The Butterfly Wrestler

Luckily, I am writing a whole book about the year 2023 and what it meant to me. I learned so much. I am glad I am writing a book and can share. When doing a post about the year gone by and looking forward to the year 2024. It is hard to put it in one paragraph. But, I think I learned a very good lesson I would like to share. The person I followed the most this year on instagram died in early 2022. His name is Thich Nhat Hanh. Someday I hope to learn his name and be able to pronounce it. But, one line really got me. "A cloud never dies". I think if I read any of his writing five years ago. I would not have paid much attention to it. I started watching his calligraphy videos in the beginning of the year. That is why I write some words and do a painting next to it. It is my form of my meditation. But, negative thinking is really hard to break. I am certainally not there yet. But, I do always try to look for the silver lining. And, that was sort of easy. Becau

I love being home. Don't get me wrong. But, it is full days of inspiration that light me up. Set my soul on fire. Fill me up with desire for the future. I had a great local day of classes and a work party which left me smiling. But, yesterday stirred everything up in me to feel the joy of the season. It has been building up since I saw Ian and his friends perform the Charlie Brown Christmas Show. I don't want to pay too much attention to days gone by. When I am home it makes me feel pretty blue. So I, like Julie Andrews, think of my favorite things. And, then act on them. I don't think I have been in the City at holiday time for more then twenty years. I have wonderful memories of my dad taking us to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas and Easter shows. Yesterday, I took a bus from Target in Brick, through Garden State Getaways . It was very convenient and most of all relaxing. Love when someone else is in the driver seat. I tried to read on the way there

So much time, but afraid to revisit my past. After about a half an hour of sorting photos, I had enough. I put a newspaper clipping away to read later. This week I read it, and decided to write about it. It is about Enzo Stuarti. He lived right next door, when I was very young. He did have children who were more my sister and brother's age. I just remember after he moved, he was still a big part of our household. He did a very famous ragu commercial. And, I would continue to buy records to give to my father as gifts. I just watched a video of him singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. It was sung on the Ed Sullivan show and in black and white. His performance was really enthusiastic. I found it really moving. One of my favorite experiences when I owned Greetings from Geralyn in Convention Hall in Asbury Park. It was early on. And, a women walking her dog stopped and started to talk about records in general. She then went on to all the times she had seen Bruce S