Dirk is my beloved neighbour downstairs.  He’s a theatre director … and an all-round creative human being.

Florian is my friend.  He’s staying with me for a week as he studies for exams at U Gent.

This morning Dirk invited us for breakfast.

Voilà …

So many flavours.  So many colours.  So much fine conversation.

I especially enjoyed some things that Dirk said.  He talked about inspiring young actors to be themselves onstage, to be uniquely great, to reach towards the audience.  The words that follow are close to the words he chose.

If you chase butterflies, they’ll fly away.

If you create and nurture a lovely garden with the right ingredients, the butterflies will come, and share their beauty with you.

***

If the earth is hard, dig it up and turn it over.  The soil will be dark and moist.  Plant your seed here.  So many actors, so many different kinds of flowers.  We will make them into a bouquet and give it to our audience.

***

I gazed in wonder at the eloquence of the man, but more so at the humanity, the love of all things in the world.  Dirk told us he had that as a kid – seeing the majesty of sunlight through the trees, the shapes of houses, the green of grass. 

Dirk still sees.  Florian and I got to witness the wide spread of his arms.