There are always consequences of our actions. Just yesterday I changed out the song on the home page of my website to the cover I did of “Don’t Bring Me Down”, written by Jeff Lynne. My favorite line in it, “You’re lookin’ good just like a snake in the grass, one of these days I’m gonna kick your ass” (my liberty taken with original lyrics). Well, this morning as I bent down to water a potted jade plant, there below me lying on a patch of grass, is a young diamond-back rattler – rather cocked up when he heard me pouring the water. Where he chose to lay peacefully is the only patch of weeds I left remaining when weeding my gravel garden whose centerpiece is a bird bath. Hummingbirds, golden finches, blue jays and robins drink from that bath. And everyday I refresh it with fresh water because I know they rely on it. It’s completely awesome to witness my little sanctuary of birds and lizards, squirrels and raccoons, an occasional skunk and now the creature I used to fear most… a snake, resting in my garden.

A quote from my son, when he was 17:
“Trees are anything you want them to be. They are always willing to let you climb on them, and there are always new branches to learn to climb on every tree.”

Across the lane from where I live are very old and tall Eucalyptus trees. They have provided shade, a sound buffer and a wonderful aroma in the air. Today, my neighbor has taken the action to take them down. I’m sure her reasons are valid and I have no issue with that aspect of the process. What disturbs me is knowing that where they once stood is now a big gaping hole. Instead of a habitat for the owls and hawks who made them their home and the squirrels who romped from branch to branch, only the memory now remains. Joni Mitchell’s lyrics come to mind: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”. 

Here’s documentation of my week-long tree surgeon time.

My little granddaughter was born in the Chinese Astrology Year of the Rabbit. She is my very own Bunny!

This little pink bunny symbolizes the joy children receive celebrating Easter with the ritual of Easter Egg Hunts, dipping cooked eggs into colorful food dyes and digging through their Easter baskets finding jelly beans and chocolates.

Vivid memories of mine are reading the Easter Story to my son when he was only three and his response to the story of Jesus’ Resurrection. At the time it was his favorite story!

I tried to expose other beliefs to my children as well as the Jewish faith we inherited. I have never ‘practiced’ religion; my preference is Universal Wisdom which may paint a bigger picture for an individual in making their own decisions as they enter into their belief system for their life.

In the original Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year. The Ides, always near the midpoint of the month, were determined by the Full Moon between the 13th and 15th. Then came the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15 in 44 BC; hence the famous line from William Shakespeare’s play when Caesar is warned by a soothsayer to “Beware the Ides of March”.

Freesia

I’ve always  thought of this day as welcoming the Lamb of Spring and saying farewell to the Lion of Winter. Better days ahead…the cold is gone for another year. Time for planting seeds and tending the garden. Bulbs such as freesia (my favorite), daffodils and hyacinth reveal their beautiful flowers and pungent scents.

I know two people born on this day. My Swedish girlfriend, Margareta Sjodin, I met while living in Malibu in the mid eighties. She is an artist and actress who played the Swedish version of Goldie Hawn from “Laugh In”. I went to Stockholm one summer as her guest with my youngest daughter. We spent ten fascinating days adjusting to the northern lights that keep the night skies in twilight. Every morning we would walk the 700-year old cobblestone pathways, cross the nearest bridge next to the Baltic Sea and enter the Grand Hotel’s breakfast buffet. Even in summer the winds can be chilling so I must admit our American diet called for deliciously fresh and hot French fries as well as Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam to help keep us warm. As I strolled through the nearby Royal Palace I had a close call when my toe stepped over the line that a Royal guard made in the gravel with his bayonette! Evenings in old town Stockholm are filled with music in the streets and people gathering to dance. Every day at noon for one hour the Royal armed guards and orchestra march through the streets proclaiming it is, indeed, noon! Bra!

“Buena Vista Social Club” Album Cover

The other person I know who celebrates his birthday today is Ry Cooder. I met Ry when were both 21. My first husband was producing his albums then – long before his standout award-winning “Buena Vista Social Club” project. I was there in the early days listening to his stories of recording with the Stones and Captain Beefheart. Used to save wine bottles for him. Sometimes the neck of the bottle would fit his finger perfectly so he could customize one to play the winsome sounds of Bottleneck Guitar. He honored  Depression-era musicians who used this technique to amplify and texturize their instrument. Ry’s masterful playing won him a reputation of being the best! He always reminded me of a young Gary Cooper albeit with one eye. Yes, Ry has a glass eye.

Significant to William Shakespeare and Julius Caesar and to me personally, the Ides of March is a day to remember..

I still love receiving cards for my B-Day. My girlfriend in Hawaii has a collection of vintage cards her mother left her when she passed away. One arrived in my mailbox just before I embarked on a marathon of travel to the Monkees Convention. In 12 days I slept in four different beds and visited three states, not including a layover in Atlanta, GA on my way home.

Two more cards from lifelong girlfriends and a lovely, most thoughtful card from a fan in Canada.

More charming than an e-card or email, even though I deeply appreciate those as well, there’s something to be said for a Hallmark Moment. Sound like a girl thing? I like cards from guys too! Received a special one this year. Putting pen to paper somehow makes a deeper connection with our hearts.