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Little Rainbow
Jun. 13th, 2004 12:42 amSo I had this American friend in Beijing whose Chinese name is Peng Xiao Xia. She said her mother told her Xiao Xia means Little (Xiao) Rainbow (Xia - fourth tone for those of you who are 'in the know;' it sounds like 'shh-ya!' for those who aren't). We all thought that was cute and appropriate so we called her Little Rainbow for the rest of the time there. At some point, Jason told me that Xia actually means the color the sky turns at sunset.
There's something about sunsets. When I was in LA, I really wanted to see one of their famous smog-assisted sunsets. I also really wanted to see the sun set over the ocean. I've only once been somewhere for any amount of time that I could see that awesome phenomenon (Haifa) and I didn't. Well, no such luck this time, but I did get to see the sun set over the Universal Studios hills and over downtown LA. It was quite the experience.
I developed my film from that trip (anyone in DC can come take a look) and 35mm do not give justice to the splendor of Xia. Also the fact that it is fleeting and ever-changing helps its beauty.
On the same roll of film were a bunch of pictures from the last time I got to chill with Yu-Ling before she went to Spain (she just called from the camp she's counseling at in Michigan, btw, and had to get off the phone, but it is good to know she's still alive). That evening, we stopped at the kosher deli in Wheaton and picked up some sandwiches (mmmm) and drove off to the Wheaton Rec Center or something of the sort to eat. There, we watched the sun set over suburban Maryland. Those pictures, too, did not really evoke the fullness of that sunset, obviously, but reality often falls short of memory. That's why we have art.
Today, I watched Shabbat depart from Historic Shaw, DC. Something about the way the clouds were moving and the voices that called from the soccer field and basketball courts and the guy sitting with his girlfriend and the little kid pushing the wagon with her parents and younger brother made me think about Little Rainbow and admire the richness of the Chinese language and of G-d's creation.
Usually sunsets go ignored. Tanai's dad once told me that there are two things of beauty to be thankful for every day - sunrise and sunset. I usually don't make sunrise, but I think I will look more closely at sunsets from now on. They're really quite incredible, no matter the coast.
More on this (to beat a topic to death). I asked Stephanie how she can be upset while living between mountains and palm trees and the ocean and she said that she sometimes just forgets to look. I need to remember to look at the wonder around me, too, because I know DC is really a pretty town.... But I really love the mountains :)
...I wonder how you say Xia in Hebrew...
There's something about sunsets. When I was in LA, I really wanted to see one of their famous smog-assisted sunsets. I also really wanted to see the sun set over the ocean. I've only once been somewhere for any amount of time that I could see that awesome phenomenon (Haifa) and I didn't. Well, no such luck this time, but I did get to see the sun set over the Universal Studios hills and over downtown LA. It was quite the experience.
I developed my film from that trip (anyone in DC can come take a look) and 35mm do not give justice to the splendor of Xia. Also the fact that it is fleeting and ever-changing helps its beauty.
On the same roll of film were a bunch of pictures from the last time I got to chill with Yu-Ling before she went to Spain (she just called from the camp she's counseling at in Michigan, btw, and had to get off the phone, but it is good to know she's still alive). That evening, we stopped at the kosher deli in Wheaton and picked up some sandwiches (mmmm) and drove off to the Wheaton Rec Center or something of the sort to eat. There, we watched the sun set over suburban Maryland. Those pictures, too, did not really evoke the fullness of that sunset, obviously, but reality often falls short of memory. That's why we have art.
Today, I watched Shabbat depart from Historic Shaw, DC. Something about the way the clouds were moving and the voices that called from the soccer field and basketball courts and the guy sitting with his girlfriend and the little kid pushing the wagon with her parents and younger brother made me think about Little Rainbow and admire the richness of the Chinese language and of G-d's creation.
Usually sunsets go ignored. Tanai's dad once told me that there are two things of beauty to be thankful for every day - sunrise and sunset. I usually don't make sunrise, but I think I will look more closely at sunsets from now on. They're really quite incredible, no matter the coast.
More on this (to beat a topic to death). I asked Stephanie how she can be upset while living between mountains and palm trees and the ocean and she said that she sometimes just forgets to look. I need to remember to look at the wonder around me, too, because I know DC is really a pretty town.... But I really love the mountains :)
...I wonder how you say Xia in Hebrew...
