A Shameless Plug!

 Good morning everyone,  and here is the Friday Shameless Plug for my books.  You see folks, I'm trying to raise funds to buy a car, nothing fancy, just something dependable that will get me to the store, auditions, etc.  I've seen the divinity for not having one at this time, you see I would most likely not have written these books.  But it's time to get on the road again, more or less. 
 Anyway, if you love poetry, you will love my book Essentials: Giving Birth to Words, Rhymes and a Story or Two.   And if you want to take a trip down memory lane, especially if you are a baby boomer like me than go for How I Survived the Sixties.  It's full of fun stories and iconic personalities I was fortunate to rub shoulders with in my youth.  The books may be thin on pages but very rich and potent in content.  I know you'll enjoy both.  I sure had fun writing them for all who will read them. Right now I'm very isolated from the big city(and a place to sing), my children, and a Subud community to keep me supported spiritually.
So I am doing what is front of me and becoming a lean, mean writing machine.  I do have two very cool feature film screenplays I can always work on so they are in prime shape if and when I get a big gun producer interested.  And a short film script I'm adapting from a story I wrote in college circa 2008.  Wow, that's already six years ago.  I can't believe how time is whizzing by.  My big reminder is looking at my children who are all adults now and they were just toddlers the other day. By the Grace of God, they are all doing so well, I couldn't be happier with all four and what they are accomplishing.  I want them to be as proud of me as I am of them.  So I'm doing whatever it takes to make up for all the years I didn't feel good enough about myself to share my passions and stories.  I hope you can support this burgeoning author here and I know you will not be disappointed with the books.  I'm thinking, maybe I need to offer a money back guarantee?  Nah,  But I know once you read them you will most likely want to pass them on to others.  At least I hope so. Oh, and what was really cool about this experience is that I was able to create the book covers with photos I have and I love the one on the Essentials cover of Greenfield Lake right here in Wilmington.  Gorgeous don't ya think?   Wishing you all a blessed year fulfilling your hopes and dreams.  I sure am gonna be busy working on mine.  God bless!!

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER!!!

   Hello dear friends, so as we acclimate ourselves to a new year, our resolutions and possibly other big changes, I want to touch upon a topic close to my heart. AGING IN AMERICA!   Yessiree, that is something that permeates my life everyday.  Whether it be with the outer world, as an actor, with it's false notions that the older person, especially woman are not bankable stars or even worth considering to emulate in anyway shape or form, or because I moved into an apt. bldg. for 55+ tenants and I'm surrounded by older folks.  Or being aware of my own inner growth and the realization my time is measured here on this earth and there is a purpose to all that I do in the way of leaving something behind and it has nothing to do with age.  As you can see, there are two photos here.  That is Natalie Cole in case you don't recognize her on the left(my friend Mark Anthony posted her pic on FB last night) and me from a pic taken about 3 months ago to help my friend get his Media company off the ground, as one of the talent.  We are both 63 years old.  Yes, I'm not kidding you. And I haven't even had any work done, YET!  I can't speak for Ms. Cole  but she looks pretty damn good. It sure helps to lose all the excess weight one can glom on as we age.  So what's it gonna be?  Do we finally come to the realization that age is just a number and we do our older population an injustice when grouping people together just because of specific digits?!

My new friend and neighbor, RaeMarie and I, were having a good laugh the other day about somewhere we read "those of you who are over 62 and elderly"  or some ridiculous statement to that effect.  We both could have been so offended.   OMG, these folks who write that stuff haven't a clue.  Of course, they don't live in LA or NYC where it's peoples  livelihoods depending on looking young.  It's impossible to tell how old someone is in those big cities where to be younger is better.  So I responded with a comic I had seen. "Not to worry, you know dead is the new 80."  Laughter is the best medicine isn't it?  I love that my friend has a great sense of humor and doesn't take herself to seriously.  I hope to get to that place.  Or is it something that comes with age?  She is one year older than I and btw, looks really great!!

