What an amazing adventure so beautifully expressed.. my favorite is the library book with the smell that acts as virtual portal for time travel. Those moments are among the most magical detours on the road of life & feels extra lucky when it happens! <3
So beautifully written. Thank you for sharing your heart your family and your people. Oh and the cats too. I enjoyed listening to the Band Tonika. That was when Folk Rock was happening in the US. I look forward to your next post.
Super super wholesome. The kiddos will look back and be very grateful that their Mumma provided them with such a formative cultural experience. And that Black Sea sunrise, oof.
Also, while we are oversharing: I remember when we moved out of our childhood home and my dad moved my bed, thus finding a line of boogers along the wall just below the headrest. Surely we aren't the only ones? Or do normal kids just save the mess and recycle them straight away.
And I also loved reading this- as I’m the type who’s nostalgic for breakfast come lunch time, revisiting is such medicine. Especially the fact that you are sharing yourself this way with your boys, which is no mean feat but most of all the library find- one day o hope to come across some old ant and bee books
Tonika, I loved this so much! Thank you for sharing. So many gems. I especially loved that the librarian found your favorite book for you. I got teary-eyed, too! I have a couple of books in my childhood reading memory that I wish I could find. i can picture the cover on the front so clearly. xoxo
truly enjoyed the "tonic" of this Tonika-infused 100 proof travelogue! soooo awsome yer kiddos get ta share a piece of yer own childhood--library books an' even the cool house! I most enthusiastically recommend ya head ta yer local library (sadly none open 'round the clock here!) an' scoop up a copy of Virginia Lee Burton's, "The Little House" which given all ya wrote about yer childhoold home--will resonate I'm sure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_House So enjoyed the little home movie with the bed that held yer booger stash!
What a wonder the story of yer musical namesake (or vice versa) ---I love that yer name an' music are inextricably tied an' thankfully it's a cool band too! (ladies in bell bottomed jumpsuits, gents in big lapels, aviator glasses ALL around!)
An yer tale in general of "Bulgaria, Bulgaria" is remindin' me of the awesome song "Rumania, Rumania" by the Barry Sisters (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLRlcLP8xS8 ).. like yer lyrical piece, it starts out slow but then moves inta this joyful, celebrational rhythm--sort of a mix of pensive an' crazy "smokin' " feisty folks that despite livin' under communism have strong opinions, strong "likkor," an' toted the kids all over too. This phenomenon was known to me--I have good friends from both Albania & Armenia that told me of this--well inta the evenin' the cool balmy nights with adults chattin' over ciggies an' strong cawffee at cafes while the kids run amok, playin' under the tables, hangin' out... All I know who experienced this sliver of E. Euro life have such fond mem'ries of it.
So nice ta see yer kiddos---loved the "re-poses" comparin' the little snaps to the kids now bigger--it all looks....ta me... like LIFE. It's that vibrancy an' the "real" the textures that seem ta be missin' in the USA now--so funny that ya find it where ya left... or maybe not funny, mebbe poignant...
But you are right in the way you said, we make our own memories, we tint our own photos so ta speak! THANK YOU my friend fer takin' US-readers on a very "visceral" ADVENTURE!
Nice essay. My heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw the cover of Rufo the Redhead in that...but oh, it's personal and probably not appropriate for public comments. Let's just say, another synchronicity. A lot of this writing reminds me of living in Spain, Cyprus and Malta. Oh happy days. I always reckoned to live in Spain on a more permanent basis but my poor command of the language and the need to ply my art in English speaking waters put the kibosh on that. But I think Bulgaria, at least your representation of it, would have sat well with me. Nice writing as always ...Toni!!
PS. I loved that birthday photo of you with the bowl cut, the overalls, and the red shoes. Hahaha! Adorable! And I enjoyed the photos of your kids too. They seem to take after you in their freedom of spirit with no fear.
Hi Tonika, I was prompted to read this after somebody on Kathleen's site mentioned it in the comments, or maybe that was Kathleen. I figured I'd start with Part 1. I loved this, especially learning about your background. I confess, sorry to say, I knew absolutely "nada" about Bulgaria, but you made it come alive and real for me. Loved the music, all sung by people with beautiful smiles, in the most heartfelt of ways.
Now I gotta read Part 2 soon. Thanks for being so interesting and for your unique contribution to substack. You are definitely "none" of a kind. Thanks for sharing.
What an amazing adventure so beautifully expressed.. my favorite is the library book with the smell that acts as virtual portal for time travel. Those moments are among the most magical detours on the road of life & feels extra lucky when it happens! <3
That flower is passion flower, great for calming high anxiety and nervous disorders. One of our more unreal plants with such a great signature!
