July 19 1. I got salt in the mail from you. It reminded me of King Lear and his misunderstanding of his daughter's assertion. So I felt loved, though that was a misunderstanding of your intention. The salt was from Bali. I don't know if it was from the north coast or not but I … Continue reading Love Notes – #20
Ceiling – #19
July 17 1. His photographs showed the perimeter of the ceiling of a cheap hotel room. There was something beautiful about them, uncluttered, quiet, almost still (but the gaze shifts). I asked him what was the point of view he was asking the viewer to occupy in order to engage in the investigation of a … Continue reading Ceiling – #19
Cempaka – #18
July 12 *Cempaka (Chempahkah) are tiny, white, South and southeast Asian Magnolia flowers that have an extraordinary perfume. Men climb the big trees to pick them in the early morning when the flowers are soft and closed. This is the desirable form. When they open, their petals stiffen and curve up and back. 1. The … Continue reading Cempaka – #18
Orang halus – the subtle people and the ring – #17
July 11 1. I lost the ring, that Julian made for me, in the yard after taking a bath. 2. I carried my jewelry with me from the bath house and set it all on the table. 3. I put my leather collar on (always first), earrings, necklace, rings, but was missing the one for … Continue reading Orang halus – the subtle people and the ring – #17
Body of Spice – #16
July 9 1. I put away the black pepper; I can't remember what part of the body is its correlative - freckles? Moles on the skin? 2. When the priest's wife died, she willed herself to depart on the full moon, an auspicious day, appropriate for a holy woman. The full moon is when the … Continue reading Body of Spice – #16
Spice – #15
July 8 1. The counter is too high in this kitchen for me to straighten my arm and use my weight to crush the ingredients of my spice paste (bumbu). I can't put my mortar on the floor because there is no door on the kitchen and the puppies will come in. 2. When I … Continue reading Spice – #15
Magic Jar – #14
July 6 1. I looked at the rice cooker - the Magic Jar - and commented to Suartini that the first time I stayed with her and Nyoman, 22 years ago, she was cooking rice in the traditional way, albeit with an aluminum pot over kerosene as opposed to a clay pot over a wood … Continue reading Magic Jar – #14