If all of us 60-something's could move to England where they do so many films and TV shows with women over 60, we might not feel so invisible.  And they treasure them too!! I can't get enough of shows like the PBS's Cranford or an English TV serious Rosemary & Thyme.  As another friend of mine said to me once, hanging around a cosmetic counter in a dept. store, "We are supposed to get old."  Absolutely, how so very true....telling us not to age is 1) akin to telling a fruit not to ripen on the tree or vine, 2) it's the very sneaky way these huge conglomerate cosmetic companies and other anti-aging quick-fix doctors want us to keep spending our money on things we really don't NEED, and 3)creating a society where there is shame and guilt in aging (so we are easily manipulated), which is as natural as death, another very taboo subject much maligned.  I'll get to that subject in another blog.

So as we slide into another year with our aspirations, dreams and hopes, I want to take this time to say, if you don't feel old then kudos to you.  But if you do, then change that ridiculous idea.  It's all in an attitude anyway.  My good friend Lola Stone, in her 90's, lives in Thailand and writes a beautiful blog about her life, and it's pretty amazing. http://bit.ly/1hiDdtD  I had the great pleasure of meeting a female pilot, Anna Pennington, going on 91 years old this month. I can't tell you what a joy, thrill and inspiration it has been to get to know her.  We should all be so lucky to live such an exciting life with boundless energy, as she has, being the 2nd woman to receive her pilots license in 1941 here in Wilmington.   I do want to mention that there is a website/FB Page/Documentary film, The Beauty of Aging,  https://www.facebook.com/TheBeautyofAging  focusing on some incredible people all over 80 and 90 years old.  The stories they have to share.  Priceless!  Have a great 2014, no matter how old or young you are!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  How wonderfully optimistic it all sounds.  To have a new year, 2014, to be filled with good fortune, joy and delight.  I'm ready for that, are you?  No doubt.  We all want to know that elusive feeling of elation and gratitude 24/7 for our lives and be ready for all the good stuff to happen.  That's me for sure.  This last year, as my friend asked me to sum up in 3 words, was Moving, Growing and Writing.  So stress was a big part of my 2013 year with moving from New York to Florida to North Carolina.  We all know moving is very stressful... and growing?  Well, they don't call them growing "pains" for nothing.  Whew, the stuff that had to come out.  The enduring knowledge it doesn't end here.  We take it all when we leave so it's best to get rid of as much of the junk and negative stuff now as possible.  And I have truly given my life over to my Highest Power.  I have to admit, it's sometimes a tug of war.  I'm so impatient and if God isn't moving fast enough I want it back to fix it all myself.   Well, folks it doesn't work that way.  We get hit over the head by a two by four if we don't let go and insist on using our own will for the life we are meant to live.  At least I do.  

One of my very favorite sayings is by Emily Dickinson, she says "God's gifts put mans best dreams to shame."  Wow!!  Is that profound or what.  So today, I will see with new eyes that all the past has a design and purpose.  At this moment, the divinity of not having a car was the only way I would be forced to sit down and write a book, actually two.  They may be thin on pages but they are potent and rich in content.   I hope you all get a chance to read both.  I really enjoyed writing them over the years.  I made some changes to the book, How I Survived the Sixties, which is something one can do using CreateSpace.  So it's not available until tomorrow.  But do go to Amazon.com tomorrow and secure a copy.  You will not be sorry.  In the meantime, I will attempt to get a blog out at least every other day if not every day.

  Next week I meet with the fellow who runs the Browncoat Theater downtown so we can discuss producing Eve Enslers play Necessary Targets, about a small group of Bosnian refugee camp women.  I did the play as a staged reading in Austin, Texas.  I also saw it as a staged reading in Los Angeles, with Eve Ensler, Calista Flockhart, Julia Stiles, Juliana Margulies, Cloris Leachman, Kathleen Chalfant, and a Bosnian actress, Mira Fulan.  It's a great, powerful little play and I look forward to working on it.  God-willing of course.  I have to secure some wheels, soon!!  Did you hear that God?  Soon!!!  (she smiles and knows better) So I wish you all a blessed year but really, a blessed life.  Joy is an inside job but triggered by outside events.  Sometimes we resonate with some piece of music, or we hear a baby laugh, or we see a film that makes us experience tears of joy.  Contrary to popular belief, there is much joy to be had out in our world.  I wish this all for you because your good fortune is my good fortune. God bless ya'll!

