mother nature is a man and other observations..

Wonderful Quote

Just read this on my Facebook page and not only do I believe in the words, they work for me. I count all my furry loves in this group as well.

” Everyone you have ever loved in your life becomes a part of your soul. They never leave. They’re always inside you, and you can bring them out whenever you want,”                  Nate Kenyon

A soul connected love never dies. The person may not be with you in the physical sense, but their energy and love never leaves  you and is most certainly a part of your life, every day and every night. If you believe in guardian angels, they are watching over you. Believing this way is a belief system that gives great comfort to those of us who don’t question, but exalt in memory and feelings. Once you have loved and been loved, you have experienced in life sheer joy. Celebrate and rejoice instead of feeling sad. It’s a much better feeling,

London Philharmonic Orchestra..Carnegie Hall..Rachmaninoff.Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Vladimir Jurowski, Principal Conductor and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Piano.

There are those moments when music and art can overwhelm your emotions. Almost a sensory overload. I have always said how grateful I am to be living in New York City, where I moved ten years ago after my husbands sudden death. Having such a wealth of cultural activities to do has been one of my passions. To quote  a line  about the Rachmaninoff piece….”This is a memorable melody with a strong, simple harmonic outline, designed by Paganini himself as a theme for variations.Using this theme, Rachmaninoff creates a series of 23 of his own variations–an unusual application of the title “Rhapsody.” though this is perhaps justified by the freedom with which the theme is treated, especially in the latter stages of the piece.”  The conductor was born in Moscow in 1972. His passion for the music  was brilliant and the audience gave him a standing ovation and continued to applaud until he did an encore.  The pianist was equally magnificent in his passionate playing. The orchestra is recognized as one of the finest orchestras on the international stage. Quite a combination of talent and needless to say it was an exhilarating experience.

This piece is has always been one of my favorites. It was yours as well and we experienced so many times together. I know you weren’t with me in person, but your energy was and we did exalt together , but apart.

Berliner Philharmoniker….Sir Simon Rattle…Music Director and Conductor

Living in New York City allows  me the joy and opportunity to experience and exalt in wonderful Carnegie Hall. Most recently Rachmaninoff, Symphonic  Dances and  Stravinsky, The Firebird. I certainly don’t pretend to be a music critic, and my enjoyment is far more emotional than intellectual. I don’t  know every nuance of the pieces, but according to the New York Times, I knew I was in for a treat. Just to be at Carnegie Hall is both a splendor and magical experience. The sound perfection wherever you are seated. For music lovers, I quote….”Rachmaninoff’s  Symphonic dances is his last major work, a dazzling three movement orchestral showpiece bursting with color and intense lyricism that weaves threads of Russian Orthodox chant with the harrowing  Dies Irae, resulting in a vibrant finale. Stravinsky’s  The Firebird, the first of the great ballets he wrote for Sergei Diaghilev  is cinematic in its vivid depiction of monsters and infernal dances and concludes with one of the most thrilling endings in all of music.” ….and then the brilliant conductor Sir Simon Rattle. When he took the orchestra’s helm in 2002 he initiated the Education Program to ensure that the Berliner Philharmoniker  reached a wider, younger audience. A special passion is to bring the work and music to young people from different social and cultural backgrounds.

Once upon a time, my memories of Carnegie Hall began with my husband. In ten years since he has died, every time I go, he is with me. His energy envelopes the Hall and gives me the feeling of listening to the music with rapture and sadness.  We held hands when the music touched us at the same time. The emotions evoked by the majestic sounds of the music are a gentle melding of memories  and missing…. But so forever  grateful to be in this place, in this city, with a dear childhood  friend, and rejoicing in the moment. Sheer joy!!!!

Je Voyage

Remarkable Charles Aznavour at Madison Square Garden, New York City. His farewell tour. 90 years young performing, his beautiful voice for over two hours, and even dancing a bit. He did sit for a little, but most of the time moving and singing from his heart and  soul. Romance personified. Evoking vivid memories for me of another time, another lifetime ago. He sang in  French, English, and  Spanish. He introduced his song Je Voyage with a little story. An old man was sitting on a bench in Paris. He was sitting next to a young woman. She asked him what he was doing and he answered her…”I’m traveling.” Where to she asked?. “Through my memories” he answered. Then he asked her the same question. She answered that she too was traveling. “Where to he asked?.”…….To her future she answered. …………………………………………Our past…is past….Je Voyage….Thank you Charles Aznavour for giving the audience your talent for a magnificent performance…through my memories, forever.

Fear Instead of Joy

Very excited about going to Madison Square Garden tonight to experience Charles Aznavour. Possibly his last tour. One of the most romantic singers from France, and hopefully most of his program will be in French. There should be no feelings of fear, Just sheer  joy in going. Things have changed though, and I feel frightened. Living in New York City , one has to realize we’re a target . I have learned to live with that reality, but not obsess .. If not, I would stay in my apartment under the covers. We don’t live in fear. If we did, then “they” have won. New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world, and yet……………………. If I lived in another state, I wouldn’t think of the possibilities. This is where power over  mind must play a part in my life. Over-thinking causes over-thinking. The presence of so many police due to high security should be comforting, but it’s the reverse for me. Going to such a large venue, and then next week to Yankee Stadium makes me apprehensive, and you can’t help but think. It just can’t happen, but sadly it can.

