単調

短調は、長調と同じくいいけれど、

単調は蝶々が恋しくなる状態。

05.24.20

Marion Faber

Marion Faber’s intelligence does not shine.  In her modest demeanor, it glows.  And, unintentionally, almost despite herself, it scintillates on occasion but only gently. 

I first met Marion when I interviewed her; she applied for a position at Swarthmore College in German language and literature, and I was one of the interviewers outside her specialty. In an instant I saw that glow and had no hesitation in recommending her, and she joined us. I also learned that we shared a parallel career course from UC Berkley to Harvard to Swarthmore, and, quickly, we became fast friends, discovering bit by bit our vast and varied areas of common interest in languages, music, art, and literature.  After my retirement from Swarthmore in 2001, I moved to NYC, and our distance widened but, her periodic visit of the city and my occasional trip to Swarthmore resulted in greater intimacy.  We came to know each other well enough that it was often unnecessary to say a lot as we understood each other without many words. 

In our interaction, if I bring up a subject she always had something to say about it and then querying words, and our discussion develops and then expands from one topic to another, and we have a wonderful time, a trite expression here but for which I have no better words. 

Marion was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on 27 March, and she passed away on 30 April.  I mourn her; or, rather more accurately, her living presence continues to dwell in my being, never to leave. 

05.03.20

Clean Plate 食べ残さず

Having spent my childhood during the years of dire food shortage, during and after the World War, I acquired the habit of cleaning up the plate to the very last bit of food on it, whatever food is served on it, whether I liked it or not, and the habit never left me all my life to this day of old age. 

私は世界大戦中と戦後の最悪の食糧難に育ちましたので、 食べ物は、好き嫌い問わず、何であろうとも最後のひとかけらも残さずに食べる習慣が身について一生離れず、この老年までも続けてきました。

04/01/20