(c) Melina Magdalena (2006)
I began this year with a sense of joyous anticipation. Good things were in store for me and mine. I flew home from Japan on a high, knowing that travel was again a possibility for me in this lifetime.
The year was characterized by unexpected obstacles. These made many things far more difficult to complete than anyone who was involved had anticipated. This sometimes produced a climate of conflict, when everyone got stressed and had to work hard towards good outcomes. Working hard meant conflict resolution and mediation that was made even harder when our individual needs to assert ourselves meant that we kept hurting one another’s feelings.
I felt surprised again and again, to encounter situations that I had not predicted and for which I was unprepared. Sometimes I triumphed, and other times I failed miserably. The highs and lows made the year interesting, but taxed my hard-won equilibrium.
It has felt as though I have been tested in every area of my life where I had attained a certain level of stability or security; not only on the welfare front, but also within my family life. Parenting rapidly maturing teenagers is something I had feared, and I am happy to say that we are all learning how to be a family together.
As the year progressed, there were losses and sorrows. My grandmother’s death in May was a huge blow and an unforgettable experience. I was sad when her ex-partner died later this year, and also sorry to learn of the sudden death of Bill Phippard, founding partner of Seaview Press.
The loss of my job, friendships and my lover were losses I didn’t anticipate for 2006. I’m trying to be positive and have faith that these losses will lead to new adventures and opportunities, but it’s hard to avoid self-pity!
I was buffered and uplifted during the year by new opportunities to be an active change-maker in the community. Horrified by media coverage of Dianne Brimble's murder, I began to write and email my outrage around the country. When Mary Heath suggested I start a blog, in order to express my views, I welcomed the idea, and began to learn how to do this.
The successes of GetUp's have also been wonderful to see during 2006. It’s great to have a voice again, and even better to have means of raising it in public.
Tofu and Pumpkin Curry (from the Beit Shalom Synagogue Cookbook, but I omitted the mushrooms, increased the coconut milk and added green beans)
Stews (toss the meat cubes in seasoned flour and add plenty of liquid that will thicken like magic, and cooking slowly is the best, but remember to stir so it doesn’t all stick to the bottom)
How to ice Christmas biscuits to my daughter’s satisfaction (go slowly and carefully, smoothing the icing with a butter knife, and add decorations tastefully, using care and discretion)
Salad Dressing (lots of freshly squeezed lemon juice, half a teaspoon of sugar, a dash of olive oil, a pinch each of salt, pepper to taste)
Added zest and nutrition to plain tomato pasta sauce (dry roast some pine nuts or chopped almonds and sprinkle into sauce just before serving)
1. Lullaby (Dixie Chicks)
2. One (U2 and Mary J. Blige)
3. The Light Surrounding You (Evermore)
4. Better Days (Pete Murray)
5. Everybody's Gone to War (Nerina Pallot)
6. Bad Day (Daniel Powter)
(in no particular order)
1. Weeds
It’s about hypocrisies and middle class afluenza, and stars Mary Louise Parker, one of my favourite actors.
2. Medium
Although the cases Alison DuBois follows are disturbingly gory, I do love the portrayal of her family life, and am satisfyingly spooked during each episode.
3. Close to Home & Cold Case
Two crime dramas by Jerry Bruckheimer, whose female leads I find appealing, though I’ve had just about enough of crime dramas. It’s a shame there’s so little else available on tv these evenings…
4. Numb3rs
I first watched this because I recognized the detective (Rob Morrow) from my old favourite tv show Northern Exposure.
5. Ghost Whisperer
I find it amazing that Jennifer Love Hewitt wears her fake eyelashes even to bed, but I cannot resist the storylines. When her best friend died, I was eager to see whether she would stick around to help out in communicating with the other spirits, but I’m not sure whether this happened. Guess I’m just obsessed and endlessly fascinated with the ideas about life after death.
When I see a movie, I like to talk about it afterwards, so there were many movies I didn’t get to see this year that I didn’t get to see, mostly due to lack of someone to go with.
