WIKI*TRICS * and *the way we ARE*.
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Is there something *more rewarding or *satisfying* than *Wiki* ? Of course there is - for instance the opposite of *wiki* (in English now: slow - what I don't know). *Wiki* apparently is a Hawaii-an word for *fast* and *what I know*
However, as that may be - true or nor so true - right or not so right, I AM DELIGHTED that the Wikipedia + the multiple other developments coming from the existence of Wikipedia EXISTS.
As one gets older - TODAY - I mean and not referring to 100 years ago and what one was doing then (at my age for instance) - one has *more time*, daily.
It seems that way, no longer busy WORKING for a living, as the majority of the world population most certainly is doing, whether as a farmer or a supermarket sales person, whether as a clerk in an dreary accountant's office, or as a high profile television person(ality), it is all there and people are doing it, not only *for the fun of it*, but ALWAYS for the money one earns performing such tasks.
This morning, opening a file on my *notebook* (with - these days ONLY - 160 GB) where I had stored some not yet listened to MUSIC, the *star* being MANITAS DE PLATA, I was wondering how he is doing (today). Born as Ricardo Baliardo, 7th August 1921 in The Camargue, that magical place in the south of France, he is now of an age - soon 88 - that I wished I had been much closer to him (all my life) because then I could phone him, or someone *there* to ask.
I met him only once, and that occasion keeps popping up in my mind often these days, no longer young, not even *middle-aged*, but almost 70 myself. When I *met him*, an unforgettable event for me at least, I had just bought myself a ticket to his performance one (weekday) evening. There were only a handful of people, and actually I felt *insulted* on his behalf that hardly anyone in The Netherlands was there to listen to this incredible FLAMENGO Gitarist.
I had always been a lover of Flamengo music, and Flamengo dancing, even was able to play the castignettes and dance myself (not to badly for a completely unskilled in this - person). As if it *was in me* I had always felt. Hearing the music now FEELS GOOD !!!, but when I has just downloaded this *treasure* of Manitas de Plata music, and was reminded again of the fact that NOW he is already quite old, and that I am *stuck* in a country where they do not know such artists, where very little that is wonderful, great, beautiful, everything I love, admire and *go for* is available, I could not even listen, because the very thought of everything that no longer is available, accessable MAKES ME DEPRESSED, very sad.
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Imagine it: I would just be able to get in my car, should I be living in The Netherlands, throw a few things in a suitcase, and DRIVE to where this great guitarist is still alive.
I can write this down thanks to the existance 1) of Internet, where I checked whether he was still alive, found little (but enough to find him!!) about 2 years ago and recently, after this *major* torrent download, AT LAST: more extensively *in the Wikipedia*
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Yes, had I lived in The Netherlands (now), feeling as nostalgic as I often do these days with the certainty that many persons I once knew, loved, *enjoyed* (as artists, performers) no longer are alive and with time *flying* - racing past is more how it feels these days - I really wished that I would be able to some things, I had never thought of I should want to be doing, or that would be available, possible to turn into a real event.
I must add that should I have more money available than I have now, I would be having a car, my cats and dog would be ready to travel *abroad*, with a *chip* and traceable registration nummer *within them*, and also then I could GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE - just ahead of that enormous super-tsunami wave as I would be picturing myself, racing in my miniscule car (by comparison) and then: just by the nippers (hakken over de sloot), a bit out of breath having been running for my life, SAFELY over the (Greek) border, on my way - and with: I SHALL NEVER GO BACK THERE, still shivering from having escaped, having made it.
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This morning then: deliberately choosing Manitas's wonderful guitermusi to listen to AND whilst chooing: YE$$$, I can handle that, I can *stand* it, FEEL HAPPY listening.
Still whilst making myself a cup of wonderful coffee: I began to wonder about Manitas, how would he be? Still going strong, but no longer touring? Or old and feeble, suffering from dementia, no longer knowing his surroundings, no longer even remembering his music perhaps? Only one keyword came to mind as soon as I began to think about this great man: APPLAUSE !!
And that in fact goes for *everyone*!! APPLAUSE. We all need applause, we all like to have some *attention*, and how dreary it get, when only you, yourself is *left*, and not anyone around and present to give you some *applause*, some attention, a smile, a word.
Whilst storing these brief thoughts into my mind, I also thought about *that comfortable know-how - today *the 25th* of the month - the second portion of my retirement-money would be paid into my bank account. I have not checked this yet though, it could well be that the money is transferred at the end of this working day, however: tonight it shall be there.
Note: I just checked, the ease and comfort of online banking, but the money I just mentioned is not yet in my bank account, which is *not yet* something to worry about, financial institutions being as they are (keeping the money as long as possible = *earning money*, is it not!!), yet I would have felt much much *happier*, instead of looking at my balance*sheet*, noticing that a certain amount had been deducted, leaving me with a *less* positive balance than I had hoped for to *clap* eyes on.
Despite this, I need to transfer €100 into the account of my daughter, as is the agreement to clear up the debt in her debit account before the end of each month. This I shall do NOW, and I shall continue with writing some time later. After all, this blog gets posted, but who reads it, but me is something I do not know, I do care though, it would be nice if it was being read by others.
More about *wiki*-ing, that was what caused me to have the feeling that I wanted to put some thoughts, some things I had just *achieved*, by researching WIKIPEDIA, into words.
Baking Soda, and Baking Powder: ALL MY LIFE, not a fanatic *baker* myself, I had been wondering what the difference is between the two - NOW I KNOW - thanks to Wikipedia, and of course thanks to my own *choice* or *decision* that NOW I was finally going to get to the bottom of that *unsolved mistery*.
I did, marvelling again that Wikipedia exists, and in an instant (fast) I get to the information I am looking for.
At the same time, listening to Manitas, hearing the LIVE *applause*, this is a 1997 live recording, knowing he is nearly 90, also knowing that he *was born an illiterate* (don't know whether he did decide to learn to read and write) - I was *grateful* for all *the riches* I do have
despite my shortage of money.
How the world is of someone, who cannot read or write, how the world is of someone, whose mind *has gone*, it fills me with feelings of horror, I could not bear it for myself and I do feel terrible sorry, and *terrible* when someone else is like that, really.
It also must be awful if one cannor see, is blind and therefore *handicapped* in many ways, is deaf and cannot hear the beautiful tones, and music to restore one*s EQUILIBRIUM.
I cannot undo this for others, nor do I really know *how they live with such enormous losses and handicaps*
Until the next time - about 21st Century Awareness - the good. the bad, the uglies.
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