This is not a review

Yesterday, I wrote a letter to my aunt Helen. She has breast cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy. I understand that it's working as well as can be expected, and I hope she is okay. I crocheted her a small pink ribbon badge, like those worn to show support for those with breast cancer. Like almost everything I make, I forgot to take a photo of it before I sent it. I'll say it was intentional, and that it was to be seen by her only...
I posted that, and walked to town. The sky was amazingly clear and blue, and the sun was warm on my face. It really felt like the first day of spring, though that's still a way off. I had sushi for lunch, and went to the art gallery.
Wow. I was amazed by both the exhibitions on the ground floor - Andrew Drummond's Observation/Action/Reflection, and Taryn Simon's An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar. Drummond's work on movement and chaos felt mind expanding, and Simon's photographs brought to light a whole section of culture that exists unseen to most. Both are on 'til September 5th, and are highly recommended. The day after they close, I will turn 26.
I was feeling electric after the art. Anything felt possible, and I was covered in shivers.
'congratulations!', 'be polite', 'openyoureyes', 'look around you', and 'there's magic in the air' are some of the latest stickers I've put around town. I'd advise you to pay heed.

A letter

"I see the progressive growth of apathy within our Western society. I see people's overwhelming tendency to minimise the brilliance of each moment, I think the key to life is to realise that there will never be another you, and because there will never be another human who could experience the world through the same subjective lens quite like you can, that each of us are essentially living art making history. Boredom is a sickness. I urge you not to waste time, and rather charge straight fucking ahead at life itself.” – Darren Bennet
This was a letter written to Adbusters magazine in 2006. It was the last thing I read before leaving to meet a friend.

Activites

I've sent a few letters to people. Their contents have been occasionally surreal. The offer still stands.

I'm attempting to crochet a poncho for my mother for christmas. I had a look at patterns, and decided that I could just figure it out myself. I spoke to her on the phone. She said I must be pretty fast with a crochet hook. It's going to be a challenge.

I'm also writing a review of my year. Part 1 will be up soon.

Next week on the radio, I will be listing my Top 10 Gigs, Songs, and Releases of the Year. What are your favourites?

A correspondence

Here is a picture of some of the cards I've been making

I know that you love receiving letters in the mail. If you would like a letter from me, send me an email with your address - superchai@gmail.com - and I'll get writing. It will be handwritten, in a hand made envelope. Anywhere in the world. Also, if you'd like a card, let me know.

Letters

I sent Beth a letter. It was Fastpost, and I put two Fastpost stickers on it. It really seemed to give the post people a hurry up.

The last letter I received was from my poppa. He is my fathers father, and I had written him a letter. Enclosed within it was a card to my gran, who shares the birthday with myself and my twin sister Kate. In fact, when Kate and I turned 6 on Sep 6th, gran turned 60.

Unfortunately, she now has Alzheimer's. I never used to be worried by that disease - people age, and probably won't last forever. But of course, it's so different when it happens to someone you love. Seeing my gran (and my late nana), who has lived this amazingly strong, dignified life, be brought down by her own mind is heart-breaking.

I cried as I wrote the letter to my poppa. He is probably the person I respect the most, and I can only hope to be thought of by others as I highly as I think of him. I cried when I read his reply.