tiramisu

Hitchhiking always places my beliefs in people in a very high place! I love the fact that people who have no idea who you are, where you're from, where you've been decide to extend their hand in friendship and kindness and offer you help to your destination. Occasionally you even get some crazy strangers who decide to offer you a place to rest your head for the night and a hearty breakfast in the morning. Some do even more on top of that, they spend the entire day with you, showing you around their city. All the nooks and crannies that you would never have found on your own. These acts of kindness make me faith in humanity. They make me see the bright side of life and let me wear those pink sunglasses for a while. For me that is one of the most beautiful things that can possibly happen because it wakes up all my senses and puts me in this joyful optimistic bubble. Of course I don't end up staying in this euphoric state forever but it's so magical while it lasts. It allows me to forget about the worlds' horrors of the past and future and makes me focus on the beauty of the now. So if you ever see a hitchhiker on the road, give them the benefit of the doubt and pick them up. You won't regret it. 

                                                                                                                                 
I hitchhiked, took trucks 'n' trains--anything that would pick me up.
– John Lee Hooker

drip drip drip

rain is the predominant type of weather here in Scotland. it follows you around wherever you go, even if the day starts off being extremely bright and inviting. these little raindrops make the Scots who they are; the weather is part of their culture. the saying that you can experience all four seasons in one day when living in Scotland is not just one of those silly stereotypes, it's actually very true. you can get sunshine, snow, hail, and rain all in the spain of a few hours. maybe that is what makes the Scots so passive aggressive. when it is nice and sunny outside you hear them moaning about how hot it is and that they need to go to the pub to have a seat and cool down. similar behaviour is to be seen and expected when the weather is the average Scottish dull grey and/or rainy, people say that the weather is shite and they need a drink therefor ultimately end up going to the pub. some strong oaky whiskey or a nice pint of ale seems to be the answer for everything here. this combination makes the people here who they are, for better or for worse. hell, i've had some of the most fascinating conversations at the pub and met some of the best, weirdest and craziest people. some of these have become really good friends of mine and for that i am very grateful. the Scots have learned to become very neutral and adjust to their surroundings by always replying 'not much' to the question 'what have you been up to?' and 'not bad' to 'how are you doing?' these answers are neither here nor there. they are used in order to avoid further conversation or questioning from the other party, or even worse, emotions like shock, amazement or surprise. these people live on peacefully, well, most of the time, in their own little bubble of an island. they keep the balance knowing that it is the only way they can keep on going for a very long time. i love Scotland and its people! 

"I would hate to die with a heart attack and have a good liver, kidneys and brains. When I die, I want everything to be knackered." - Hamish Imlach 

you come with the dust and are gone with the wind

so as human beings we are born alone and die alone. however, what we do during this mysteriously fascinating period called life is what is truly significant. some of us do some great things. things we and people around us should be proud of. some of us do horrible things because we have no better way of spending our time and energy. each to their own i guess. most people do things they don't really understand. it is very difficult to fully understand anyone, even yourself, actually, impossible, i would say.  we spend all this time with ourself, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and yet when you think about it, you hardly know anything. yes, we are able to have a developed taste in certain things, we can predict some of our actions, we have needs. however, many of the things that happen to us are out of our own control. the people we meet and places we go shape us, change our courses of action, make us become who we are today. i have been, for the most part, very fortunate with the people i have encountered in my life. these people have helped me grow and develop, they have explored with me, laughed with me, cried with me, hugged me, loved me. i cannot thank them enough. it's always sad when these people have to leave and stop being a constant part of your life anymore or when you leave yourself. but hey, it's not goodbye, nor is it farewell, it's just a see you later. when people you really truly care about go, you feel like a part of you is missing. as one very wise girl said, you feel like a pie without the filling! it feels like you have lost your apples and cinnamon. maybe we can meet in each others dreams though. dreams are great. we can have conversations, hug, skip, fly, frolic in the fields, eat ice cream, drink whiskey, sing songs, hitch hike.





Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them. - Bob Dylan