OU blog

Personal Blogs

Jim McCrory

Good morning, China, America, Brazil and the four corners of the earth. I have a confession

Visible to anyone in the world
Edited by Jim McCrory, Saturday, 29 June 2024, 14:49


Image by https://unsplash.com/@dear_jondog

 

I suppose it must have been a decade ago. I was walking through Glasgow—Sauchiehall street to be precise. A man smiled at me; just a simple smile with no other motive than to acknowledge human connection.

I will be honest; it was one of those days I woke up in Camazotz and needed some kind of lift. I often pray on such occasions.

Anyway, that smile, I never forgot it. The connection to a kind stranger had considerable impact that day. John Koenig, in his book, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows coined the phrase Xeno to crystallise such an emotion. That momentary interaction of human connection that relieves one of feeling lonesome in this busy world.


Permalink
Share post
Jim McCrory

Good Evening Cambodia! I like your word, Kâmtéa (កំទេរ)

Visible to anyone in the world
Edited by Jim McCrory, Friday, 28 June 2024, 09:23

Image by https://unsplash.com/@owen_was


 

The first time I felt the concept of Kâmtéa  was back when I was twelve years old. I spent the summer on The Island of Bute, we had a cabin on Bogany Farm. There were around sixty cabins, and families would visit on two-week vacations.

The year in question I met new friends whom we shared many hours with. We made a tree swing in the woods, and we would talk for hours on end. Bonds would form, but when you are twelve years old, such bonds are so easily broken when we are under the authority of our guardians.

You see, my friends would have to return home, and I would be left as lonely as an empty pocket with only the moon and stars for company.

The song, Cottonfields by Creedence Clearwater Revival played frequently on the radio that year and every time I hear it now, I still feel that sense of Kâmtéa welling up.

 

Kâmtéa in the Khmer language captures a deep emotional state, often associated with sadness, mourning, or the experience of loss.

 


Permalink Add your comment
Share post

This blog might contain posts that are only visible to logged-in users, or where only logged-in users can comment. If you have an account on the system, please log in for full access.

Total visits to this blog: 96245