The Weeping Star

 

 

See the lonely weeping star,
he's sad because it rains.
He'll have to wait another night
until he shines again.....

My Faith is very simple,
and isn't very loud.
It's knowing that there's always,
Stars above the clouds.....

Sleep well........❣

Thinking of Hootch - Cats Paws

Love this little pink paw. First time I saw one was on a kitten which had fallen  out a window of a second floor apartment on East 19th between Ave O and P in Brooklyn. I figured the owner was too stupid to own it and put him in my coat pocket and took him home. Named him Hootch.

If you were ever a steady "visitor" at 2132 Ocean Avenue you probably remember him coming and going. He led a lifestyle best described as ephemeral, like the stages of the moon.

Hootch lived for about 4 years, getting into scrapes but always making it back from the edges. Literally had 9 lives! He even got a job as a "mouser" at the butcher on Avenue O an East 15th street when I left to join the Navy. This was about 45 years ago, and the photo of the pink paw reminded me of him.....

Here is the little guy with his mom. Got the photos from a post by a woman named Peggy Sue on the Simon's Cat (fun) site, which can be found on Facebook. You can also contact the Underdog Pet Rescue Mission of Wisconsin at 608-224-0018

 

Wycoff-Bennett House - King Highway 1880's

 What a pleasure, what a treasure,

to be taken back in time,

to a place I so remember as uniqely mine.

A simple photo of an era,  that predates my own,

it's like a voice out of the past

a timeless telephone,

to an era, long since gone, older than my age.

A magic trip, a magic trick,

written on a page.

If those people could but speak, what tales they could tell

To mesmerize me, and surprise me

'twould be like a magic spell!

Further back past my own youth, to a time that was their own.

What a treasure, what a pleasure 

If i could only find that phone!

Photo courtesy of Brian Dobrin on Facebook.

Tagalong

Every photo that you post takes me somewhere,
to the places which I no longer go.
That is why I so often come here,
and  thought I'd write this down to let you know.

A picture's worth a thousand words,
but words have their merit, too.
And though subject to interpretation,
I like to think that all I see and read is true.

Everyday is like another journey,
I never know what we'll say and do.
And though I can never really be there,
it's nice that I can tag along with you.....

The Material World - Irony of Life

Have you heard the news today, oh boy? The George Harrison Memorial Tree, which was planted in his honor at the Griffith Observatory; located in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park; has died. Apparently it passed away last month but has just been announced last Monday by City Councilman Councilman Tom LaBonge.

The irony in the story is that the tree died as a result of an invasion of; you guessed it; beetles, the agricultural type. The irony of this is further compounded by the frantic effort to replace it. Mr. Harrison, who did not really believe in the impermanence of things material, would either amuse or bemuse him. The tree was planted in 2004.

The tree is a nice gesture and draws tourists. But a far better way to honor the former Beatle and all round musician/composer would be to have a look at the following video from 1990. At the time Romania had just come out of its darkest days under the brutal dictatorship of Nicolae Ceauşescu.

Thousands of women were raped by the military and forced to carry the babies’ full term. Many of those children were infected with AIDS, as well as severe learning disabilities. Hospitals, when available, were primitive and lacking in everything. There were no schools for these children, who were all slated to become members of the Romanian dictators military. When freedom came the country was completely unprepared.

At the time, Olivia Harrison heard of the plight and visited the country. When she came back she got together with the other Beatle wives and formed the charity organization Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation. Quietly; ever so quietly, over the course of the last 24 years; Olivia Harrison; along with Barbara Bach, Yoko Ono and the now deceased Linda McCartney; made it financially possible for these children to survive and even excel.

In this following 1990 interview you will not only hear the story of how the charity came to be; but also about the Traveling Wilbury’s and their second album “Volume 3” which was released in 1990.

“Nobody’s Child” wasn’t on the original album but appears on the re-release. It’s an old American song by Cy Coben and Mel Foree; performed by Lonnie Donnegan. George had to call Joe Brown in London to get the lyrics. It was 5AM in London. They succeeded in getting half of them, and then wrote their own last verse.

     

The song originally appeared on an album for the Romanian Angel Appeal which featured artists such as the Traveling Wilbury’s, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Guns N' Roses, Ringo Starr, and Elton John. Here is that interview;

You can also help by simply “liking” their Facebook page at;

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Romanian-Angel-Appeal/181235723048?sk=info

And tell your friends about them, too!

Northampton's Clown

Have you heard about the clown stalking the streets of Northampton, England? He’s causing quite a stir among the populace there by dressing up as a clown and standing on street corners. Sounds harmless to me, but his actions have generated a bit of paranoia which seems to be centered around a character named “Pennywise” from a Stephen King novel involving a clown. Having never read the book I can’t really comment much on that aspect of the situation.

I guess my biggest concern is for the safety of the clown. The people there are ready to break out the pitchforks and torches in a scene reminiscent of “Frankenstein”, in order to be rid of the clown. He even has his own Facebook page, which I have visited. Here is the link;

https://www.facebook.com/spotnorthamptonsclown

The comments range from amusement and bemusement, to outright paranoia. I posted my take on it all, opining that if the Stephen King movies make you that uncomfortable, perhaps you should seek entertainment elsewhere.

It’s also interesting to note that no one seems to mind protestors wearing bandanas to obscure their identities while they destroy private property; nor is there an outcry over the increasing use of ski masks by law enforcement while depriving people of their rights when they bust up demonstrations, along with a head or two in the bargain.

I’m afraid we have all gotten a bit too sensitive. With all of the random violence in the world I suppose a bit of caution is understandable. But at the same time, I have to wonder about those who would be frightened by the mere presence of a clown standing on the corner. And then, of course, I feel sorry for them; locked in a world of fear.

Facebook - They Finally Got Me....

This is my fifth grade class photo from 1965. I have just joined Facebook, which I vowed never to do, as I have too many mailboxes as it is. But it is pretty cool to suddenly appear in someone else's mailbox and say hello. I am surprised at the warm reception from people that I considered "unapproachable" at the time. And the photos that are being passed around - some of which you've never seen of yourself - make it even more surprising.

I finally caved in to join a memorial site for Michael Held at the request of John DiStefano. He is the only one that could get me to do it. Thanks, John!

Some of the people in the photo here I have already been in touch with, some I've never lost touch with. But to suddenly be linked back to all of the people you knew as a kid is simply amazing to me.

So if you recognize you in the above photo, please give me a shout. I want to collect the whole set!