X is for XOXO. Healing with words. Day 24. #atozchallenge

xoxo  - hugs and kisses
- From wikipedia - 

The common custom of placing X's on envelopes, notes and at the bottom of letters to mean kisses dates back to the Middle Ages, when a Christian cross was drawn on documents or letters to mean sincerity, faith, and honesty....[also]...which was then kissed in this tradition of displaying a sacred oath.

The 'O' is of North American descent; no one really seems to know how it was started. Perhaps now it is used as the 'O' being rounded represents arms encircling another, as in an embrace.



Dear Beverley,

It's been so long since we talked, I miss you.  I was in Copenhagen last week and you know how whenever I go to a big city I always see people I recognise, even though it's not really them, just their look-a-likes, and how that makes me feel convinced that we have doppelgangers or perhaps even alternate/parallel lives (who knows right?).

Anyway, all I do know for sure, is that every city smells the same and they all have similar looking characters wandering around.  I know it's wrong to judge, but it's not just the clothes they wear, or their hairstyles, it's the lines marked on their faces, the shape and angle of their teeth, their smile and their gait and the exact shape of a fist their hand makes.  Sometimes it's just a slight similarity other times it really is an identical image. Well, you'll never believe it (well of course you will though others might not) this time I saw you. And my dear dear Beverley, you were so wonderful, so happy, so strong.

I was in Copenhagen to see the new Wallmans show in the old circus building.  I know you would have loved it. I remember all the stories you used to tell me about your mothers family being travelling circus folk.  I know you were young when she died, but there was a lady on stage that looked so much like you, I am sure you would have recognised your mum in her.  I literally gasped when she came out, and then when she began to sing I cried.  She was a star, there was even a Marilyn Munroesque performer that was a show stealer right beside you, but you were smoother, sexier and your voice was amazing. Every song was you and every memory we shared together, or should have shared together, was in every single word of every song she sang.

When she sung Adele's 'Someone like you', I understood everything.  I understood why you couldn't stay, I understood that line that never made sense to me before.  I understand this letter is the first of many to you. I also understand why your little dog Mishka still has my name and number recorded on her microchip, as her emergency contact... and why I got a call from Australia last week to let me know that she ran away but she is back home safe and sound now.

I wanted to meet the amazing singer after the show and tell her that she had touched a part of me that had long ago been buried with you.  Maybe I was there for her as much as she was there for me, or maybe she would have just thought I was a stone cold crazy.  I left without saying goodbye.

Forever a part of me.
xoxo

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Find out how I chose my theme by reading my intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You are welcome to add more words to the list in the comments - that I'll link back to you.

W is for Wonderful wonderful Copenhagen. Healing with words. Day 23. #atozchallenge

wonderful |ˈwəndərfəl|
adjectiveinspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good;marvelous 

I wasn't sure if I would make it back in time from my trip to Copenhagen to post for W, and there is no W card in my deck so Wonderful wonderful Copenhagen it is, just because that's where I'm at, and it's a cute song. 

Here's some things about this Royal city you may not know. It is the home of Hans Christian Anderson, (even though many New Yorkers seem to think he was American).  There is no gate around The Royal palaces, you can stand within meters of their front doors.  There are bikes everywhere

Most Danes believe there is no such things as bad weather only bad clothing, and nearly everyone speaks English (or at least understands it).  Some Danes I have met, say 'it's better to sit in a bar and think about church than it is to sit in a church and think about going to a bar.

While I was in Copenhagen there was the usual delights of any Europeen city, I will tell you more about it soon. A peculiar thing was that there were lots of teenagers and children wandering around town, because this month they have had no school, and it wasn't holiday time.

The teachers in Denmark were on a forced lock out for 4 weeks. Approximately 70,000 wonderful teachers were locked out of their schools because they wouldn't agree to working up to an extra 3-4 hours per day.

It was unprecedented and fascinating.  Mid term exams are drawing near and there have been no lessons for a month, students will have to repeat levels, there are many people training that will lose job opportunities. Some students will have to make up time after hours and on weekends, affecting families even further. Here's more information from Workers World here.

As of yesterday, the lock out has been called off.  A new law is expected to be passed soon, in reality the problem is still not over, and a lot of people want to know what is going to happen to the money, over 100 million dollars, the government has saved in teachers wages.

Today is a public holiday in Denmark, called big prayer day, (created to roll many religious holidays into one public holiday) so school resumes Monday, after 4 weeks off. The first feedback I saw from a student on my schools facebook page was 'finally the lock out is over, now we are locked in again."  A lot of students referred to the extended break as a luck in, my youngest bonus child missed his teacher but others are praying they never have to go back.

Check out Copenhagen's top 10 attractions here.

Here's a short clip of the song Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen from the cast of Wallman's, a theatre restaurant in a century old circus building, where we are celebrating an annual family tradition, I will share some photos and tell you more about the trip soon.

What would you do if the government banned teaching in your country for a month (or more)?
How many hours a day do you think children should be at school?

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Find out how I chose my theme by reading the intro blog at A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  Please add more words to the list in the comments - and I'll gratefully link your words back to you.

Two days to go. Copenhagen, theatre and drama.

Two days to go till the A-Z blogging Challenge  begins.  Check out my A-Z challenge - words of change - list here.  I've managed to write and schedule my first four posts - what a relief.  I will be going to Copenhagen for a few days in April, to see this years, Wallmans Show in the Circus building, it's a yearly tradition we have with the Captains parents,  it includes lots of 'festivities', and it's hard to keep up with Danes when they are being festive.  It's nice to know I'm a little ahead of schedule.

Hopefully I will get a couple more posts done over the weekend.  My only problem is that having my words sitting there waiting to be published, makes me want to edit and delete a lot.  I am really trying to keep every post at around 400 words.  If I can drop that down to 200 even better, but it's not easy.  When those memories start flowing, the stories start growing.  The point of this exercise, for me, is to find a style and voice I am comfortable with, I also want to have some fun in Blog land and connect with other people.

When the whole Internet and chat room phenomena first started I always said I would never make friends with people online because I had enough drama in my real world. I'm amazed at how opposed I can be to the very things I desire most.  It also took me 11 years to realise that the Captain was the perfect man for me.  I am so glad the only theatrics in my life now are in historic buildings with great performers, in places like Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen.  No more drama's only seasons.

A totally unrelated question but one that keeps popping up for me.  Do you like Captains name?  What do you call your partner?