"Sitting like they were just kissed"
or how to receive a copy of 'Is Where We Are Now'
Sėdi kaip pabučiuotas, « sitting like they were just kissed. » This Lithuanian proverb refers to a person who is daydreaming, fantasizing or silent.
During my stay in Nida in August and September, I wrote a diary which I then turned into a little zine: Is Where We Are Now. It’s about all kinds of things, including a few encounters with daydreamers and other « charming mushroom-picking denizens. » I’ll be sending a copy for free anywhere in the world to the first three people replying with their postal address. But before (1) make sure the content might resonate with you by reading the abstracts below (2) you’ll have to promise yourself that you won’t sell the zine, use its written content without asking for my permission and that you’ll be generous enough to share it with any of your friends whom you think might find something in it.
« 18.08 Fermental Health
S, who is currently staying in residence at Rupert near Vilnius, came over for a short visit. S works around the topics of labour, environment and fermentation. S declared hating the idea of selling a practice or its products, and tries to avoid any exchange attached to the capitalistic system. S would rather share knowledge and trade its results. »
« 01.09 Memories of ice-skating times
As an introvert, I found that I cherished the company of two things : loneliness and Lithuanians. The latter say few words and don't seem afraid of silences – even, or especially, in the company of strangers. We'd been driving for at least half an hour down the Curonian Spit when M eventually asked if I was warm enough. I smiled and reassured M, whose fingers were now checking the radiators. Mist slowly covered the windows of the car.
« How's the winter here ? »
« Quiet. Nice. Wild weather. »
« Does it get cold ? »
« Not as much as on mainland. »
« Does it snow ? »
« It used to. Not so much anymore. The laguna also used to freeze. Fishermen would gather on the surface for days. From the shore, they looked like another village on the ice. It was quite beautiful to watch, actually. »
I looked through the right window and imagined dancing silhouettes on a thick white surface.
« Do people actually swim in the laguna ? I haven't seen any so far. »
« They also used to. The water was clearer than on the ocean side. Back in the days. Maybe in the seventies. »
Soon we reached the pier and took the ferry that brought us closer to the heavily industrialised port of Klaipeda. »
« 21.09 Dinner with V
V and a friend came over for dinner. If this zine was about one person, I would much rather write it about V. In the presence of V, all things seem to link up and make sense together. Vague ideas become possible and turn into concrete projects. Reality is no longer a slump of fuzzy impressions, it becomes palpable. V makes clear and dense sentences.
« People are afraid of the left here because of the association with USSR’s communism. » ; « Two things explain how Lithuanians are managing despite the higher cost of living and unchanged income: corruption and women’s labour. » ; « Lithuanians convince themselves they have no issues with racism because their country is mostly white. » ; « The government pretends it’s helping the Roma but the truth is that their community is heavily ostracized. » ; « Queerness is still marginal here which can be frustrating but also means that, unlike in the Netherlands for example, it hasn’t been cynically assimilated. » or « Things aren’t great here. But also they are. » »
A radio show was also recorded in Vilnius. Whilst I wouldn’t ask 2h of your life to listen to the whole thing, I would recommend you treat yourself to the first 7 minutes of the recording. To the infinite beauty of Beverly-Glenn Copeland, “softly turned to sing again.”
Take care,
Nono