Davka

Duyvken asked me (in my commentbox) about:

"that Hebrew word for when something that would be so wonderful happens unexpectedly at a moment when you are not where you normally would be to enjoy it? I'm thinking of when I was at my sister-in-law's and Mr Duyvken came home early from work."

Duyvken was thinking of the word DAVKA.

I know! From all the Hebrew words Duyvken could have asked about, davka she asked about one which sounds almost exactly like her own blogname!

So...that's one way to use the word "davka." In that sentence it gives a meaning of "precisely...in a surprising way," it's hard to translate, as you can see.

But when D and I originally discussed the word "davka," I was thinking of a slightly different use of the word. This use is still slightly humorous and refers to a surprising occurrence, but it also has the added hint of IRRITABILITY associated with it. For example:

"For the last three evenings Duyvken hoped that Mr. D might come home early. By the fourth evening she decided that he was clearly too busy this week and therefore went over to her sister-in-law's for some company. DAVKA on that night, Mr. D came home early to surprise her."

Get it?

Now...before you get too smug about understanding that, I should point out that "davka" has an additional use which takes that same definition but multiplies the irritability and annoyance factor, while minimising the humour (it's all in the context and the intonation used). Let me give you an example:

"Eleanor is sitting at the dining table eating a big piece of chocolate cake. Mr. Commentbox walks into the room and asks 'Did you go for your jog this morning?' Eleanor responds 'Davka NOW you have to ask me this question?'

Tinniegirl to the rescue

You may remember that I received a wonderful box of luckies from Tinniegirl a couple of weeks ago. I have kept that box on my desk, looking through it every day, and every day I notice something different about its contents.

Tonight, feeling restless, I looked through it once again and decided to finally get my act together and write a poem using some of the items as my inspiration. Thanks Tinniegirl, Mrs. Mills is working her magic still.

PATTERN FOR A SUNDAY NIGHT

Two of diamonds
Eight of hearts,
Longest day
Of far-fetched love.

All my knights
Have fled the house,
Castled, queened
And kinged at last.

Funds divided,
Lessons learned,
The job
Which must be done.

So why do I
When darkness falls,
Want only
Far to run?

Do I now sprint?
Or just retreat?
These patterns
Oft repeat.

Yet here I sit,
With darkness linked,
To bed-made
Sad sing-song.


**Here are the objects which I used:

Thanks Tinniegirl xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

1974 revisited (believe me, it's worth it) (you'll thank me)

It occurred to me tonight that there is one more song which my father loves to take out of his vinyl record collection every so often...and I started humming that tune and wondering if it too was...perhaps...a Eurovision song.

Well, wouldn't you know it, it is indeed. It apparently came 3rd that year, you know...that year that ABBA won for Waterloo. So I was just about to post the song for your listening pleasure (and believe me, I GUARANTEE laughter) when I thought, "Hmmm...but which song came 2nd?" Well, wouldn't you know it, ITALY...Paola's Italy. So I look up the Italian '74 song and lo and behold it is actually quite beautiful, and there are comments from a mere week or two ago showing that people are STILL, NOW, in 2009, STILL upset that it didn't win first place.

So I present you with the Italian "Si":




Lovely, no?



What, are you still holding out hope to get a glimpse of the '74 3rd place?

You want a good laugh, don't you? I know I do......

But be warned.

If you thought that "Kisses for me" song was addictive, you ain't heard nothing yet:

Eleanor proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is way past her bedtime:

My final Eurovision dedication goes out to dear Alice in England. "Save all your kisses for me" is considered an absolute CLASSIC in my family, and my father often sings it to me on special occasions. You will immediately note the crazy-cool dance moves as well!

Getting completely carried away now...

This is dedicated to Eurolush. Perhaps your next little video will feature a song and dance?!

I was seven years old when I watched this.

I definitely see a sing-off in our future E, featuring this little beauty. I think we might need a beer or two to get us started.

Blogging cheers me up!

If you look at the first post of the day (this is my all-time record for number of posts published in one day) you will see that I was in a somewhat melancholy mood.

A few commentboxes later, and look at me! I'm giggling at the thought of my blogging buddies all over the world watching classic Eurovision videos. You cheered me up!!

This one is dedicated to Anna, my Swedish blogging buddy. I was 5 years old when I watched this on our little black and white television in our apartment in Israel. You, Anna, were probably sitting beside your grandma and singing along while sewing or knitting or crocheting...no?

I just love that image.

For Kim, because I can't resist showing her that my mind REALLY does work this way:

So Kim mentioned in her commentbox on my latest post that she would never in a million years have believed that I could draw a connection between our road trip to Mary's home and an Israeli song (and the Eurovision no less!).

I know! I know! Mr. Commentbox can often be found staring at me and shaking his head in wonder as I describe my thought processes.

Of course, now I have to post about what song I was humming on my way back from visiting YOU, dear Kim. Also Israeli, and I think the composer and singer (Achinoam Nini) did sing in a Eurovision or too. Here is her song "Uri," the lyrics are a poem by the great Rachel Bluwstein, a wondrous poet whose book was sent to me by my grandfather among the many boxes of his library.

In our crazy world, full of the rushing rushing rushing, it often helps me to ground myself in such poetry and music. Seeing you with your beautiful boys I couldn't help but feel Rachel smiling from far away, so very happy for you.

I am also attaching a rough translation I found of the poem, which is far more beautiful in its original Hebrew, of course.



BARREN

If only I had a son, a little child, bright, with black curls,
To hold his hand and to walk slowly,
Down the paths of the garden,
A child.
A little one.

I would call him Uri, my Uri,
The short name is soft and pure,
A fragment of brightness,
I'll call out to my dark little boy,
"Uri."

I will yet become as bitter as the mother Rachel.
I will still pray like Hannah at Shilo.
I will yet long
For him.



By the way...and you'll LOVE this...as I was listening to this song just now my son (working on the computer next to me) turned to me and said "Could you please make it lower? What IS that song???!!! Ugh..."