I've got two sewing machines (an Elna, and a more recent one a Singer) and both are out of order. Unfortunately for me, I have a pile of things that need repair. So , I'll have to take action, and do something at least about one of the machines.
I taught myself sewing many years ago, in the mid-seventies, methink. I used the patterns that came with the Burda magazine - easy and simple to follow patterns. Nowadays, Burda has online courses, with and without live instructors, but in those days, women all over the world depended on the magazine (Burda Moden) issued each month in various languages.
It all started in Offenburg, Germany. Aenne Burda was the spirit behind the enterprise. Her goal was to create fashion for all; to allow the largest number of women possible to dress with taste, regardless of their budget. She died in 2005 at the age of 96. A strong, inspirational woman who had to overcome a lot of hardships thrown at her.
Burda celebrates 70 years of activity! The first magazine came out in 1950; the patterns were launched in 1952. The Anniversary is celebrated in the magazine with a reminder of its history, and contests for a chance to win prizes.
A friend of mine says that McDonalds and Burda should be awarded the Nobel Prize for their contribution to humanity: one in the field of food , the other in the field of fashion. Both continue to fulfill basic needs of people worldwide. You find them everywhere in the world as two most popular and loved brands.
The thing I liked most , was to make a dress for my Mom before the High Holidays - a dress inaugurated in the synagogue, at the religious services. I was proud of my work, she was proud to wear it. The Burda pattern was simple, but the fabric usually caught the attention: solemn yet beautiful.
Thank you, Burda.
Being part of the human race, it's only natural that we, people. want and seek the company of other people.
Yet, when I look back at my life, I find out that it is people that have weakened me most - more than work, more than bad habits, more than the...flu. What can I do with this awareness? Not much. I can try to ignore bad manners, stay away from some "toxic" individuals, keep to myself for protection (avoiding isolation).
Barbara Streisand opens her famous song 'People' with a line claiming that "people that need people are the luckiest people in the world". Well, let's not exaggerate. We all need people, but needing them might also make us dependent, and dependence of any sort is rather undesirable, even within the family.
Another singer, Jonathan McReynolds, has also a song named 'People' . He says about them that "they are the best and the worst you've created / loving and hating and opinionated / loners in basements, and those congregated / ". That's closer to what we know of people.
People with talent find a long escape in art, others bestow hours of attention on critters . I've got none of these tendencies (except feeding pigeons and growing the 'lucky bamboo' plant). So, no escapism for me, only the bare reality of trying to cope with people.
That's not as bad as it sounds ; it gives me considerable insight into human nature, and often saves me from falling into the traps laid by the combined efforts of populism and stupidity.These traps are becoming more numerous as the outer conditions (virus, climate) are getting worse.
I've been following the news about the recent floods in western Europe ( Germany, Belgium, Holland). Total surprise, although these countries are said to have excellent warning systems. It appears science cannot predict the flooding with exactitude. People in Germany describe their cities and villages, as being now like battlefields.
We all know, of course, about climate change and global warmingׂ (Siberia's forests are burning - 38 C degree!), but precious time is wasted on theory, and not on practical issues. I believe we cannot prevent natural disasters , that's God's domain; but we can perhaps learn ways to save our life.
Education is vital here. First of all, people should be well aware of the fact that weather can be deadly; not only a topic for daily small talk. Secondly, if possible, don't choose to live near a river or any other body of water. Thirdly, we'll probably have to adjust in the near future to a nomadic sort of life, as climate change will make us be on the move - albeit not with horses, but with vans, ,cars, cycles.
Covid -19 might also put us on the move as people who lose jobs due to restrictions are looking for all sorts of possibilities to earn a living.
By the way, in Israel, we're facing a fourth virus Wave which will possibly lead in a few weeks to a fourth lockdown! It is the travelers to and from abroad that are being blamed.The airport is considered 'the gate to corona'
Without traveling abroad, israelis are dead people; the country is a sort of ghetto surrounded by hostile neighbors. So, they'll keep on traveling abroad, and Covid-19 along with them. Sad.
Territory is important. History is full of bloody battles over land, regardless the size, value and quality of that land.
The vaster the better. A tiny, crowded country with hardly any solid borders like the one I live in, is a recipe for disaster. It might get swallowed up by its neighbors. Peace can help, but genuine, lasting peace in this region is hard to imagine, as the dispute is...over land. We're being accused of having robbed others of their land.
A country with a pluralistic population definitely needs a vast territory ; this will help give people the right space and distancing, and so prevent ethnical and religious conflicts between the various groups. Togetherness can sometimes be a recipe for disaster too. Luckily, most pluralistic nations do have the adequate space.
And from the general to the individual.
