music, last week

About a week ago on the way to work I was listening to VU & Nico and beauty of this song just struck me that morning, although I listened to it so many times before over last... wow, 20 years.

Later I was driving home with my son (7 y.o.) and he asked for some music, so I turned the player on and it happened to be this song again. To my surprise he knew and remembered it, even liked it and sang some words along.
(A few months ago he also liked a video of the Einsturzende Neubauten concert, but that's a different story. :)

Also, driving my daughter (11 y.o.) home from her gym, we happened to listen to Pink Floyd's "Wall" on the radio - which was first time for her, and she also told me she really liked it.

Not bad!
Although it may seem bleak compared to her asking to play CDs by Bjork and David Byrne when she was just 2-3 years old. :)

everybody knows

Listened yesterday with my son, while in the car, to Leonard Cohen. His songs are usually sad and slow, not the type my extra-energy 7 year old would typically like. Suddenly, while the first song - "Everybody Knows" - has not yet finished, he asked to go back and play it again when it's over. To my surprise and delight, needless to say.

He was listening intently, and then later said that what Leonard sings in that song doesn't make sense. I asked "why?", and he explained: "he sings: everybody knows the war is over, and the good guys lost - that doesn't make sense".

Does it?

I love my son and Mr. Cohen. "Everybody knows that's how it goes, everybody knows..."

diary

Last week my son and I received our blue belts (8th kyu) in karate - Kanreikai, derived from Kyokushinkai. The test was very challenging to me, and I could see my son really trying to do his best, genuinely concerned with the outcome of the test. Around the same time my daughter conquered 2 techniques in her gymnastics classes with which she struggled for months before. That was a week of small but serious victories for us.

This week Kira was born to us, and she is a lot of joy to us all. Our oldest daughter N is very happy to have a baby sister and now opts to stay home instead of spending time with favorite friends, because she wants to be next to Kira as much as possible, sometimes holding the baby in her hands and beaming with joy. :)

And my son - well, he's a boy: he has his things and games to do, too busy to concentrate on a baby (who only eats and sleeps) for too long. :) And he also likes listening to T-Rex, The Knife and Einstürzende Neubauten.

Pink Panzer

We’re watching the “Pink Panther” cartoons these days – the old ones, from 60’s. Kids are having a lot of fun with them, and we enjoy that simplistic animation and funny stories also. Yesterday I was baffled though when we watched the “Pink Panzer” episode, because as we were watching it I first thought of “Screwtape Letters” and then realized that it’s a simple explanation of “Unseen Warfare” at children’s level. Definitely wouldn’t expect that in those simple cartoons from 60’s... That episode made it very simple to completely deliver the idea to my kids as I was putting them to bed, although before I didn’t even think it possible to explain it to them before they get significantly older.

Here it is: The Pink Panther 011, Pink Panzer

back from Orlando

Yesterday we came back from Disney World in Orlando. It was our first trip there and everyone loved it. Certainly, we spent a lot of money there – the food is very expensive and we bought some toys/presents, not to mention the hotel and the park tickets – but the kids were so happy there that sometimes it was very emotional to me too. Even my wife said she felt like a child at a great celebration. True, it’s a huge commercial machine, but they do make it look like it’s a huge celebration, with music, parades, balloons – and you’re in the midst of it, part of it. We certainly feel we’ll go there again some day.

