American Views Abroad


Sunday, October 28, 2007
 
Raking leaves on a placid October afternoon with the fresh smell of the earth, the array of colors particularly the trees offer, the tide of sun out or haziness in, even the thought of it all having to be done again in a matter of days doesn't deter from the soothing effect it has. Getting lost outdoors in these last days before gale force North Sea storms set in or the long drawn out months of winter, sometimes drab, less often sparkling with snow is similar to getting lost to everything through music, either playing it or simply listening to it. German media amply covered those horrific firestorms in California. There is an interesting article in today's NYT about how difficult it is to juggle nature's need to renew through fires with people's stubbornness and determination to live in one particular place. Of course parts of California are magnificent to live in with views of the Pacific, the desert, the mountains. Gazing at the Pacific is quite something else than looking out over the Atlantic. Then again the North Sea is quite something else than the Baltic. Once, having spent over five weeks out west in the US, I wondered how the readjustment to Europe would be with its small parcels of land and far less space. Yet upon returning here, I was taken aback by its beauty in smaller details, yet in no way less lovely. There is subtle beauty in things being close together. Within less than an hour's drive from the heart of the city, farms are open on Sundays offering old sorts of delicious apples, pears, quince, potatoes, pumpkins and close by one can stroll along the Elbe.

As for music, here is an article in the September 17th issue of The New Yorker which shows a rather all too normal side to it, alas. Fantasia for Piano by Mark Singer at www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/09/17/070917fa_fact_singer. Unfortunately hoax and deceiving others don't only exist in the business or political world. What a read.

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