Madison Square Garden….evening of pure joy…safe and sound….

Yesterday, When I Was Young

Charles Aznavour so mood evoking and brings back memories of dancing together. September 13th is a day of reflection and remembering to remember you, The two of us together… I remember you dear Barry with love, not sadness. Today you would have been 84. You were so young and vital at 73. Eleven  years ago. Missing you for the rest of my life. Celebrating today who you were and who you are to me today. Forever comforting.

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you….I could walk through my garden forever.”   Alfred Tennyson

Humility and Gratitude

I am forever grateful for all the comments you have sent me. I answer every one, because I am humbled by those of you who appreciate, and  take the time to comment on my posts. Many years ago. whenever anyone asked me what I do, I always said “I write” never “I’m a writer.” Once I was published years ago on Interfaithfamily.com and New York Woman,  and now writing for mothernatureisaman, URAWarrior, and Bershan Shaw, I feel I can say ‘I’m a writer.”….with great pride. I know my husband would have been very proud of me, and I feel his positive energy and love every single day, even though he is no longer physically with me. A grief therapist I met only once, and then emailed for a year, told me “he’s only in the next room.” I told her I looked and he wasn’t there. I now  know exactly what she meant. It just took me a few years to realize he became my guardian angel. When you dearly love someone so much, they never die, they never emotionally leave you, and spiritually are with you always. My comfort…Finally finished 80,000 word women’s humor fiction novel with my co-author and friend of over 35 years. Took about that time to finish. Whatever happens with our book, we did it. We both wrote our characters and content of book. I am very technically challenged, and could never have put the book together, but she did, and now we have two versions. One I like with all the back story, and one she likes with the back story integrated. The publishing business is difficult at best, but we are going forward. Hope is an emotion I hope to have until my last breath. So here’s forever hoping our book is seen or read.  Realistically, I believe in our book more than me ever finding another soul mate. A most positive realization, not negative in anyway….because…..you never know…the word hope never leaves me. Whenever I feel the need for some positive reinforcement, your comments do the job, and for that I am deeply grateful for all of you who have shared your words with me.   Thank you, Paulette

The End Of Summer

“Deep Summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen….I refuse to use the word depressed. Prefer denial and easier to deal with. Speaking with my brother this morning, a retired psychiatrist who soon will be 85, we briefly touched on the fact that time is fleeting by. As we get older, it does seem to go faster….and yet faster. What I have said before I will say again. “I will not say, where did Summer go.” I know where it went, it just seems like Spring arrived. To over think , will end up depressing me. Magical thinking on my part, is to just stop the clock. Physically I can’t do that, but emotionally I can just stop looking and listening to the ticking away. So as banal as it sounds, and you hear it over and over again. No choice, but to live in the moment and rejoice.Exalt in the fact you are healthy. Not something to ever take for granted. I did hear a humorous story, that if you are over 65 and get up in the morning and nothing hurts, you’re dead. You do arrive at a certain age, hopefully with some wisdom to pass on to anyone who will listen. You also learn very quickly that there are no do overs….but there are new beginnings. Fall for one. So the best thing is be mellow, chill out and enjoy those last lazy hazy days of summer, and look forward to the crisp air of Autumn. They even wrote a song about “Autumn in New York.” and when the polar vortex arrives this Winter? “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” Albert Camus

Honesty/ Trust Expectations

Often wonder why people are unable to be honest. Many hide beneath insincerity, and others hide behind truth. A friend told me a story of someone who not only unfriended her on Facebook, but blocked her as well. She never knew why. It was a mystery, and she of course wanted closure. I told her my favorite saying and personal philosophy….with a smile of course. “If you don’t care I care less.” It did get me thinking though of why someone would do that. She actually thought the person was a friend, not someone she saw socially, but an acquaintance, that I told her was the problem. The person should have never been on her Facebook page. Only friends should be on Facebook and that is why the list is called Friends. I’m on Twitter, and not often, but there are times when people unfollow you. The loyal followers stay and so many become lovely connections. When someone tells you how spiritual they are, or how much you should trust them, I personally am very wary. People you trust completely never have to say “trust me.” I try very hard to have high expectations for very few, and then, I am never disappointed. I did have a friend once who stopped getting my blogs because she thought I was referring to her when I brought up people with negative personality vs those with positive energy on a post I wrote. Had nothing to do with her, but as the saying goes, “if the shoe fits.” etc etc. It never hurt me at all. If we all think of times that people may have disappointed us, think if you had unrealistic expectations. The friends and family you consider to be your “emotional transfusions” will never hurt you, and if they do, then search within yourself, why you gave them so much power to begin with. When you empower yourself, and take the power from others or the situation, you achieve inner peace and emotional strengths. Wonderful Wonderful tools to use in your life. Negative energy is all around us. Just reading or listening to the news. It’s so much easier to live in the positive lane of your life. One of my favorite quotes to live by….”For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.” Plato…..Be careful who you trust your emotions with, and always know the heart and brain must work as a team…