Ador sa ma uit la Gilmore Girls. E un sitcom witty si captivant care te binedispune ori de cate ori esti in a bad mood sau fara chef. Pentru mine, de fapt, e mult mai mult decat atat.

Anyhow, ieri am vazut ultimul episod din sezonul 3 (in total sunt 7),  si a fost un moment care mi-a placut foarte, foarte tare. E vorba de discursul lui Rory (as in the daughter) de la ceremonia de absolvire a liceului . Here’s what it sounds like:

Headmaster Charleston, faculty members, fellow students, family and friends, welcome. We never thought this day would come. We prayed for its quick delivery, crossed days off our calendars, counted hours, minutes, and seconds, and now that it’s here, I’m sorry it is because it means leaving friends who inspire me and teachers who have been my mentors – so many people who have shaped my life and my fellow students’ lives impermeably and forever. I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I’ve been a resident of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann’s Way. It’s a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything. Richard and Emily Gilmore are kind, decent, unfailingly generous people. They are my twin pillars without whom I could not stand. I am proud to be their grandchild. But my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life’s blood, Lorelai Gilmore.

My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn’t do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. She filled our house with love and fun and books and music, unflagging in her efforts to give me role models from Jane Austen to Eudora Welty to Patti Smith. As she guided me through these incredible eighteen years, I don’t know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her.

Thank you, Mom. You are my guidepost for everything.

Mergea grabita prin aeroport. Desi a mai fost prin el de zeci de ori, Schipol e un aeroport foarte mare, si iti trebuie destul de mult timp ca sa ajungi dintr-o parte in cealalta. Pare mai degraba un fel de complex intercultural, daca stai sa te gandesti cat de multi oameni se plimba prin el de-a lungul unei zile; oameni din toate colturile lumii.

In orice caz, tocmai se intorsese din Cape Town, un oras pe care isi dorea foarte mult sa-l vada, iar acum trebuia sa ajunga acasa, in New Haven. Desi avionul urma sa decoleze in doua ore, cand ajunge la terminalul 2, afla ca zborul s-a amanat cu vreo zece. Cum nu e genul de persoana care sa astepte, a hotarat sa se plimbe putin prin Amsterdam. Doar au trecut mai bine de cinci ani de la ultima promenada de-a lungul Amstelului. Isi lasa bagajele in aeroport si ia un tren catre Centraal Station.

Cand ajunge acolo, isi cumpara o cafea din imprejurimi si decide sa se plimbe prin port o vreme… Vroia sa profite de razele blande ale soarelui de mai. Se asaza in acelasi loc in care a stat prima data cand a pasit aici. Isi aminteste de copila inocenta care privea, cu ani in urma, portul, plina de vise si de iubire. Nu, copila aceea nu a disparut. E inca acolo, doar ca acum sufletul ei ascunde si mai multe taine decat atunci. O dulce melancolie iese la iveala, printre zambete sfioase.

Prinsa in amalgamul de emotii starnite de ganduri despre trecut, ignora norii cenusii ce se intind cu repeziciune pe cerul nu demult azuriu. Incepe ploaia, dar sentimentele care au iesit la suprafata o tin acolo, in mijlocul furtunii. Toata lumea cauta un adapost, insa ea tot ce vrea e sa primeasca niste raspunsuri. De ce nu a avut curaj sa ii spuna de la inceput ceea ce simte? De ce nu a putut sa aiba o a doua sansa? De ce, atunci cand a reusit – cu stangacie, poate – sa isi exprime sentimentele, el… nu mai era langa ea? Da, in Amsterdam si-a dat seama ca vrea sa fie langa el, ca vrea sa imparta cu el toate visele si experientele pe care viata asta minuanta i le ofera.

Cum ramane cu raspunsurile la toate aceste intrebari?

[to be continued]

Vineri seara, cam pe la 11, am decis ca voi merge la munte in weekend. Trenul pleca sambata la 6 dimineata. Am apucat sa dorm cam doua ore, iar la 5:55 eram in gara cu cafeaua in mana. Am mers in Piatra Craiului. Pentru a doua oara. Prima data am fost vara trecuta, cand era ceva mai cald. Insa vremea a fost superba, soarele a zambit doua zile la rand, iar stelele s-au imprastiat pe cer, luminand crestele presarate cu zapada.

