Thoughts on History & Hamilton

We are in a new world. The order of everything has turned upside down. There is strife everywhere – it is all around us. Growing racial tensions, global health concerns, and family arrangements forced into coping with a new structure – all these changes have led us into a new and unchartered world.

Our ancestors sought a new life in an unchartered world. They flocked to a new country seeking freedom from oppression. Our forefathers set forth to create a governing structure for these freedoms yet they fell short. They failed to address bondage and slavery. So the freedom they procured for the new Nation did not serve the whole, it missed its mark. Think of how different our world would be if back then there was no distinction between black and white and brown. Just think, if our ancestors were color blind while settling the New World, and the freedoms the Fathers brought forth applied to all mankind — I imagine the humanity of our Nation would have been such a rich tapestry instead of the torn and tattered cloth we have today. Alas, this is not the story history tells.

The magnificent work of art, the Pulitzer-prize winning play Hamilton created by Lin-Manual Miranda, is now experiencing worldwide exposure by the act of Disney bringing it directly to your living room. Yes, history books have told the story but not nearly as clearly or as concise as the voice of this contemporary poet. And the casting! The brilliance of seeing all races and creeds fulfilling the various roles was more than just genius, it was a testimony. Just think if our forefathers had applied the freedoms they sought to ALL — perhaps there would have been a black Thomas Jefferson in the pages of our history.

I am no longer thinking about how this is all going to end; I am now of the mindset that it must end here and now. 2020 is a right year for this to occur. As we begin a new decade and face challenges to the likes of which we have never seen – let’s begin building a new nation full of tolerant, loving and color blind people; a nation where ALL lives matter.

Where Are We Going?

The world is upside down now. I can’t help but wonder ‘where are we going’? Maybe it’s my tender old age or maybe, as a society, we have been traveling so fast for so long that we have forgotten what it means to stop and take the time to smell the roses, as my Mom always said.

When our children grow up, will there be a Montana to inspire them? Will the majesty of the last frontier be long forgotten given its way to land development, timber production, oil fracking, all fists and fights of man’s greed? I hope that in the world these children inherit – there will be a time and place for them to spend fishing in a mountain lake, hiking a virgin trail or listening to the howls of a wolf pack. Times when they speak the words, This Has Been A Good Day! as they lay their heads down to sleep. I fear we have forgotten how important it is to stay connected to Mother Nature; her teachings are profound and need tending.

If progress is be given a wide berth, let us not pave over the majesty but instead think globally about the impacts and the affects we are inflicting. If energy is needed to run the nation — let the nation slow down and push harder to harness the energy from Mother Earth and her Sun. Solar power, wind power, hydropower all sources which could and will bring about a halt to harm and a push toward the all important issue of sustainability. Frankly, I would rather look out over a wind farm than a fracking operation any day.

So I ask God to bless the children who inherit the earth, they will need all the help He can give them in holding their eyes open.

Winners In The Daily Double!

We have a winner! Yup, 24 hours is the winning bet for how long Pearl Bailey lasted before she deemed it fit to rub her gorgeous face in dirt! And yet, that is not the exasperating part…yes, there is more to report.

Here’s the story. Last night around 10:30 pm, I was thinking about having a little sweet nosh, so I went into the kitchen and selected a couple of Oreos. I returned to my seat to catch the evening news and only ate one of the two cookies. The other cookie I ignored as I became entrenched in the nightly broadcast. Shortly thereafter, I closed up shop and headed up for bed.

This morning after Pearl Bailey was out for her morning romp (and presumably to find a mask of her liking), she came in and mysteriously passed by her breakfast bowl to lounge in the living room. While I thought that was strange, I paid her no mind and went about busying myself with chores in the kitchen.

Around noon, I walked through the living room only to discover a Kleenex box ripped to smithereens. The room looked like a cumulus cloud exploded and rained down on the carpet. I shrieked with “What the what?!?” as Pearl Bailey laid there with an imperial look upon her dirty face. When I questioned her further, it was if she was chuckling inside. For a brief minute, I was about to blame poor Ella.

I went about cleaning up the mess and began contemplating on how this could have happened. Ah, that’s when I remembered about the COOKIE! So here is my synopsis…Pearl Bailey spyied the cookie on her way outside this morning. Upon her return to the hearth after donning her disguise, snuck into the Living Room and attempted to snatch the cookie. The cookie (being round) must have rolled into the Kleenex box where a very pissed off Pearl Bailey decided that was an unacceptable event and took it upon herself to destroy said vessel and unearth her rightful treat.

And that folks is why she is on restriction today. There will be no cookies for Pearl Bailey today OR tomorrow!

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Courage is beautiful. Cupcakes for dinner is beautiful. Pearl Bailey when she is clean is beautiful.

