I should be used to packing and unpacking boxes of memorabilia. Since the age of eighteen, my life has been one geographical move after another. I was born on the east coast, shifted to the west coast (with a few points in between) courtesy of Army life then landing here, Florida’s Gulf coast.

Through each new place where my car was parked, bed made with new linens, boxes would be stored away until the next pinpoint on a map was determined. I would call myself tossing out things of little or no importance in hopes of bringing the caravan of boxes down to a reasonable number. With every toss of insignificant items to the trash pile, new items collected during my stay in a particular land would take its place in dog eared boxes.

Now I sit in a room with thirty years of collectibles each one needing a place in the box, eager to travel forth with me to my next locale. The sad reality is due to space confinements roughly two-thirds will not be able to continue on this journey with me. How do I choose what gets the coveted spot in a brown box and what gets left behind, perhaps to a refuse bin? I’m having a Sophie’s Choice moment.

Unless life really does a complete 360 on me, this is my final moving expedition and to think I would need or want one of those items in the years to come is stressing to me. All of the holiday decorations, children’s mementos (x5 children equals a great deal) and things inherited from my deceased parents all are vying for that coveted “take me” sticker.

Looking at the piles surrounding me, holding a roll of neon stickers that signifies the green light of acceptance I realize this is just the tip of an iceberg.

I forgot to mention the storage unit that needs going through.
Oi Vey…

The youngest of my children (my only boy) turns 18 in a few days and without a Father in the home these past few years I worry if I have said enough. I came upon some wise words from a man I respect, Henry Rollins that he directs specifically to young people.
Words I wish were written by me, but since they weren’t my son shall get a printed and framed copy of them.

“Young person, you’ll find in your life that sometimes your great ambitions will be momentarily stymied, thwarted, marginalized by those who were perhaps luckier, come from money, where more doors opened, where college was a given–it was not a student loan; it was something that Dad paid for–to where an ease and confidence in life was almost a birthright, where for you it was a very hard climb…”

“There is no better time than now to have a moral and civic backbone, to have a moral and civic true north. This is a tremendous opportunity for you, a young person, to be heroic, to be morally upstanding, to be helpful, almost Boy Scout-like, presidential, to be altruistic…”

Post Script:
This will be the last blog post I will write on my son. I have a rule, no posts on the children after age 18. Thank you for reading the pieces I have written on my raising a young man as a single parent. My goal was to let other women know, we can do this thing and do it well.

To read the entire transcript by Henry Rollins (and see his video message) go HERE.

Brian Paul

This post is not so much about promoting an independent film, rather in meeting him caused me to examine the hows/whys people need that “thrill ” in their lives.

The majority of people are raised with a set of expectations placed on their heads; get an education, marry someone nice, raise the 2.5 kids while living in suburbia, work your 9-5 job for 35+ years, retire, grow old, end of life. If someone deviates from that norm, they are labeled a wanderer or rebel but in reality they are the ones truly living. The rest of us are merely going through expected motions of life and become rather dull folks.

Now to be clear, I don’t abdicate train hopping (it’s extremely dangerous) but I do think we as a people need to re-examine our lives, demand the time for us to go out and explore on our own, no children, partner or obligations. We make excuses on why something like that is impossible but at the bare minimum one week out of the year is definitely a viable option if we set it as a necessity.

You can be dirt poor and still find time for a thrill. Get in the car, drive 100 miles (sleep in the car if necessary) and get out to explore. I’m not saying you have to pack up the house, sell your couch and pawn off the kids to a neighbor but you need adventures to live.

It is necessary as a people we continue to grow, explore, reconnect with our younger selves for one day we find ourselves old and unable to move with a life full of “What if’s”.

In speaking with my oldest brother last week he said he admired me for making the choice to move to a New Orleans, alone with only my belongings in search of art, music, life. Told me he wanted one more “big adventure” before he died, felt like he had wasted too many years on being “mainstream”.

We all need those adventures and I hope you are planning yours as you read this post.

Cure for the Crash from Brian Paul on Vimeo.

To read more on this wonderful film (sorry, had to get a plug in) visit the site at:
http://cureforthecrash.com/home.html

Reblogged from six degrees photography:

I spent this weekend going through the blogs I read regularly and it was very difficult to narrow it down a small list of blogs I’d want others to visit and maybe follow.
There is so much creativity here in WordPress world I am constantly amazed at the wealth of talent so my list is a work in progress.

I did have a thought while doing this task of what a “Dream Blog Roll” of mine would look like. By that, I mean people I wish would blog for they would surely make the cut.

#1-The Aging Movie Star

Imagine if Joan Crawford, Bette Davis or Marylin Monroe blogged and the real Hollywood scoop they would share. I want to read about everything from when they were kids to when their star started to dim. Their thoughts on today’s entertainers and I have no doubt they would share the unbridled truth. Maybe then we would find out what really happened to Baby Jane or if Mommie Dearest was fiction.

#2- President Obama

Since the vast majority of us blog the truth, I would really like to read what Mr. Obama honestly thinks of life as being president. What goes through his mind at those state dinners, does the food suck, is the conversation boring. What does he really think of his co-workers, the senate, etc? No doubt, that would be entertaining.

#3- Richard Pryor or Redd Foxx

Not every blog needs a “G” rating and these blogs would add some “Blue” spice to my WP reader.
One-liners, spoken with a dash of sass sounds like great reading material to go along with my morning coffee.

#4- A Cruise Ship bartender

We all know people let their wild side show when on vacations. The uptight business man becomes Don Juan on the dance floor and all kinds of juicy tidbits are unleashed with a few cocktails. I don’t go in for gossip but we all know drinkers speak the truth. A new flock of people every trip and it would be even better if the bartender wrote using the passenger’s real names. Just saying.

