January 2018
By Amir Bagheri
It was in the middle of autumn in 2014; I was sitting on the very back seat of a minibus, that was driving down the curvy roads of Alborz mountain range. I was leaving Masouleh (My favourite village in the world) after having spent two days there. I remember observing my surroundings with a huge smile on my face. The clear water stream going down the mountain, the red, yellow, and orange leaves on the trees and the ground, and the soul cleansing smell of rain infused with mud.
To this day, I have never felt as happy as I did in that moment. I was simply just happy; for no reason. I did not know where I was headed and it did not matter. I was glad to be present; the past and the future were suddenly irrelevant.
I also remember that I was deeply drawn into the sound of Miles Davis’ trumpet in his masterpiece of a song “Flamenco Sketches (Alternate Take)“.
Perhaps it was the sound of Miles’ music that complemented my experience throughout that journey. Afterall, jazz, itself, is an improvised journey with no destination.
Those who know me well enough, know how passionately in love I am with music; but more specifically with jazz music. There is neither a plan nor a destination in its sounds. Once it starts, you don’t know when it will end. It is the journey of the sounds that you trust. Every once in a while, there is a sound or two that catch you off guard, but you allow it; simply because it is jazz.
Over the last few years, every time I was faced with difficult situations I set aside the time to lie down and to listen to Flamenco Sketches with my eyes closed; reliving that moment I had experienced in the autumn of 2014.
I remind myself that my life is an unplanned journey; just like jazz. I may be in control of it from time to time, but I simply don’t know how life can catch me by suprise or when it will end. I remind myself that the most important thing is being present, in this journey. All the rest is irrelevant.
Dear Odd Family,
Happy New Year.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
In this issue:
Poetry:
Masks of a Broken Man – Helikaon
The feet – Shameelah Khan
Airport – Sumeya Gasa
Self Love and Dead Exes – Annika Kat
Misplaced Identity – Kylie Fisher
Photo Series:
Roadside Memorial – Reatile Moalusi
Short Stories:
Memories Belie the Footprints in the Snow – Nicholas Bruce
Interviews:
Interview with Robin “Phoenix” Wright – Shameelah Khan
Travel:
Love in Tokyo – Nicola Pilkington
Columns:
Persian Poetry: Journey – Mehdi Bagheri