Movies I saw (in no particular order)
1. Brokeback Mountain
A tearjerker about the internalized and externalized effects of homophobia. I found the ethical issues about marriage and child rearing particularly poignant.
2. Pirates of the Carribean
Predictably not as good as the first, but Johnny Depp was still gorgeous, and Keira Knightley’s character became far more interesting. It was also nice to see that Orlando Bloom had a little more to do this time around, and the cannibal scenes were hilarious.
3. Hidden
A chilling movie about French-French and French-Arab (Albanian relations). This had a huge impact on me. Like everyone else in our session, I was stunned into silence when the movie ended.
4. The Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Streep is always worth a look, and there was more to this movie than what was just on the surface. [See the post “A Dog’s Life, part 2]
5. Ten Canoes
A movie with some very funny bits, which left me with more questions than I started with. For example, how does one acquire a wife? I enjoyed this movie as a cultural experience very different from my own.
6. Loving Annabelle
I didn’t think the luscious setting and rich visuals of this film justified the deeply tragic and unsettling storyline. One message I took from the film was how the apparent callousness of youth is really a reflection of lack of experience combined with idealistic optimism, and how serious the unforeseen consequences can be for the adult who was affected. This movie made me very sad.
7. Alles Auf Zucker! – I watched this movie on DVD with my brother-in-law. His copy had no English subtitles, so I acted as interpreter. I’d like to see it again without having to put my brain in gear, as it’s an entertaining romp through what it might mean to be a contemporary European Jew, and shows that being able to laugh at oneself is an essential attribute to survival.
Movies I would like to have seen
1. Munich
2. Sophie Scholl: the final days
3. Little Fish
4. She's the Man
Movies I hope to see soon
1. Happy Feet
2. Charlotte's Web
3. Night at the Museum
4. Children of Men
I read each of these for the first time in 2006. They are in no particular order, but they are all highly recommended!
1. The Time Traveller’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenberger (Vintage, 2005)
This book moves me to tears every time I pick it up. It’s a love story that covers many decades, and is complicated by the complexities of time travel. The setting is gritty, the characters are wonderful and their aspirations are true to life.
2. Molecules of Emotion, Candace B. Pert (Touchstone, 1997)
Candace B. Pert is a scientist who featured in last year’s film What the Bleep?. This book belonged to my grandmother, who was interested in quantum physics long before the movie was made. It’s a great read, which I enjoyed because the science was meaningful, believable and comprehensible even to me.
3. Forth Signs of Rain, by Kim Stanley Robinson (Harper Collins, 2004)
In the days of the long dry, we forget the catastrophe that was the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami and the power of weather to affect our world. Kim Stanley Robinson’s optimism shines through this novel, which ought to be far more terrifying than it is. It’s easier for us to mediate our terror through fiction and do nothing, than take our future into our own hands.
4. A Door Into Ocean, by Joan Slonczewski (The Women’s Press, 1987)
The most profound book of science fiction I have read in a long time, this book appeared in my life when I was feeling at my lowest, in terms of personal power and despair at the world’s negativity. It gave me a great deal to think about, and hope to build upon. (See post "A Radical Notion")
5. April Fool’s Day, by Bryce Courtenay (Mandarin, 1993)
It took a long time for this book to come into my life, and I was as affected by the story as I knew I would be. Floods of tears, and an empathy with my children, who knew Baterz through their father’s musical connections. Like Damon, Baterz, was well-loved, and also died young of AIDS-related complications after contracting HIV from a blood transfusion while being treated for haemophilia.
6. Stigmata, by Phyllis Perry (Piatkus, 1998)
A complex novel which incorporates the spiritual connections between generations, and evokes very effectively what it is like to be born with a heritage that can only lead to feeling as though you were born in the wrong place and at the wrong time. I particularly liked the way the main character, Lizzie, moves through time in this book, and becomes more and more apparent to everyone around her, though she was really there all along.