I wanted to take this rare opportunity to post this magnificent photo of my diva straight home from the beauty parlor. I tell you, I was rather shocked when I picked her up, I mean, I thought…’is this the really MY dog? The same mangy stinkin’ varmint I dropped off three hours ago?’ Honestly folks, Pearl Bailey was a sight when I dropped her off. She was as raggedy as I have ever seen her. For God sakes, she had three inch long tuffs of hair growing from her paws. She had begun to resemble the Grinch on his worst day. Even her pelt was pitted with hunks of stuff – stuff like mulch and sticks and leaves. And her dirty face? Well, her face was embarrassing is all I can say.

Now, just look at this damsel. And, she smells heavenly, too. When I told her she was beautiful, she joined me up on the sofa tonight and I was content to share the cushions. She even allowed me to take her photo –photo ops are usually strictly forbidden. Either she was proud of her condition or just relaxed from the day at the spa. Either way, it was a Hallmark moment.

I’m taking wagers on how long she stays this way! Any one care to ante up?


“Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.”

Audrey Hepburn

Generation Next

We pass to this next generation a crazy world, and for that, I am sorry. I am rueful that they inherit a globe rife with warming effects. I am saddened to hand over a new society with mixed-up rules and agendas. A world where there is no peace, no leadership and a broken political system. Not to mention a pandemic which resulted in a deep bend to our societal customs. Wherein, they will not be the first generation to inherit climate change, they may be the first to pay strict attention to it, and finally institute effective remedies to help correct it. For too long, previous generations have politically argued and neglected their responsibility to the future, it is now the time to hear the voice of this new ‘Generation Next’.

The mindset I am seeing with these new young minds is that of tolerance. In the protests held in solidarity calling for an end to racial bias, I see these youths standing shoulder-to-shoulder, black, white or brown, male and female alike, blazed with their own identities. They look to each other and seem to appreciate and celebrate their comrades and the triumphs of changes they are making. They have a clear and strong voice, I am happy they are raising that voice for all the old farts to hear. Maybe, just maybe, their fierce shouts will be the ones to finally bring about an end to racism, once and for all.

It is high time that we begin to recognize the commonality that links us as Americans. Regardless of the color of one’s skin or economic status, is there a father or mother out there that does not hope for a better life for their offspring? Of course not, that is an ingrained human trait and thankfully we have not bred that out of our system (thank you Dr. Phil!). We all want the days of our children to be better than our own.

I’ve been taking notes and the message I am receiving is from the  perspective of a single ocean wave. That tidal gush is bringing the change these bright, young, unbiased minds prescribe for themselves as they forge through to their rightful throne, My God, I hope it is a Tsunami.


PS Happy Birthday, Bubba. The world you inherit is your oyster!

A Reality Check

This new reality has made me more thoughtful. As a result of this global pandemic, the world at large has become a kinder place. I find the masses to be more open and patient, and as an aftereffect, more humane in their thinking.

Sure there is strife and torn rages going on with strong demands for racial equality, and I whole-heartedly agree that the change that is clamored for is long, long overdue. But setting that huge topic aside for another story, I believe that in general we are getting to a more gentle and altruistic mindset.

On a visit to my doctor the other day, I was met with the new protocols of temperature taking and sanitizing methods instilled for every patient in order to get into the inner sanctum and be seen by the physician. I took these new rules of behavior in stride and not even once did I feel or contemplate them as unnecessary. There was something else, however, that I did feel — and that was hesitation. Not hesitation on my part, but on the part of my much loved physician. I pondered this conscience thought I had and considered that he, as a medical professional, was just beginning to get back to a more normal routine after the crisis had somewhat subsided. Perhaps, I thought, this was the lead-in to his holding back. Regardless, the shift I felt in his demeanor led me to believe that with his hesitation came a deeper rumination of my health. I have long thought that when one expands their contemplation of a situation what results is a plethora of enriched thoughts and the opportunity to display more largesse.

Another observation I had last week involved the restaurant and entertainment employees and how much they have suffered as a result of no income flowing for six or seven weeks. Now here they are, back in the saddle but to a reduced sized audience and mandated to wear protective face coverings. Yet, they are delivering each and every customer attentive service accompanied by smiling eyes. And we, as customers, are grateful — not only appreciative at being able to dine out again, but more mindful of their service and showing our gratification with increased tips. All in all, I think this whole crisis has given us the chance to change for the better.

All of these thoughts and contemplations have been a balm for my soul. I was always meant to live a spiritual life and my adaptation to this new reality brings me hope that we are in this world together, and together the small changes we make will help bring about a better world.

Don’t Bother Saying Your Sorry

Granted I am a storyteller at heart, but honestly folks, you just can’t make this sh*t up.

Pearl Bailey for the most part has been behaving during the pandemic. Yes, she has gotten dirty, but nothing out of the ordinary (by her standards not mine). I will say that her slight behavior modification is probably due to the inordinate amount of time the Professor and I have spent at home. Deviating from our normal “in the house-out of the house” pattern to a quarantine of staying put, I believe this has subliminally delivered a message to our Diva because her conduct has improved exponentially.

