Thanksgiving - 2008

Thursday is Thanksgiving; a time to gather our families around a table to feast upon an unfortunate turkey. My husband loves Thanksgiving. Frankly, I don't get that much out of it. Perhaps it's because I'm always expecting more.

On Thanksgiving my husband gathers around my small family. My mom and I cook; baste and wait for the turkey to be done and then while the turkey "rests" we scramble to reheat side dishes, prepare gravy and watch over biscuits in the oven to make sure they are golden brown. Then we serve up; say a fast prayer; eat and finish our meal all within 30 minutes. My mom sits all of 5 minutes and then she's up back into the kitchen which means I'm up clearing off the table and packing things up in not enough tupperware.

That's it. That's the way it is every year and it will be that way again this year.

But in my mind's eye there are families enjoying love, laughter, funny stories and somewhere out there someone is laughing so hard at someone's repeated story that wine is gushing out of their nose--and a good memory is being created.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still thankful for another day that brings my family together and I'm forever thankful for my Mother for being there; even if she can't relax and leave the dishes for me to clean up.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone at every table with their family.

There Are No Words

A basenji friend sent this to me. YouTube: The cell phone rang and a gang of basenjis answered the phone:

Adele - Right as Rain

I love this song. I had her music on my blog but it got all "jacked up". Hey, remember those words "all jacked up"?

Anyways, back to Adele and Right as Rain:

The Power of Music

I love music. Who doesn't? In fact I don't know anyone who doesn't love music. Although someone once told me that they dated a girl that would not sing in the car when the radio played. She didn't even hum. How that person even dated that girl is beyond me. But let me get back to my original statement. I love music.

Southern California has a radio station called The Sound - 100.3 FM. Not a very rock edgy name for a station that plays a variety of everything "rock", but still, that's what we got. Well they started this new thing on Wednesdays called Album Sides Wednesday -- all VINYL (again...not a very catchy name). They play the entire A or B side of an album. At first I thought they would be playing music that was too evolved for me and at a first listen I would immediately switch back to my XM radio (which by the way is on the blink. Seems like every October/November my XM radio wigs out and does not turn on -- but I digress). Anyway so on my way to work (stuck in traffic due to an accident) I checked out Album Sides Wednesday and what a major flashback I was having while driving the 210 freeway.

The power of music. When you can remember exactly where you were; who you were with; what you were doing; how you were feeling; what major teenage angst you were having the minute that needle touched down on that black vinyl record, then you have perserved an important memory in your history.

In the 70's I remember going to the library and "checking out" albums for three weeks and just playing them over and over. I remember listening to Carly Simon's first album which included the song, "That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be" and feeling like I was actually listening to an adult conversation between a man and a woman. When Anticipation came out I also got my copy from the library and played that album over and over. I use to sing those songs at school and no one...and I mean no one knew who the heck I was singing.

The power of music. I love it. If you allow it to it will penetrate deeply under your skin and trigger your senses and feelings and years later it will spring forth an exactness of time that will amaze you at first but once you get pass all that and you allow the music to envelope you in your memories -- wow that is such a wonderful feeling even when stuck in traffic. What always amazes me is the way the lyrics will suddenly spring forth from somewhere deep inside you and the next thing you know it you're singing those memories at the top of your lungs.

This morning I heard:



And on the way home I listen to Elton John's Tummbleweed Connection:




When I got home, I actually had a drive way moment where I just sat in my car listening to my radio and faded back into a memory that had been forgotten over time but quickly return at the very instant that needle touched down on that pure black vinyl memory.

Here's the young tender voice of Jackson Browne singing Love Needs a Heart:

No Time - 853-1212

There was a time when you could dial 853-1212 and you were told the time of day or night. But not anymore. Now if you're at a lost for time, you cannot easily pick up the phone and get the time you need. It's gone. This service is now obsolete.

Does anyone remember dialing that number and getting the time of day? Apparently, last October AT&T remove that service. I'm sure the operator who held that job back in the day was let go years before and replaced by an computer generated voice operator. Now, the computer voice operator has been replaced with Nothing. How sad.

I wonder if she was sad.

Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos)

Day of the Dead is an annual Mexican celebration for those who have passed on. It's a celebration of remembrance for families. The Mexican culture believe that the spirits return on November 1 and 2 to be reunited with their families. Families decorate their loved one's grave sites with the person's favorite items -- food, fruit, drinks and flowers. Candles are placed by the grave to guide them back safely to the other side.

At the Hollywood Forever cemetery this celebration occurs every year and is one of the largest in Los Angeles. Here are a few pictures of the altars that families created for remembrance of their loved ones.

Many people who attend the celebration often dress themselves up as skeletons or the walking dead.

Even the children participate. This little boy was in total character as the Grim Reaper. He didn't even crack a smile.

And these tiny tots were being pushed in their carriage by their mother.

This is their Mother. How would you like to have her watching over your children?

Even pets are remembered. This altar was dedicated to those pups who were put to sleep in Shelters. Dog collars are hung on the cross.

This celebration is not ghoulish or meant to be frightening. It's more of a celebration of the life that was lived by those who have passed on. It's really quite beautiful.