on playing

For the first time in my life

and even now pretty much unawarest

I lived a few days on the principle that 

"I say yes unless there is a compelling reason for a no"

and I played more with the kids here 

than any other time anywhere, probably

and even if I started at times reluctantly 

it was so worth it.

I'm not even sure why and how it turned out this way

but I heartily enjoyed being around little people

who love me without expectations or constraints

pretty much for the sake of my friend, their mother 

and it also dawned on me that by the time we next meet

they may well grow out of the play-with-me age

and since we had plenty of adult time at hand anyway

there just was no compelling reason to say no.

And so we shared quite a bit of fun

(I don't think I have played hide-and-seek for the last 30+ years)

of course they won't remember forever

but they may for a time

and also look forward to the next guest

and maybe, just maybe

I learned a bit about myself

about first things first

and about living in the here and now.

We also attended a lovely little concert today

all recorder 

from sopranino to great bass

from solo to tutti

from 9 to, say, 69.

And it felt so good. 

It's been ages since I last heard this much of recorder music

and also I found that 

anything reconnecting me with my pre-marital life & self

is very much welcome in these troubled times.

The other life-giving programme here

was the library visit on Friday

an amazing building 

where I've got an impression on a Western town library 

all in one open space

no quantity limit on the borrow-able items

each CD and DVD in its own case, right in front of the user

as well as

read three beautiful / cute / funny picture books.

And so if I started with principles

I may as well add that 

"Books make me happy"

and start living accordingly.