I once had a neighbor whose 'hobby' was to demolish parts in his apartment (and even beyond that) seeking to enlarge it; that was weird and annoying.
I discussed the matter with another neighbor and she said: 'oh, well, he's looking for the desert , he'll never have enough space compared to the vastness of the desert'.
- What do you mean?
- His ancestors lived in a place close to the Sahara desert in Morocco.
- So ?! He's second or third generation in Israel, and hasn't even seen that desert.
At this point, she threw me the famous line: 'you can take a man out of the desert, you cannot take the desert out of a man, for many generations'. 'As long as he lives, wherever he lives, he'll always try to demolish something to make way for more living space'.
That's the desert syndrome, according to her.
It sounded like a joke, but she wasn't joking.
Anyway, if you happen to be angry at someone or something (and I used to be very angry at that demolish-er), you might 'buy' even a rather strange explanation such as 'looking for the desert'.
I believe we could do much to help ourselves with health issues, if only we pay more attention to what happens to and around our body. Most of us, however, are deep down into what I call "happy escapism" : reading, watching TV, hobbies - leaving health symptoms to doctor appointments mainly.
There was a time, some ten years ago, when I often experienced palpitations. Scary! What usually stopped them was vigorous coughing and trying to sit or lie down in a certain position if there was a suitable place nearby.
After a while, I noticed a very crucial fact - that it never happened at home, only outside or in a shop. That puzzled me, and I started thinking hard until I solved the enigma. It was the rather heavy backpack that caused the palpitations . Carrying it, triggered some tissue that interfered with my heart electrical system (cardiologists will usually recommend ablation of that tissue if things do not improve with meds or otherwise).
*
After eliminating the backpack from my life, no palpitations occurred to me ever again, thank God. Since then, I don't even carry a bag in my hands or on my shoulder. I put it in the little shopping cart or in the wheeled duffel bag I take with me when I leave home.
Whenever I gain a few pounds (usually in winter), my knees immediately make me notice them. So, if I don't want this to affect my walking and I wish to avoid injections and surgery, the only plausible solution is to get rid of the weight surplus. No big deal after all, and, so far, it works, thank God again. (People who do a lot of walking should consider protecting knees with some sort of brace; there's a variety of them on the market).
The soles of my feet get treated more or less regularly by placing them on a roller massage manual device .
It does good to the whole body, not only to the feet.
Sometimes, pain comes and goes without apparently any cause or interference . If it persists, I'll try to locate it and understand its nature before I do something about it. I'll usually apply ice if I suspect swelling, or wear a compression sock if there's pain in the leg indicating possible, dangerous presence of a clot.
For a sore throat, I squeeze a lemon and drink the undiluted juice slowly. It has an immediate beneficial effect.
*Once, I cut my finger in a bad place ; nothing I did could stop the blood flow , and I started to panick. Suddenly, I saw a clothes peg. I grabbed it and clamped my finger with it for a minute or two. It did the job, and saved me perhaps a trip to the ER.
*
The flu is a very nasty condition to an elderly person: fever, headaches, overall weakness. The annual flu vaccine was of no help to me. Since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, I've discovered the mask. No flu so far, and that makes me happy and grateful to the little health device. I feel sorry for myself for all those winters of suffering when no mask was recommended, only the annual useless jab.
* web pictures
I sometimes think maybe I was born in India in my former life, as I'm very fond of India-made,products such as fabrics, kitchenware, household stuff, soaps, herbs, handwork etc... I even don't have to check the label to know whether an item is made in India or not. That says a great deal.
The import from India is quite limited , but I've got items accumulated over the years, so I'm "well-equipped", so to speak, especially in the textile department. I love their fluffy skirts in summer, and their cotton tops during the whole year. Such delicacy of design, color and shape! Their cotton, silk, and rayon fabrics are natural and of finest quality.
I used to wash my hands and face with 'medimix' bar of soap, (Ayurveda based with 18 herbs among its ingredients), but since I can't get hold of the mini version, I turned to other options. I do take some interest in the old India Ayurvedic medicine system as it has many benefits, advocating good natural health practices such as meditation, yoga, herb extracts.
I'm not familiar though with people of indian descent. I suppose they are good-natured, and I know they are very gifted. Zubin Mehta, for example, is one of the leading orchestral conductors in the world. He was appointed musical advisor to the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969, and in 1981 became its Music Director for life.
Strange, but the almost daily mention of the covid -19 indian variant seems to affect me personally. It interferes with my good opinion on things originating from India. (by the way, the virus is 'back in town', probably never left).
The indian variant Delta is said to help antibodies evade and bond more easily to the lung cells. Great efforts are made at the Ben Gurion airport to prevent 'import" of the variant by tourists. May God help! We can help as well by working on strengthening our immunity, and wearing masks.