There can be many stories told, but one of them is funny. We were in the Animal Kingdom theme park and we took an African Safari ride: we rode on a big bus with a roof but no windows through a large land with African animals. Some of them came pretty close to the bus but most were pretty distant. When we just passed the lion... the bus broke down and came to a stop. So, we were waiting for the mechanics to come over and fix the problem. The lion was sleeping first (and my son mentioned that lions go for a looong sleep after a good meal), then raised his head – maybe because of our smells staying there for too long. Then he got up. I thought he’s probably thinking whether we’ll still be there by dinner time. People on the bus were nervously joking and laughing. Someone mentioned other buses are stuck behind us because our bus has blocked the road, so we’re safe since those others are closer to the lion. Then someone noticed a couple of vultures circling above us, and then more and more vultures came in. It was fun! until the mechanics came over and ruined it by fixing the bus.

rhinos

My son has been thinking over the last few days how he could make some money. What for? To send it to the rhinos in Africa! He recently learnt in school that they're almost blind, so bad sight they possess, and because of that it's more difficult for them to survive. So he's been worried about them and wanted to help these poor guys to buy glasses.

He's so pure and sincere... his love embraces all living creatures in the world, and not just in theory - he wants to act! I want to hope he's inherited that love from Him Who is Love. And I so want him to keep that inheritance...

that's life

On Bright Monday I visited the Russian parish I used to be part of years ago. I like to go there from time to time - mostly to see the priest again, as he's a very dear person to me.

Matushka told me a story of a 7-year old boy who attended the first Paschal Liturgy this year, and he said: "It was the best thing I have seen in my life! It was like I spent a day in Heaven - because that's what Heaven is: everything is beautiful and full of joy." I wish my experience was the same; although it was joyful, but definitely not to that extent. Probably need to become like a child first.

And the priest told me a story of their son who is no finishing his college education. He served in the altar since his toddler (or at least childhood) years, and moved out to another state to go to college. They recently found out that he had drinking and smoking problems, and then met and married a Muslim girl and is a Muslim himself, too. He told his parents of him leaving Christendom recently, and now rejects to even talk on this topic. They saw their daughter-in-law a few months after the marriage was done and are now trying to re-build the relationship.

That's life.

But Christ is risen! and their son was baptized and communed a multitude of times - that can't go without a trace, and I'm sure the grace is at work to bring him back - at the proper time. It's probably going to take a lot of time, patience and prayer. And - who knows? - maybe it'll bring both of these young people into the Church after all. Lord uses even our bad decisions to our good.

Got me extra-worried about my children anyway.

just ask

My son D. (6 years old) asked me this weekend what the war is and why such things exist. I said that it’s basically when someone wants something that he doesn’t have and the others have it, so he attacks (and even kills) those others to get that thing. He was very sadly amazed and, after being silently grave for a couple of seconds, quietly said: “That’s not nice. They should just ask.”

Isn't that so? Made me smile and my eyes wet.

friends

In my son' school they gave a little concert yesterday night for the parents and families: they sang a few songs with a little bit of music (piano) accompaniment and lots of waving of hands. It was definitely very cute, to see all those little monkeys gesticulating and singing about Peace and Love.

Two days before that he asked me to come to the concert; he really wanted me to come. I said I'll surely come as long as I can come from work on time. Thanks to our Lord, I was on time. But when he asked me to come I thought and felt: it is so precious that he needs me! that it's important for him that I come and see his performance. And it will probably pass: kids grow up and they want to spend time with their friends, not with parents. Sure, they'll still depend on our support: providing shelter, food and clothing for them, and driving them to places. But right now, in addition to that, they need us; not just all those things we do for them, but us!

A few months ago we were doing something together, my son and me, really enjoyed being together. And for some reason he was moved to say, that I'm not just his daddy but also his friend. It was like... being in love with someone, and then suddenly they say they also love you. I was swept off my feet by that little statement, overwhelmed and wanted to cry. One of the most precious moments in my life. I thought: what loving and caring parent wouldn't dream to be a friend of his/her dear child? That's a kind of achievement, although easy to lose, and a high plank to keep at. Hopefully, I'll still be among his friends in the years to come, and even in eternity.

I told him I'm not just his father, put in charge of him, but also his brother - because we have the same Father. He loved the idea when he realized that's how it is. So, I'm his brother, just a little older, and I'm placed next to him to love him, care for him, help him, and we'll grow together and go through life together. It is precious to hold his hand in mine as we keep walking, both physically and metaphorically.

