La piñata del 2012

I am creating the year 2012 as a piñata: A pleasure to look at, full of hidden content, an object to play with at a gathering of friends and family. The history of this colorful object is certainly interesting, but not really relevant when it comes to the activity, or should I say activities? First, you have to buy or make one. It is easier than you may think, and could be a great family project. Once ready, hang it on a cord, invite people and ... destroy it.

Game instructions
Remember that this game is about playing full out and enjoying the moment.

Eh oui, une piñata est destinée à la destruction lors d’un jeu très populaire. Au grand plaisir des spectateurs, vers la fin d’une fête les invités prennent l’un après l’autre un bâton pour frapper la piñata aussi fort qu’ils peuvent pour la faire éclater. Une chanson sert à mesurer le temps du tour de chacun. Le moment venu, les sucreries et petits cadeaux tombent à terre, et tout le monde se jette là-dessus pour ramasser ce qu’il peut.

Mode d’emploi
N’oublie pas que tu fais partie d’une équipe. Tout le monde va gagner.

Man weiß natürlich nicht, was in so einer Piñata steckt, aber das macht nichts. Derjenige, der den Prügel in der Hand hat, weiß nur, dass er möglichst heftig zuschlagen muss. Manchmal werden ihm die Augen verbunden, um das Spiel ein wenig in die Länge zu ziehen. Alle singen während dem Spiel ein Lied, zum einen, um den Spieler mit dem Stock in der Hand anzufeuern, aber auch, um die Zeit zu stoppen. Sobald die Piñata auseinanderbricht, hören alle auf zu singen und stürzen sich auf die Süßigkeiten und kleinen Geschenke, die zu Boden fallen. Dann heißt es „jeder gegen jeden“.

Spielanleitung
Denke daran, alles ist nur ein Spiel. Das Lied soll dich darán erinnern.

Pasar unos ratos juntos, cantando, riendo, no hay mejor manera de vivir, ¿no creen? La única que pierda en este juego es la piñata. Quiero crear el 2012 como piñata para mí, mis amigos, mi familia, mis comunidades. Sé que todos podemos colaborar, cada quién a su manera, para romper algo - viejos patrones de comportamiento, de pensar. ¡Pero ojo! Al darle a uno de nosotros el palo, además de vendarle los ojos, es mejor tomar algunas precauciones.

Cómo jugar
Cuando se rompe la piñata, toma lo que puedas y sé contento. Cualquier regalo se puede apreciar si descubrimos su valor.

¡Feliz año! Frohes neues Jahr! Bonne nouvelle année! Happy New Year!

Felice Anno Nuovo!
नया साल मुबारक हो!

God Knows

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart bestill:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.
Minnie Louise Haskins (1908)

S H I P

My favorite English word is “ship”. As a noun, a ship is a vessel that travels across the water. In the early days of seafaring, travelers such as the Odysseus and the Vikings used the winds to travel long distances, and it often happens that they were driven off course during a storm, when their ships would dance on the waves like nutshells. Other nations, such as the Mayas, never lost sight of the coast when they navigated the seas. The reasons for crossing the waters varied and included fishing, trading, exploring new territories, emigrating, robbing, and doing scientific research. Many seamen became famous and were considered heroes, but most of them were just doing a job, I suppose. What I like about ships is the idea that people on board must organize themselves in order to survive. Working relationships must be defined. Ah, and there it is again, my favorite word, this time as a suffix. It describes a state of being of the word that precedes it. Thus, a relationship means the state of having a connection. Thus, the word “ship” is a word that fits into the language in more than one place. As a matter of fact, it can also be used as a verb. This versatility, movement, and a little exoticness make “ship” the word I like best in English.