock for me when i started to work and had to cope with romanian society. The mentality of "I don't care what I have to do as long as money comes" or " I won't tell you how to do this cos I don't offer counselling for free" was strange to me.
Now I'm afraid that after so many years of trying to integrate myself in their community I started to become one of them. I have become a heart of stone that can't be touched by normal feelings. I use to blame it on all the hypocrisy and lies that surround me. But what if I'm wrong?
I think any person is somewhat influenced by the society that surrounds them. But the things you express here are often things that show you are touched by normal human feelings. Just because you might live in a place that more often decides to hide or deny them, doesn't mean it has removed your inner feelings. And from the sound of things you were influenced by your mother to help others, which is probably one of the reasons you are so giving with her.

And really to some extent we also have to remember that just because "society" in our world thinks things should be a certain way, doesn't mean that society is right. Over time social influences change, and the change often starts with those not doing what is considered normal at that time.




It's rainy and miserable outside. I wish I didn't have to work today. But I will, maybe just a later than usual start to get out and about.

And I have to make some kind of vehicle decision soon. My daughter will be driving soon and I need to get something else to drive to work. But I'm all over the map about what to get. Indecision is a terrible thing.