Ador sa fug din oras, sa ma plimb prin natura, sa pot sa ma desprind (chiar si pentru putin timp) de Bucuresti, si de tot ceea ce se intampla aici… Chestia asta ma face sa imi dau seama ca intotdeauna exista alternative. Lucrurile sunt relative, si cateodata stam in loc pur si simplu pentru ca refuzam sa privim si in stanga sau in dreapta. Ne agatam de o iluzie, crezand ca doar ea ne poate face cu adevarat fericiti. Ne e frica sa mergem mai departe, sa ne depasim limitele, pentru ca ne indreptam catre necunoscut. Nu, nu avem de unde sa stim daca o sa fie mai bine sau mai rau. Dar putem risca. Eu cred ca fiecare experienta conteaza, si important e ca, oriunde ai fi, sa stii cine esti tu cu adevarat si sa progresezi cu fiecare zi ce trece.

Au inceput tezele. Mai sunt trei saptamani pana la vacanta. E uimitor cat de repede trece timpul…As vrea sa-l pot opri pentru o clipa in loc, si sa ma plimb prin lume, cautand raspunsuri la intrebari pe care le port cu mine de aproape 18 ani…

Voi reveni curand. Sper.

Have a great week! : )

“To be so strong that nothing cand disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.

To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.“

Christian Larson – The Optimist’s Creed

Vreau sa vina iarna. Sa fie totul alb cum n-a mai fost de ani de zile, si peste tot sa vad luminite. Vreau sa ascult colinde si sa beau ciocolata calda. Sa ma plimb prin centrul orasului si sa adun fulgi de zapada in palma. Vreau sa ma infofolesc bine cand ies din casa, si sa scot aburi cand suflu : )

Vreau sa vina vacanta. Sa vina ziua mea, sa vina Craciunul. Vreau sa beau vin fiert cu cei dragi, sa ne uitam la filme vechi si sa ascultam Frank Sinatra si Edith Piaf. Sa simt in aer mirosul de portocale si scortisoara.

Vreau sa pot oferi toata iubirea pe care o am, sa impart zambete si rasete cu cei pe care ii ador. Vreau sa pot uita pentru cateva momente de ce se intampla in jur, si sa ma cufund intr-o dulce utopie…

Imi faceam putina curatenie prin calculator, si am dat peste un document cu niste chestii foarte interesante despre prietenie. Chestii pe care le-am salvat acum vreo 2 ani jumate… Atunci cand am descoperit ce inseamna cu adevarat prietenia. M-au impresionat foarte tare, si vreau sa le pun si aici.

You know you have a friend for life when they answer the phone at one in the morning because you can’t sleep and have a lot on your mind, and they don’t mind talking about nothing to get your mind off everything.
They spare some time to spend with you.
When you know that if something bad happened to you they’d be there for you, no questions asked.
When you can look at them when something is wrong and they know it just by the look in their eyes and all they have to do is offer a hug and you feel a thousand times better.
When you know that they’d never lie to you, and would never hurt you and if they did it would only be for your betterment.
They can make you laugh when skies are the darkest, and they’re there with a good movie and some popcorn when you’re totally depressed.
And even if you’re a thousand miles apart, it doesn’t matter because what you share with this friend is so much deeper then what lies on top that distance plays no role in your friendship.

Friendship is when they push when you need it, but never too hard; and stand back when the time is right but never too far.
And the true test of friendship is if you’re willing to do it all back in a heartbeat.
When your life is so much better because you know them, and they bring out the best that lies within.

A Good Friend

In kindergarden your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In primary school your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you; held your hand as you walked through the scary halls; helped you stand up to the class bully; shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus; saved a seat on the back of the bus for you; knew who you had a crush on and never understood why.

In secondary school your idea of a good friend was the person who let you copy their social studies homework; went to that “cool” party with you so you wouldn’t wind up being the only freshie there; did not let you lunch alone.

In pre-university your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car; convinced your parents that you shouldn’t be grounded; consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan; found you a date to the prom or went to the prom with you (both without dates); helped you pick a university and assured you that you would get into that university; helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time letting you go.

On the threshold of adulthood your idea of a good friend was the person who was there when you just couldn’t deal with your parents; assured you that now that you and Nick or you and Susan were back together, you could make it through anything; just silently hugged you as you looked through blurry eyes at 18 years of memories; and reassured you that you would make it in university as well as you had these past 18 years; and most importantly sent you off to university knowing you were loved.

Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, hold your hand when you’re scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you!

Si ceva care imi place foarte mult:

What I’ve Learned About Friendship

• I’ve learned that there are many good friends around, but true best friends are hard to come by.
• I’ve learned that sometimes you love a best friend more than a boyfriend.
• I’ve learned that a best friend is more important than a boyfriend.
• I’ve learned that you can do something or nothing with a best friend and still have the best time.
• I’ve learned that a true friendship has many memories, both good and bad, but all important.
• I’ve learned that sometimes the most used part of a best friend is the shoulder you cry on, and the shoulder you are willing to lend.
• I’ve learned that when a best friend is happy, you find yourself happy too, even when it has nothing to do with you.
• I’ve learned that a best friend’s family soon feels like your own.
• I’ve learned that the only one who truly understands is a true friend.
• I’ve learned that nothing ever sounds stupid, funny, or unbelievable to a best friend, and you never feel stupid saying whatever it is.
• I’ve learned that sometimes it feels like a best friend is the only one who will ever care about you and think you are beautiful in your own way.
• I’ve learned that you always have that something extra to give to a best friend in need, and can count on that in return.
• I’ve learned that your heart is forever touched by a true friend, no matter how things end up.
• I’ve learned that when your heart has been broken, a best friend is the best band-aid for it.
• I’ve learned that a best friend will call you in the middle of the night to talk without thinking, and it’s OK.
• I’ve learned that in many cases, a hug and a kind word from a best friend is the only thing that helps get you through the day.
• I’ve learned that a best friend would stick up for you no matter what the consequences are.
• I’ve learned that best friends can sing at the top of their lungs and not worry about singing the wrong words or being out of tune.
• I’ve learned that best friends stay up all night and on the phone for hours talking without even realizing it.
• I’ve learned that a best friend can tell the difference between a silly crush, and more than that.
• I’ve learned that sometimes a best friend is all you have.
• I’ve learned that sometimes you wonder how she knew, but then you realize that’s just how close you are.
• I’ve learned that when you are true best friends, everyone else knows it.
• I’ve learned that, most importantly of all, best friends will always be best friends, no matter what is happening in their lives, where they are, or what they are doing. A best friend is irreplaceable. This is the most important thing I could have ever been taught by a best friend.

Azi am fost la gara. De fapt, ajung destul de des pe la gara. Cam o data pe saptamana… Nu, nu calatoresc atat de des prin tara, ci doar ma duc sa beau o cafea sau o ciocolata calda la Gregory’s si sa imi mai limpezesc gandurile. There is no travelling involved. Apropos, cafeaua de la Gregory’s e BESTIALA! the best coffee in town : )

Si, dupa cum spuneam, si in seara asta am ajuns in gara, cu o prietena. Dupa ce ne-am baut cafeaua, ne-am gandit noi sa ne mai plimbam pe acolo. Ne-am indreptat spre un peron care era destul de plin de oameni, si am mers pe el ca sa intram in feeling-ul ala misto de plecare. Si totusi, ca sa ne simtim si mai bine, am decis sa urcam intr-un tren care se pregatea sa plece in Botosani (n-am ajuns niciodata acolo). Si ne-am plimbat prin vagoane putin, am intrat intr-un compartiment, am reflectat o vreme la conditiile groaznice din trenurile noastre, dupa care am coborat.

It was fun!

Mie gara intotdeauna mi-a trezit niste sentimente pe care nu prea pot sa le descriu asa cum ar trebui. La fel si aeroportul. In orice caz, sunt niste sentimente foarte tari, de bucurie, extaz, neliniste. E vorba de o stare de adrenalina, un simt de aventura, care apare atunci cand stiu ca urmeaza sa descopar lucruri si locuri noi. Iar in timp ce ma plimbam prin gara, mi-au venit in minte toate momentele pe care le-am petrecut in locul asta dubios, groaznic dar in acelasi timp frumos. Atatea intalniri, atatea plecari, atatea cafele baute la 6 dimineata… Simt ca o particica mica-mica din mine se afla acolo.

Si ma gandeam… Ma gandeam ca locul asta e plin de amintiri. Nu doar ale mele, ci ale milioanelor de oameni care au trecut pe acolo.