"The Miracle Maker"

We are being snowed in again - yesterday and today. Schools are closed, I'm working from home, and kids are here too.

Yesterday evening, using the chance for kids not to be in beds on schedule (for the next day early waking up), we watched "The Miracle Maker". Have you seen it? I love this animation, Vera loves it, too. My daughter N. watched it before, and my son D. (he's 6 now) did not, or maybe he did but he was to small to understand or remember anything from it. I believe, yesterday became a special day in his life. I realized, whatever he knew of the Gospel story didn't really stick with him, some things he remembered but, looks like, didn't really think it's a real story, not fiction. As he watched this animation, he asked many questions, which revealed that; but they also revealed a genuine amazement and interest in what was going on. He asked many time whether what's being shown at the moment was a real event. He became worried and nervous as the events developed; he had a lot of pity toward Jesus as He was betrayed, beaten, mocked, crucified. He even cried. And he experienced his share of amazement and joy as Jesus re-appeared again, alive and loving.

We had and have a little Paskha now. :)

P.S. And here's a picture from Brooklyn, NY, of my friend, father Vadim, blessing the local waters (Atlantic ocean, all of it) on Jan 19th:

(from: http://o-v.livejournal.com/53189.html)

"Multiplication and God"

My son D is 6 now. He's a loving and lovable little guy, and in his school he found the same type of girl G, and they are great friends, even calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend.

They are also both chatterboxes and love talking when they're together. They also like to walk hand in hand or even hug each other, for which they were warned by the teacher more than once. We, knowing it, tried to softly explain it to him that it's not proper to do such thing in school.

One day Vera was in school for parent-teacher conference and D was standing next to her, when G was walking buy - swiftly hugged him to the point of him squeaking and then went on. At that point D said to Vera: "See?! she does this to me all the time!" Poor guy can't understand what is wrong with this. :)

Recently G's mom and Vera were talking, and G's mom told that she was talking to G about talking to D too much in school. And G replied: "Oh, but mommy, I love him so much!... And besides, do you even know what we're talking about? Multiplication and God!"

P.S. Some time ago I was doing something with D, and he said that I am his friend. And this was & is so terrific and touching, it brings tears to my eyes every time I recall that, even now. It's a precious memory.

school girls & boys

Last year, my daughter was in 3rd grade and often had home work from school that directed her to tell about something she did or some family activity, and then to also describe her feelings about that. Sometime she was even given a hint on what to talk about. Looks like she just often lacked fantasy (on a given topic) and the events she mentioned were dull, so she just tried to use the keywords she picked up in the assignment itself. As a result, some very funny statements came out, such as:

“It was cold in the morning and I dressed warmer. I was amazed that I dressed warmer.”

or

“Last weekend we went to a grocery store. I was tickled pink by the fact that we went there.”

Now that Vera is student-teaching, she brings home funny stories from the other side of the elementary school scene – that is, as a teacher. She was explaining to a girl, an ESL student, the word “slug”. What we all learned that day, by the way, is that “slug” is not only a noun but also a verb, and with a very unexpected – compared to the noun – meaning:

strike heavily, especially with the fist or a bat; "He slugged me so hard that I passed out"

(according to Princeton’s online dictionary)

So, once the girl looked like she understood the word, she was asked to produce some phrase using the word. And the phrase was:

“He punched me like a slug.”

So, Vera has her funny moments at school, and she brings them home. And I tell you – we were all laughing as if punched by a slug.

And my son just turned 6. We started celebrating the weekend before that - with our kids' grandparents. Then we celebrated in just our immediate family on the actual birthday, and we also plan to celebrate with kids – his friends – on Saturday. I guess it confused him a bit, since I heard him saying to his friend on the actual b-day:

"Today is my birthday! and on Saturday I'll turn 6."

It's fun to have kids!

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