7. Healing with the Angels, by Doreen Virtue (Hay House, 1999)
A Christmas present from my little brother, I was moved by this book far more than I expected to be. I intend to re-read it and apply some of its advice to my own life.
8. Trumpet, by Jackie Kay (Picador, 1998)
Like no’s 3, 4, 5 and 6, an op shop treasure which I’d be happy to pass on to others who are interested. This intriguing and moving story of a grieving family involves a wife and son who come to terms with the realization that the man they loved as husband and father was born a woman.
1. IWD: International Women’s Day (March 2006)
My Mum and I ran a stall to sell sandwiches, cupcakes and watermelon, as well as copies of The Reclaiming Anthology: healing our wounds. (See the post "The Reclaiming Anthology Roadshow".)
2. JAFL Pesach in Aldgate (April 2006)
A fun afternoon with lots of delicious food and good company, as usual. A balm to heal my wounded spirit, and my son came along with me, which was very special.
3. Margaret Preston “Art and Life” (July 2006)
I went to this art exhibition with one of my best friends. We were both greatly inspired by Margaret Preston’s work.
4. Women Watch Out! (August, 2006)
This was an enjoyable and informative day with the unions, focused on how Howard’s IR legislation is affecting the women of Australia, and what we might do about it.
5. Don’t Turn a Blind Eye (Casino, NSW. October 2006)
A daytime march and gathering for women and their families to speak out against family violence and sexual assault. (See post "Don't Turn a Blind Eye")
6. Reclaim the Night (Byron Bay, NSW. October 2006)
An energetic and healing march through this beautiful town, with many wonderful women, including Laura Henkel. (See post "Reclaiming the Night in Byron Bay")
7. Pride March(October 2006)
I was sorry to miss most of this march, but I watched everyone pass by, and enjoyed the opening party of Feast 2006.
8. Stuf With One F (November 2006)
My first opportunity to be an exhibiting artist. It was disappointing that we were forced to dismantle the exhibition before its time, but it was valuable to be part of the experience.
9. Picnic in the Park (October 2006)
Josephine and I ran a stall for YQZine, selling copies of the zine, secondhand books, watermelon and brownies. It was an exhausting day, but good to be out there with a reason to accost passersby and engage them in conversations!
10. JAFL Channukah in Mylor (December 2006)
I appreciated getting together with my sister-kin and doing some Jewish stuff – this involved eating great food, heart-to-hearts and passionate conversation, and candle lighting.
1. I was able to take an active role in helping my grandmother’s decline and death to be a dignified and beautiful ending to her long and complex life.
2. I learned how to blog, and am developing my skills.
3. I volunteered to be part of a research project into physical activity and fitness; subsequently joining a gym and enjoying getting fit and flexible again.
4. I built a raised vegetable bed in my backyard (with help from my parents, for which I’m very grateful!)
5. I bought and installed a roof rack on my car.
6. I spoke up when I felt put down and silenced in my relationships at work, in community projects, at home, to politicians and welfare organizations, and the parole board.
7. I completed my Diploma in Education.
8. I conceived of and produced several significant artworks.
9. I achieved my orange belt in karate despite considerable personal resistance to violence and using my body.
· More blogging, with new tricks.
· Great homegrown organic vegetables – lots of ‘em!
· Community projects – YQZine, the dv anthology and the pass along project.
· Be more actively Jewish. I’d like to do some regular meditating, celebrating and prayer.
· Teaching, if that’s the direction my career is really going to take (and if not, to embark on other satisfying work).
· A new baby, goddess willing.
· Take my kids on at least one relaxing and enjoyable holiday.
· Nurture my family relationships and existing friendships, and extend these.
· Continue to make improvements to my home and garden.
· Keep going to the gym, and keep up the karate – achieve my next belt (green) by the end of 2007.
· Continue to practise being a better artist, and I'd like to explore new media, for example lino cutting.
· Enjoy my life!
Blessings and best wishes to all my friends and family, and anyone else who happens to be reading my blog.
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