God's Palette and Artistry

Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster ride but it ended with this exquisite sunset I captured on my cell phone from my little balcony.  It gave me some solace and a feeling of joy and gratitude. What an awesome array of color and shape. I'm inspired quite a bit from nature and I want to share a poem I wrote which is included in my new poetry book Essentials - giving birth to words, rhymes and a story or two.  As you know, I recently finished my (kind of) limited memoirs How I Survived the Sixties and decided to follow up with something completely different.  I have written these poems and stories over the years. 
 I guess I can finally call myself a writer.  I enjoy writing quite a lot and even though I'd rather be on stage, I have had to make peace with it, for I do believe it's what God wants me to do. There is a feeling I'm guided to do more and more.  Marginally house-bound at this time(no wheels),  I actually recall I have been through a brief spell very similar when I was living with my brother in a God-awful place called Rowland Hts.  Oh yes, and another time in Santa Monica and I actually wrote a poem about the whole experience, Year of the Locusts, also in my book.  Discovering the Library and finding all I could do was write.  I'm seeing a pattern here, (she laughs) ... The willful Aries gal has to take a breather from all the theatrical antics I'm capable of and sit quietly at the computer creating rhymes and prose. 

Here is my poem Awe and One-der,  I hope you enjoy it and do tell me what you think.  There are many more in my book which is now available on CreateSpace 
https://www.createspace.com/4589866
And will also be available on Amazon.com soon.

Awe and ONE-der

From the ball of orange and flame 

To earth displaying its show of colors

Embracing the visual cortex like a strong wind,

Passing through heavens vault of cobalt blue

Visited by alabaster clouds

Dropping to the ocean, full of life,

Unseen from warm sand and surf

Sending a breeze to dance a samba

‘Round the tall, pulsing trees

As it forces natures leaves to sparkle silver

Vibrations of white light run through me

Perpetually, Daily, Eternally

Like a shock of lightening,

Carrying to the furthest pockets of my being

Feeding me eternal life so I may exist, forever

I watch creation shiver as the sun descends

Sliding down the horizon, light speed

Oh, magnificent orb, you have left us in twilight

With this electric garment encompassing my soul

Full of praise for Your resplendent artwork

I am most humbly grateful Lord!

Ah, the blessed SUN! How I love thee!

There is nothing like a little sunshine to perk up the most down-trodden soul.  It may be almost freezing but I bundle up and walk to the store and thank God for the most welcomed warmth on my face.   Today I hopefully finish my poetry/prose book Essentials which I was inspired to do after publishing my other book How I Survived the Sixties. Since I don't have wheels, I'm making the best of a very frustrating situation.  Lots of lemonade.  Writing and making jewelry.  5 years ago I had to look after my brother who is disabled and I had no car then also.  I walked to Michael's bought a glue gun and created pins with Swarovski crystal bead elements. So I'm taking it up again and to another level. They are very blingy in the light but these pics don't do them justice.  I've been selling some, giving some away.  It's just so much better than sitting in front of a TV stuffing my face.  So here are a few samples.  I'd make other shapes if I could find something else that wasn't too big or too corny.  I had made one with a camel shape(found it in LA) and that went really quickly.  So today, I will surrender my situation, give it over as best I can to my Highest Power and continually ask for guidance so my life can improve. At least I have a very comfortable and warm apartment to live in.  Finally!  It took coming to NC to accomplish that.  Oh yes,  if you need a good film to see, Saving Mr. Banks has it all.  Great film!  Will win Emma Thompson an award I hope!  I always root for her since we share the same b'day, April 15th.   Happy trails and God bless!!     

        
                                                        

My book "How I Survived the Sixties" is available!