Very heartwarming and captivating read!!
Thanks for sharing!!
So beautifully written. Thank you for sharing your heart your family and your people. Oh and the cats too. I enjoyed listening to the Band Tonika. That was when Folk Rock was happening in the US. I look forward to your next post.
Running into Tonika's first soloist is a bit wild.
Stand up strong to the wildfire vaccine lobby.
A very engaging read. A welcome difference to the usual fare we get on substack!
Super super wholesome. The kiddos will look back and be very grateful that their Mumma provided them with such a formative cultural experience. And that Black Sea sunrise, oof.
Also, while we are oversharing: I remember when we moved out of our childhood home and my dad moved my bed, thus finding a line of boogers along the wall just below the headrest. Surely we aren't the only ones? Or do normal kids just save the mess and recycle them straight away.
And I also loved reading this- as I’m the type who’s nostalgic for breakfast come lunch time, revisiting is such medicine. Especially the fact that you are sharing yourself this way with your boys, which is no mean feat but most of all the library find- one day o hope to come across some old ant and bee books
Tonika, I loved this so much! Thank you for sharing. So many gems. I especially loved that the librarian found your favorite book for you. I got teary-eyed, too! I have a couple of books in my childhood reading memory that I wish I could find. i can picture the cover on the front so clearly. xoxo
truly enjoyed the "tonic" of this Tonika-infused 100 proof travelogue! soooo awsome yer kiddos get ta share a piece of yer own childhood--library books an' even the cool house! I most enthusiastically recommend ya head ta yer local library (sadly none open 'round the clock here!) an' scoop up a copy of Virginia Lee Burton's, "The Little House" which given all ya wrote about yer childhoold home--will resonate I'm sure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_House So enjoyed the little home movie with the bed that held yer booger stash!
What a wonder the story of yer musical namesake (or vice versa) ---I love that yer name an' music are inextricably tied an' thankfully it's a cool band too! (ladies in bell bottomed jumpsuits, gents in big lapels, aviator glasses ALL around!)
An yer tale in general of "Bulgaria, Bulgaria" is remindin' me of the awesome song "Rumania, Rumania" by the Barry Sisters (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLRlcLP8xS8 ).. like yer lyrical piece, it starts out slow but then moves inta this joyful, celebrational rhythm--sort of a mix of pensive an' crazy "smokin' " feisty folks that despite livin' under communism have strong opinions, strong "likkor," an' toted the kids all over too. This phenomenon was known to me--I have good friends from both Albania & Armenia that told me of this--well inta the evenin' the cool balmy nights with adults chattin' over ciggies an' strong cawffee at cafes while the kids run amok, playin' under the tables, hangin' out... All I know who experienced this sliver of E. Euro life have such fond mem'ries of it.
So nice ta see yer kiddos---loved the "re-poses" comparin' the little snaps to the kids now bigger--it all looks....ta me... like LIFE. It's that vibrancy an' the "real" the textures that seem ta be missin' in the USA now--so funny that ya find it where ya left... or maybe not funny, mebbe poignant...
But you are right in the way you said, we make our own memories, we tint our own photos so ta speak! THANK YOU my friend fer takin' US-readers on a very "visceral" ADVENTURE!
Nice essay. My heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw the cover of Rufo the Redhead in that...but oh, it's personal and probably not appropriate for public comments. Let's just say, another synchronicity. A lot of this writing reminds me of living in Spain, Cyprus and Malta. Oh happy days. I always reckoned to live in Spain on a more permanent basis but my poor command of the language and the need to ply my art in English speaking waters put the kibosh on that. But I think Bulgaria, at least your representation of it, would have sat well with me. Nice writing as always ...Toni!!
I copied the Christopher McCandless quote. thought it was appropriate. I like adventure, outside of the box:: comfort zones seem to be spirit killers.
PS. I loved that birthday photo of you with the bowl cut, the overalls, and the red shoes. Hahaha! Adorable! And I enjoyed the photos of your kids too. They seem to take after you in their freedom of spirit with no fear.
Hi Tonika, I was prompted to read this after somebody on Kathleen's site mentioned it in the comments, or maybe that was Kathleen. I figured I'd start with Part 1. I loved this, especially learning about your background. I confess, sorry to say, I knew absolutely "nada" about Bulgaria, but you made it come alive and real for me. Loved the music, all sung by people with beautiful smiles, in the most heartfelt of ways.
Now I gotta read Part 2 soon. Thanks for being so interesting and for your unique contribution to substack. You are definitely "none" of a kind. Thanks for sharing.
This is just gorgeous! More please!
This was so magical, Tonika! The meeting with the soloist gave me goosebumps. I love having this context for you, and happy to be on your journey.