sexta-feira, 14 de janeiro de 2022
DINNER WITH THE DAAI SI HING
quinta-feira, 13 de janeiro de 2022
BIU JI: AN ESSAY ON FEAR.
quarta-feira, 12 de janeiro de 2022
A DAY WITH MASTER URSULA LIMA
We ended that wonderful day with the celebration of the birthday of Si Suk's husband, dear Ricardo Lopes[PHOTO]. Well, from the Copacabana School to the restaurant we went together by car, and I was sitting in the back seat, I remembered the times I came back from Méier with Si Suk driving, her mother in the passenger seat and me in the back seat. Indeed, now that they are in the United States, that day for me felt strangely like the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. And this car ride brought the right dose of nostalgia to a moment like that.
I walked back alone for almost 4 km to where my car was. Even with my headphones on, my cell phone's battery died and I walked in silence. I missed music for a walk like that, but all I had was the sound of the wind. And it was a difficult walk, at every corner, I remembered an event or moment with Si Suk since her schools were always between those blocks in Copacabana. I didn't remember we had so many stories there.
After my private farewell ritual, I'm looking foward for new opportunities for new stories with Si Suk Ursula. Sigamos.
terça-feira, 11 de janeiro de 2022
A LIFE DEDICATED TO MARTIAL ARTS
TAKING SI FU TO THE AIRPORT. WITH: NO ONE ELSE.
Numa noite de novembro de 2021, seguia com Si Fu por uma Linha Amarela quase deserta. Rumávamos em direção ao Aeroporto Interacional do Rio de Janeiro, por ocasião de seu retorno aos EUA, depois de uma estadia breve no Brasil.
As ruas estavam desertas por conta da final do torneio mais importante de esporte na América do Sul : A Libertadores da América. Meu próprio time estava disputando a final, então já arrumado para levar Si Fu ao aeroporto, parei na casa da Si Suk Ursula e assisti parte do jogo com seu marido e tio. Porém, antes que terminasse, já havia saído para encontrar Si Fu.
Voltando ao carro com Si Fu em direção ao aeroporto, quando já estávamos a poucos quilômetros do estacionamento, Si Fu parecia estar falando com a Jade: “... Filha, eu to chegando no aeroporto e a Família Kung Fu deve estar lá, depois eu falo com você... “ – Eu já sabia que não haveria ninguém além de mim no aeroporto, mas não havia sido por falta de convite. E foram necessários poucos minutos, até que enquanto Si Fu estivesse tirando o cinto de segurança, me perguntasse: “ Quem mais vai estar aí? “ – Respondi que ninguém mais estaria. Si Fu então apoiou-se com um dos braços na janela e o outro esticou e tocou o banco em que sentava. Ele olhou para a frente, e estalou a língua como costuma fazer quando tem uma constatação de uma perda de oportunidade ou algo assim... - “...Eu não toquei ninguém ontem... “ – Comentou ele, se referindo a celebração de seu aniversário na noite anterior. Esperei ele concluir o pensamento também olhando para frente sentado no banco do motorista. - “...Muita gente acha que minha vida é aquilo, mas não é. Se a minha vida fosse só aquilo, não existiria homenagem. O desejo de homenagear vem exatamente de momentos como esse, quando ninguém está vendo. Na hora da celebração, você não toca ninguém, você toca em momentos assim, e é o que te leva a querer fazer uma homenagem como a que você fez ontem... “ – Após essa consideração, saímos do carro e fomos andando até o local de “Check-in“. O aeroporto estava tão deserto, que nos perguntamos se estava funcionando.E quando conseguimos fazer o check-in e despachar as malas, resolvemos sentar na loja Kopenhagen. Si Fu reclamou da máscara que estava usando, preferiu não beber café [Acho que ele precisa evitar por conta da cirurgia].
One night in November 2021, I took Si Fu by car at his mother´s home. We were heading towards the International Airport of Rio de Janeiro, on the occasion of his return to the USA, after a brief stay in Brazil.
The streets were deserted due to the final of the most important sports tournament in South America: Libertadores da América. My own team was playing in the final, so already dressed to take Si Fu to the airport, I stopped at Si Suk Ursula's house and watched part of the game with her husband and uncle. However, before it was over, I had already left to take Si Fu.
Returning to the car with Si Fu towards the airport, when we were already a few kilometers from the parking lot, Si Fu seemed to be talking to Jade: "... Daughter, I'm arriving at the airport and the Kung Fu Family must be there, later I'll talk to you...” – I already knew that there would be no one but me at the airport, but it wasn't for lack of an invitation. And it took a few minutes, until while Si Fu was taking off his seat belt, he asked me: “Who else will be there? “I replied that no one else would be. Si Fu then leaned with one arm on the window and the other stretched and touched the bench he was sitting on. He looked straight ahead, and clicked his tongue as he usually does when he has a realization of a lost opportunity or something... - "...I didn't touch anyone yesterday..." - He commented, referring to the celebration. of his birthday the night before. I waited for him to finish the thought also looking ahead sitting in the driver's seat. - “...Many people think my life is that, but it's not. If my life were just that, there would be no homage. The desire to honor someone, comes exactly from moments like this, when no one is watching. At the time of the celebration, you don't touch anyone, you touch at moments like this, and that's what makes you want to pay a tribute like the one you did yesterday to me... " - After this consideration, we got out of the car and walked to the “Check-in” location. The airport was so deserted because of the final match, that we wondered if it was working. And when we were able to check-in and drop off his bags, we decided to sit at the Kopenhagen Coffee shop. Si Fu complained about the mask he was wearing, he preferred not to drink coffee [I think he needs to avoid it because of the surgery].
Já havia sentado ali em outras ocasiões, por outras razões e por outras partidas... Mas naquele dia, algo parecia não encaixar. Eu lembrava da quantidade de pessoas que estavam no evento de celebração do aniversário do Si Fu na noite anterior, e como que naquele momento de se despedir apenas eu estava.... Parecendo ler minha mente, Si Fu indagou com um sorriso: “ E aí? Você queria que mais quem estivesse aqui? “ – Si Fu citou três nomes, e ilustrou situações hipotéticas e caricatas, que poderiam estar acontecendo se estes estivessem ali naquele momento. Ao final, ele me perguntou: “ Você queria que essas pessoas estivessem aqui agora, ou quer aproveitar o momento? “
Mesmo com esse convite para a ação feito pelo Si Fu com sua pergunta. Ainda me incomodava a diferença do tratamento da noite anterior para aquele momento, representado pela presença apenas da minha pessoa. E no meio do meu incomodo, lembrei-me de uma outra fala do Si Fu a respeito desta função: “...Sabe, Thiago... As vezes nessa função de 'Si Fu' a gente tem que ser meio Dom Quixote mesmo...“
I had sat there on other occasions, for other reasons and for other departures... But that day, something didn't seem to fit. I remembered the amount of people who were at the event to celebrate Si Fu's birthday the night before, and as if at that moment of saying goodbye, only I was... Seeming to read my mind, Si Fu asked with a smile: "So what? Did you wish anyone else was here? “- Si Fu mentioned three names, and illustrated hypothetical and caricatured situations, which could be happening if they were there at that moment. At the end, he asked me: “Do you wish these people were here now, or do you want to enjoy the moment with me? "
Even with this invitation to action made by Si Fu with his question. It still bothered me the difference between the treatment of the night before and that moment, represented by the presence only of my person. And in the midst of my discomfort, I remembered another statement by Si Fu about this role of Kung Fu Family Leader: “...You know, Thiago... Sometimes in this role of 'Si Fu' we have to be a bit like Don Quixote. ...“