People person

I like people. Well, I don’t actually like them, but I find them interesting.

Why? Because people generally have a peculiar way of being. They can simultaneously be mad, sad, violent, calm, hypocrites, gentle, helpful, irritated. It all depends. It depends on the environment, on the abhorring stare of someone in the bus to work, on the books one reads and so on.

It’s great to look at one person and try to imagine his or her past, to picture a reason for a frown, to decipher the meaning of every wrinkle, to try and learn something new. People are interesting because they’re always surprising. I’m not a fool, I know the
world isn’t all that rosy, flowery and good. There are good people and bad people, there are people concerned with their future, there are people who don’t have a future, there are people who make millions and there are people who beg for mercy. In spite of it all, the world is great. To me it’s just like the Indonesian motto: “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (There is unity in diversity).
Following the advice of a friend, or perhaps not a friend, but a person whose advice was well-meant:
It’s a matter of surrounding yourself with those who cherish life, cherish fun, cherish wit, cherish you.

The pictures are of people in Maramures, Romania, the region I was born in. I like to return to that part of Romania as often as I can, not only because the landscape is unique, but because the people are unique. Somehow, civilization hasn’t affected them as much and they still feel the need to base their lives on tradition. Sad to say this only applies to some old folks who still have some solid creeds. The youth, well, they are more into cell-phones, cars, motorcycles and the like. It’s understandable. We’re “evolving”.

We used to laugh a lot, oh don’t you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had imaginings and we had
All kinds of things and we laughed
And needed love… yes, i do
Oh and i remember you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to cry a lot, oh don’t you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had simplicity and we had
Warm toast for tea and we laughed
And needed love.. yes, i do
Oh and i remember you

(Cat Stevens – Old Schoolyard)

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