Some time ago I was folding my laundry while listening to Tom Petty songs (I always listen to music while doing chores). When “Learning to Fly” came on, I suddenly thought of at least two other songs with the same title, namely “Learning to Fly” by Pink Floyd and “Learn to Fly” by Foo Fighters. This made me wonder about the reasons that inspired these … Continue reading Daily Pieces: Learn(ing) to Fly
A couple of weeks ago I watched a live stream of the Foo Fighters’ first in-studio mini-concert, and in addition to the great joy of seeing the guys healing, smiling, and clearly enjoying playing together, I was completely captivated by their new song, “Under You.” Even though I was more tuned in to the melody than to the lyrics, I still understood that it was … Continue reading Over It
March 8 In my adult life, I have never celebrated this holiday, for me, it was always linked to the official celebrations in the Soviet Union, just like November 7 or May 1. Recently, I started seeing the initial meaning of this day, and in a way, I understand why it should be marked in our calendars. But still, I cannot feel any joy – … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 7
Through the Looking Glass Some moments – especially the most important ones – tend to elude words and descriptions. Instead, they just stay, just linger in your memory with all their power and force. As a child and teenager, I kept a diary. I remember describing in detail the things that preceded a major event, and avoiding what was central- as if the very act … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 6
Happy Birthday, George! Today someone on Facebook asked to name our favorite song by George Harrison. And I immediately wondered if I could answer that question – because depending on my own state of mind I would choose a different song. When filled with love and excitement, I play “Someplace Else” on loop; when smitten by blues, I resort to “Blow Away.” But among those … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 5
February 24 The days of the week or dates of the month are neutral in general. And yet, we humans fill them with meanings, both good and bad. I used to like February, a pre-spring month when days become longer when the sun shines brighter, and the fresh snow is tinged with the special blue shadows that you can see only at this time of … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 4
Letting Go Of Algorithms There used to be a time when I would dread posting a new essay or a new podcast on my social media. No matter how I convinced myself that the number of likes or comments did not necessarily reflect people’s attitudes toward my work it was always painful; it would be self-deception to say that a creator can do without an … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 3
Teo Torriatte – a rare performance of 1993 by Brian May As a music geek, I absolutely adore hearing different versions of the same song, because I think it gives us a different insight into its meaning, especially when sung by its original creator. Thus, it is fascinating to hear the Cross version of “Heaven For Everyone,” with Roger Taylor on vocal: I think intuitively … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 2
I have been journaling all my life, starting at 12, and this habit probably contributed to my writing ambitions and abilities as I grew older. Over the past years, I have written my entries only occasionally, mainly when I felt the urge to confide my thoughts and emotions to paper. I experimented with the “morning pages” routine for a while (based on the advice I … Continue reading Daily Pieces – Day 1
A month ago, I found myself surrounded by the familiar faces that I knew well thanks to the selfies and photos that they posted on Instagram; I was home with my people, laughing, hugging, chatting, and waiting to meet Dr. Brian May, the man who brought us all together. After years of dreaming of that moment, I could not believe that it has finally come … Continue reading Stereoscopy Is Good For You (Darling)
Desperate Writers 