#5- My Father

Dad had a practical, no-nonsense way of looking at life and I’m kicking my tail now for not writing down the wise, hilarious and idiotic things he used to say. His blog would be wildly entertaining as seen through the eyes of a senior citizen on the state of our world today with this advanced technology, social media and raising a family in the 60’s.

Well, since none of these folks will be blogging anytime in the near future, I better get back to my “Real-Time” Blog Roll.

Post Script: Anyone you would like to have on your Blog-Roll?

Nice group that plays music wth a hint of the 60′s/70′s dance tones..
I think this would make a good song for my kids and myself to improv to before they leave home this year….

Le Clown, I did not hijack your idea.. well, ok yes I did…
scroll to the end of his post to see what I meanhttp://clownonfire.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/play-me-a-song/)

Have a wonderful and amazing weekend everyone!!

I made my way over to where the drum beats were louder, the jangle of bells were ringing and angled for a front row spot. The gentleman stopped playing and I quickly introduced myself and told him how much I enjoyed his music. We shook hands and he asked, “What can I play for you”? My reply, “Play me a happy beat” to which he promptly started banging his drum, tapping his blue shoes as bells around his ankles chimed in.

After Robert finished his song, we chatted abit about how he came to live in New Orleans, the people he meets playing and a few other things. He then told me to look over my shoulder as I was being filmed by the Japanese crew that was doing a documentary on local musicians in New Orleans. Needless to say, it was embarrassing that I had interrupted this scene and was trying to find a graceful exit.

Robert and I shook hands goodbye, my daughter took a photo with him and I told him once I was permanently moved to NOLA would be on the look out for him.
He replied, “Listen for the happy beat and you will find me”.

Only in New Orleans….

As a writer, I have several Moleskin notebooks as they are made of good quality interior and exterior. So what doe we do with our photographs besides share them digitally online through the different mediums? There are many different places that will help you publish those treasured pictures into an album or you can step it up a notch and create your album with MILK Books.

There are two options available the classic MILK Photo Book and the Moleskin Photo Book. Within these two choices, there are numerous options from number of pages, layout, colors, etc.

Per the website:

Every MILK Photo Book always includes:
-The highest quality white matte art paper of the same quality you find in the best coffee table books.
-All our books are hard cover and elegantly bound in your choice of fine linen fabric to suit any taste or occasion.
-Inset cover images and labels, open-flat binding, quality textured endpapers, and a woven ribbon tie closure or marker.
-Each book is beautifully presented in special wrapping paper, a linen slipcase or a linen presentation box to make a MILK book the perfect gift or keepsake.

Moleskine Photo Books and Albums are made with official Moleskine materials:

-Printed on a fine ivory-colored acid-free FSC certified paper stock, its velvet surface delivers a matt finish for the look and feel of a Moleskine notebook.
-Every Moleskine photo book is carefully bound using Moleskine’s signature center-stitched open-flat binding, and a genuine Moleskine cover with rounded corners, elastic closure, and expandable pocket.
-Each book is elegantly presented in special wrapping paper, a linen slipcase or a linen presentation box, making your Moleskine experience complete.

The prices are a bit more than one would pay at some of the other online stores, but the quality stands heads above them. Another perk, for just $2.99 (USD) you also get a digital flip book to share online with others.

Here is an example of a finished book:

http://www.milkbooks.com/flip-book/default.aspx?ProjectId=e6cc9a93-c3f7-410b-a08a-0333dd5ffb07&OId=66777&OLId=334033

For more information, please visit the website:

http://www.milkbooks.com/

Now I need to decide which pictures will go into my first book….

The sun is starting to set as I sit here on banks of the Mississippi River. A light breeze blows and the walking path behind me shows the occasional runner, dog walker and couples enjoying this special time of day. Sundown here in New Orleans is akin to a friend draping that shawl around your shoulders, comforting and peaceful.

A few hundred feet from where I sit there is a group of young people, some would call homeless drop outs, I call free spirits caught in the grasp of life in this big easy. New Orleans has a way of seeping into one’s heart and filling it with all the things we enjoy in life; food, music, an easy way of life. No hurries just pleasure along the way of wherever one is going.

I have not been on these banks since Hurricane Katrina roared through and tried to level this gem of a city. Almost eight years ago I sat and watched in horror as Mother Nature unleashed her wrath and threatened to take away all that was good, yet she did not succeed. I felt helpless and protective then, now I feel so damn proud. The rare breed of humanity that live within these city limits rebuilt, re-loved and have not looked back since.

Sitting here tonight there is no doubt this city is where I belong. I may not have been born here, but all those years ago a young woman fell in love with every edge of this city and that love affair has never died.

While still protective of her charms, mysteries and things unknown to me, am most grateful the path of my life leads me back to these banks once more.

My apologies to all of my blogging friends for not reading/commenting on your posts for the past week. I just returned from another trip to my most favorite city, New Orleans. As some of you know I am due to move there very soon so a trip was needed to meet the Realtor.
One of my daughters also tagged along so it was great to be able to show her my soon to be home town.

I did alot of writing about the trip and other topics while sitting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River and as soon as I have done some editing will post those pieces.

In the meantime, I will be posting photographs (of the many I took) over on my Photography blog for those interested. Not bragging, but they are worth the look-see as New Orleans is a phenom of a city; so beautiful, diverse, warm and welcoming to all who visit.

http://sixdegreesphotography.wordpress.com/

I will do my best to catch up on all the past posts.