Around 10:00 am this morning while I was dressing, Pearl Bailey was plopped inert on the bed. I sat quietly with her while I was putting my shoes on and the vibes she was giving off were STRONG! Now, I understand some people may not agree that communication between a human and animal can exist, but with this dame and me – it does indeed! Here’s the thoughts I was receiving…Pearl Bailey was feeling remorseful and for some reason her breath was better. Normally, she has ‘dragon’ breath resulted from her dietary supplement of ingesting live lizards. As I sat with her, I began to receive contrite messages from her. And for the life of me, I did not grasp what she was trying to apologize for…then it dawned on me that I better pay a visit to her Shangri-La.

Sure enough, when I got downstairs and into the yard I did not have to go far. The flower boxes that line the deck had been looted. I can’t tell you the motive, but I can supply this factoid. At approximately 4:30 pm yesterday afternoon, just before the rain came, I delicately planted several mature herbs plants in the dirt within those boxes. There was Rosemary, Italian Oregano, Thai Basil and Thyme. This morning, however, there is no trace of those lovely mature plantings at all. In fact, even the dirt looked undisturbed leaving me to wonder did I just imagine planting them? NO! This had to be the reason she was remorseful this morning AND why her breath had improved. The aromatics from the herbs made her pants downright fragrant.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen – a breath of fresh air does not always deliver what you think it will – sometimes there is a hidden agenda being served.

A Big Ticket Dream

I like going to a place where God hears me. There are so many external forces going on in the world right now, many divisive and cruel, that I feel compelled to seek a place where the quiet of my mind makes room for good sensationalism.

I have set out this week to find a place where I can stimulate and stir the dream within me. As the country is beginning to wake up, the pulse of our nation is waking too. Although in many places, it is waking up shouting as if emerging from a nightmare, which in most cases is true. The republic for which we stand is rifled right now with social and racial unrest. This suppression and aggression has been far too prevalent for far too long. We can no longer look aside. That is why I am prescribing to look inside instead.

My solution is to set aside ten minutes each day to dream. I shall find a quiet corner, I shall not be dissuaded. In my ten minute stillness, I will let my mind wander – I will dream about the change that needs to come. I will listen intently to the harmony of silence and the solution the spirits offer me. I will dream big, too. I will ask for World Peace, not with the naiveté of a pageant girl, but with the conviction of the powerful woman I am. Lofty goals have always been my strong suit.

Join me in spending ten minutes a day dreaming. The efforts we expend will go far in our paving the ‘road to peace’ for our Nation.

My Birthday Suit

When your birthday falls on a weekend and you set off to have a birthday extravaganza after you’ve been in quarantine for the weeks leading up to it, you’re bound to meet your objective.

Friday night began with carryout from my favorite Asian bistro — can you say Lao-ooo, Thai-ee, VietNamese-ss?? The meal could not have been more delicious. The dinner was followed by a wonderful movie starring Ben Affleck.

Saturday morning began with a big brown box sent by Sister Golden Hair with trinkets and baubles galore, followed by a small prettily wrapped package from the Professor which contained a stunning necklace reminiscent of the lapping waves of the Gulf of Mexico.

Then there were the hundreds (number not exaggerated) of FB messages with well wishes from family and friends. The resultant feeling of gratitude permeated every inch of me.

Next up, dinner with friends! Finally, a shared meal at a sitdown restaurant with happy smiling faces and another Gemini soul to celebrate with; there was rocking music, dancing, and tequila — a combination sure to rev up any party.

Finally, a Champagne Brunch Sunday morning hosted by a kindred spirit and more Happy Birthday songs sung.

To say I am appreciative of all the love bestowed in my direction is an understatement. I am overwhelmed at the attention, and at the care taken to plan and execute the gatherings. And mostly, I am honored by the kindness and genuine fondness that fell around me like stars. The only negative I can now say is I have to wait 364 more days for a repeat performance!

Signed, One Lucky Girl

Let America Be America…

United States of America Map With Waving Flag, Cridit Map By Nasa

“Let America be America again, Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain, Seeking a home where he himself is free.”

This wonderful excerpt from Langston Hughes’ poem is profound in its extraction from the whole and applies to the direction of today’s newly ordered society. And, interestingly enough, although it speaks to us in an abridged fashion, the message of the original poem in its entirety is focused on the idea that the American dream is nigh on impossible.

I love the manner in which the words “Let America Be America…” rings in my ear. In this unprecedented time of life, we are all experiencing feelings of not knowing what to think, what to do, or how to do what is required. Our government is moving through the pandemic at an unparalleled rate, and our society is divided through politics and racial violence. I long for a time when ‘our America’ is given the latitude to become America again. I pray for peace every day.

Hearing a child’s prayer at night, “God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, and God, please fix the world…” makes me ponder how deep the divide has become. Our innocent children are affected; the vigor and strength of their youth compromised by uncertainty. We will hand them a broken world if we can not unite on what America should, and can be.

We have surrendered too much of the past to give up on the future. So, let the opening words of the insightful poet, Mr. Hughes, stay in your thoughts and on your lips. It is a good a mantra as any.