Mind-Blowing Granola

Yesterday began at the lovely local café with a bowl of “mind-blowing granola” (as described on the menu) and a café cortado. It’s a regular for my host Ezo and her dog Samba. From there, to the preschool named for her and a little ceremony where the 3 and 4-year-olds recited special little poems in honor of the coming national holiday celebrating the Turkish Republic. Where the adult point of view is that they’re learning to be loyal (and perhaps over-obedient and compliant) citizens, my wish was that the adults watch them dance so joyfully to the music the teachers put on and follow them. Recover our childlike innocence and delight covered over by so many layers of being “educated” into a dubious adulthood. 

 

Afterwards, I took a solitary walk along the water’s edge while Ezo took her daughter to a doctor’s appointment and loved the feeling of just wandering alone. Found a lovely park populated by cats, cats, cats (everywhere in Istanbul!) and people sitting on benches enjoying the view and on the way back, passed a man in a parking lot kiosk listening to a recording of Ella Fitzgerald singing Someone to Watch Over Me. I came over, told him Ella’s name and the song’s name and sang along a bit and we were both delighted.

 

Then friends Ilkay and Sibel came to Ezo’s house and we recorded a little music example for my upcoming Podcast. First time I’ve had guests and we had so much fun, including making mistakes and erupting into infectious laughter. Ilkay had arranged one more evening workshop for me to teach parents of kids to help them understand a larger definition of music and I was really excited about it. But worried about rain, 8 out of the 13 cancelled. Understood that they didn’t have any skin in the game and thus, no deep motivation to honor their commitment, but still disappointing. But the bright side was this delightful opportunity to record this little bit of a Podcast. And then go out to a fabulous Turkish restaurant for the full treatment of this marvelous cuisine, including Mr. Never-Been-Drunk (me) drinking some rake in small sips and starting to feel a pleasant buzz. Followed by an evening stroll to a gelato place. 

 

No more work for me here, just a full day to see how Turkey celebrates Republic Day, with great hope in my heart with the recent elections in Brasil, Syria and Hungary. May the U.S., Turkey, Israel and Russia follow suit and throw the bastards out! 

 

Throughout this most wonderful day, I carried the cloud of worry over my daughter Kerala who suffered from a mysterious upper-back pain that had her lying for hours unable to move in great pain. With no one nearby to drive the kids to their various events. But good news this morning. It’s a pinched nerve rather than a herniated disc, she feels better after a trip to the chiropractor, my wife flew up to help drive the kids around and sent me photos of them in their Halloween costumes. And I’m so delighted cool 15-year-old granddaughter Zadie still likes to dress up for Halloween! 

 

With my daughter Talia recovering from her broken foot and Kerala suffering from this, it’s a rough patch for these two most-always-healthy loves of my life. A parent never stops worrying and caring about such things and it was hard to feel so far away. But it feels like the healing forces have gathered and the helpers come around. 

 

May those forces continued to gather, both personally and collectively! Me, I’m off to the café again for another mind-blowing granola breakfast.