There's one song that has been one of my top 3 - can never get enough of it - inspirational songs, written by John Lennon: Yes - Imagine. Every time I hear it on the radio or TV, anywhere, I stop and listen and just become part of the moment. I dream of what he wrote and imagine it myself. When he says "..I know I'm a dreamer..." I think: "yes John, so am I".
This one happens to have the lyrics. The pictures in the background were wonderful too.
I wanted to share a show that my husband and I watch on TV every year. We DVR it so we never miss it. The Kennedy Center Honors. Traditionally, the sitting U.S. president attends the gala, barring pressing international travel. However, President Trump has now declined to attend two years in a row, making him the first president to have missed the event twice. (Thank Goodness). When President Obama was on we would always watch him and Michelle's reactions and feel so good he was POTUS.
The next one airs Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. ET. on CBS. The band Earth, Wind & Fire, actress Sally Field, singer Linda Ronstadt, television program Sesame Street and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas are the next recipients. (hosted this year by LL Cool J).
Two performances that to this day I play over and over are (1) the one when Aretha Franklin in 2015 surprised Carol King with "You make me feel like a Natural Woman". Carol's reaction and humbleness along with President Obama's tears were so memorable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsnZT7Z2yQ
and (2) I was also really impressed with one of my favorite performers: Adam Lambert, when he honored Cher by singing "Believe". If you want to see the performance (Cher cries from how soulfully he sang and interpreted her song) here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PzQHZLiUPs&list=PLzFfBGpHhAhave7sQA_9eKUIH5pgku-HC
Some happy suggestions for when you can't stand listening to the repetitive screeching treason song of Fool & The Gang any longer-
Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy, Year Without a Santa Claus, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town (the kids original versions, or course!)
Miracle on 34th St, It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas
A Christmas Carol (the versions with George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart are both wonderful.)
Elf, Bad Santa, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, A Christmas Story.
Edited to say I forgot The Polar Express!!
Happy Holidays. everyone!
Here is "Holly, Carol, Candy, and Joy"Â by JD McPherson
love and peace
Happy new decade, everyone! I've been busy with some personal "soul" projects of mine, but tonight I've been granted a lull.
As I've mentioned before, my spirit guides sometimes communicate with me by implanting music in my head. For the past week I've been connecting with old friends, some of whom I hadn't spoken to in 6 years. Today, as I was basking in these renewed friendships, the palpably hopeful energy of 2020, and the unobstructed sunlight of a clear blue sky, 10,000 Maniacs' "These Are Days" has been on repeat in my mind. The message: despite the very visible darkness that still has sway in our world, the energy of renewal that has been germinating for the past several years is getting ready to sprout into full view as the days lengthen over the coming months.
So if spirit is calling on you to celebrate, don't be shy. Get up and spin like Natalie Merchant!
A friend sent me this poem today. It made me happy.
Small KindnessesÂ
I've been thinking about the way, when you walk down a crowded aisle,
people pull in their legs to let you by. Or how strangers still say "bless you"
When someone sneezes, a leftover
from the Bubonic plague. "Don't die," we are saying.Â
And sometimes, when you spill lemons
from your grocery bag, someone else will help you pick them up.
Mostly don't want to harm each other.
We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot,
and say thank you to the person handing it. Â To smile
at them and for them to smile back. For the waitress
to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,
and for the driver in the red pick up truck to let us pass.
We have so little of each other, now. Â So far
from the tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples, we make together when we say, "Here,
have my seat." "Go ahead -- you first." "I like your hat."
---- Danusha Lameris
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"These fleeting temples." I love that!
Okay so this little guy will show us that we can solve anything if we just keep trying. Â He never once shows any sign of discouragement. At one point he steps away from the task to think. And then watch him. Â Â https://www.flixxy.com/never-give-up-mouse-vs-cracker.htm
Two things I'd heard/read that gave me peace:
Hey, if you see a chance to be kind to someone tomorrow, take it. I think we need it. (Brad Pitt, after accepting last night's Golden Globe award)
I hope something nice happens for you today.  (I saw this attached to the rear window of someone's car this morning.)
That mouse is the Democratic Party trying to get rid of the Orange One. Â Don't give up!
Mr Mouse, or maybe it is Ms Mouse, is also solving the climate crisis. :-)
A friend sent this to me today. The poet, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 100 years old today, is  playing off a Kahil Gibran poem (Pity the Nation):
Pity the nation whose people are sheep
And whose shepherds mislead them.
 Pity the nation whose leaders are liars,
 Whose sages are silenced
 And whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
 Pity the nation that raises not its voice
  Except to praise conquerers
  And acclaim the bully as hero
 And aims to rule the world
   With force and by torture.
     Pity the nation that knows
    No other language but its own
     And no other culture but its own.
 Pity the nation whose breath is money
 And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation oh pity the people
who allow their rights to erode
  and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee
 Sweet land of liberty.
Something a friend posted today, not really poetry, and from an author I don't know, very inspiring:
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
--L.R. Knost
''paper
may burn
but words
will escape''
 This is what it says right now, above City Lights Bookstore, as they celebrate 100 years of Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
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When i moved to San Francisco, in the early 90's, one of the 1st things i did, was to go to City Lights bookstore.  I was surprised to walk in to an exhibition of artworks all created by elephants.  The walls were all covered in paintings made by elephants, and the sound system was blasting the Thai Elephant Orchestra. It was all Abstract Expressionism, and crazy, Free-Form Jazz .  Who knew that elephants had such beatnik sensibilities?    It was beautiful
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@unk-p, thanks for making me smile a big smile! With the Henry Mancini song "Baby Elephant Walk" playfully ringing through my head ...
In case you haven't had your heart broken today:
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"In every scene, you are my star, Michelle Obama! Happy birthday, baby!"