It's the day after Christmas 2013, and we only have a few days left of this very challenging year.  For me it's been so full of changes, a new home, and a slew of new friends.  It's been forever since I've written anything on this blog too.  But I'm proud that I finally took all my blogs about the Sixties and created a fun book to read, How I Survived the Sixties.   For Subud members they will find my own personal story of how I came upon Subud in 1969.  For all the other folks who may have lived in the 60's, it will be something to take you back to a very different era in time and some stories may resonate with your own. For the younger set, you will have fun reading about this very turbulent and crazy time. You can go to this link and purchase the book if you are so inclined.    https://www.createspace.com/4562483 

You can find the book also on Amazon.com but they are keeping so much of the money, my royalties are minimal with them.  I had a lot of fun putting this book together and I had stellar help from Lisa Bonelli, a writer/editor in New Jersey.  Lucky me!!   Even though life is very difficult at the moment, attempting to secure health insurance with one of the worst states to do it in, I'm surviving somehow. Yikes, I can't believe the hoops they make you jump through, even with my minimal income and my age.  It's very hard to believe they want me to pay almost as much as what I receive every month in social security for health insurance.  When I lived in NYC, I had such great coverage.  Well, I only need wait 1 year and four months and I will then qualify for Medicare.  Ah, the perks of getting older. (a smile is on my face.) So one of my next books will be How I Survived MY Sixties.  Of course, I won't be writing it for a few years now, and hopefully I'll write more in between.  I have a poetry book I'm working on now, Essentials: Giving birth to words, rhymes and a story or two.  I'll let you know when that is available.  Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!  So much to be grateful for actually.  God bless!

The Hippies Had Something - "How I Survived the Sixties"

The Hippies Had Something

I grew up in the sixties, and as I look around today, living in another century and observing the world we reside in, it is almost unrecognizable from the days of black and white TV, the Viet Nam War and the Beatles. Twenty dollars is worth about $2.00 today compared to what you could buy back in 1967.  Not to mention the rapid-fire pace we are forced to assimilate and produce data, from taking a photo or video with your phone and having it posted on Facebook or YouTube in lightning speed, to microwave ovens and computers where mail takes seconds instead of days. The planet is suffering from global warming and the urgency to correct our mistakes of the past may be too late.  We have been experiencing a recession, almost depression in one of the richest countries in the world. It’s no wonder so many young people are romanticizing the time of Peace & Love giving rise to the Hippie Generation.

The Hippies created a sub-culture, attributed to bringing a plethora of new thought and new ways to live. Granted, much of the dark side of that era, mostly the drug use and communicable diseases, we could have done without. I had many friends overdose or behave in extreme anti-social behavior because of the psychedelics very popular back then. Free clinics where rife with numerous hippies needing penicillin shots.  But this explosion of anti-establishment mores served a purpose that cannot be denied. The up-side showed many of us another consciousness, a way to become enlightened. A spiritual awareness was brought about by mind-altering drugs and Eastern philosophies and our primary goal was to gain enlightenment in ways that our parents found abhorrent. I can speak first-hand from the 3-4 years I spent living as a full-fledged hippie, I found I was able to recognize how it felt to be near that vibration or light, and know the reality, called by so many names, The Great Life Force, God, Allah, Higher Power, Buddha, the list goes on and on. Even though my journey began as a 16 year old female fresh out of high school, I continue to seek that closeness and guidance from a Power one can hope to know in this life and the next.

Spirituality is only one component of the consequence of the Hippie movement. There were finally hordes of people, young and old, protesting against war, Pro-Peace rallies abounded, marches for racial equality were everywhere, we won sexual liberation, fought for women’s equality, promoted collective, communal and self-sufficient living, demanded abortion and contraception rights, insisted on freedom of speech, began Green Peace/Green movements, promoted organic farming, exposed the danger of pesticide use, opened health food stores everywhere, lived for collective and individual artistic expression, not to mention all the great music that came out of the Sixties, so much of it professing LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. What a generation we lived in.

Today I marvel at all the Peace signs on clothing, shampoo, cars, posters, jewelry, to only mention a few spotting’s. One Peace sign even had the words below it, “back by popular demand”…. I do believe it’s important to pay attention to this vital message for our continued existence as a species. It’s so very hard for me to believe there are still so many computer games and films focusing on war and violence. WE HAVE TO MOVE ON!!  We need to create other activities for the youth that will instill within them this essence of the Sixties, of Peace, Love and Brother/Sisterhood. Timothy Leary may not be everybody’s cup of tea but he tried to turn people on to this concept. Along with other catchphrases, he professed to “Live and Let Live”, a very popular 12-step program slogan used today.  Not “kill or be killed” as so many of the films dictate.  Thus begins my own wish to bring back the Sixties, at least the part that will nurture us all and direct us to know, We Are All One!!

  

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