In addition to cooler body temperature and slower metabolism, limited motions help hibernating animals to conserve energy and survive the winter months. Yet, periodical arousals are important for some of them to maintain air supplies and blood circulation, preventing them from falling into eternal rest.
Since the start of Goldfish Odyssey, I maintained a steady pace of writing and posting. I wrote during mom’s hospitalization and after her passing. I wrote throughout the shutdown of COVID. There were longer gaps between posts after I started the discussions on Chinese art songs. After the publication of the post on Xu Zhimo’s “Chance Encounter,” I had been silent for a while.
Writing about the tidal waves of political and cultural changes in China during the first decades of the twentieth century, the ideas and creativity of activists, and their often-dramatic lives took an emotional toll on me. I felt the burdens of continuing the task of balancing traditions and new ideas. Acutely, I was aware of my inadequacy. I needed time to reflect.
To take my project into the next stage, examining musical settings of Chinese poetry, I had to get organized. For all these efforts to not be in vain, I began to think of bring these works in front of new audiences. I realized that I needed time. Friends and colleagues continued to provide me with information, suggestions and supports
As daylight hours lengthening and outdoor temperatures warming, my thoughts gradually became active again—though slowly. Awakening from a long sleep takes time and efforts. I look forward to a fruitful year.