Only three remaining members were still standing on the OC Fair’s Pacific Amphitheater’s stage last night of the original group I saw 35 years ago, rehearsing incognito and unknown, at SUNY at StonyBrook University in the Student Union auditorium by myself as the audience.  I got the chance to meet them, express my attraction to their beat and encourage them with enthusiastic applause and compliments.  Their zany, sometimes discordant, sometimes harmonious and always upbeat music reached my dancing, happy bones and brought me joy.  I have seen them a few more times since then, but last night, I felt the initial chill up my spine I had when I knew them “when” and saw their potential…so long ago, yet just yesterday, for all of us.

Blond Cindy Wilson’s brother, Ricky sadly passed away during the AIDS crisis in the 80s.  He was lead guitar and Keith Strickland, originally the drummer, turned guitarist after Ricky’s death, decided to retire from touring last December.

So here we have: Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider and the fabulous red-headed Kate Pierson.  Kate brought Iggy Pop popular fame singing with him on the song, Candy and skyrocketed REM with Shiny, Happy People.  Next time you hear these songs, listen for her distinct sound that is oh, so New Wave!

Remember Rock Lobster?  Love Shack?  Private Idaho?

I danced all one and half hours! With the same zeal, vibrancy and bliss of those younger, less responsible and wilder days!

What I am reading lately:

I am listening to the audio cd’s of Carolyn Myss’s Sacred Contracts.  I have her book of the same name and read it about seven or eight years ago.  So, I am revisiting it with hopefully wiser, clearer eyes (certainly older).  Oh, I mean ears.  It is her definitive book and introduction to the world of archetypes and symbolism.  So gleeful was I in my reverie of all things New Age, I ordered her latest tome on archetypes via Amazon.  Now I believe I own about seven of her books.  She writes well, is an intuitive and she sounds just like Paula Poundstone, the comedian (who I resonate with and has a very distinctive voice), so everything sounds tongue in cheek even though Carolyn Myss is dead serious.

I am just about finished with The French Don’t Diet Plan by Dr. Will Clower.  This has been an essential adjunct to The Perfect Ten by Dr.Michael Aziz.  It’s back to real food, no preservatives, chemicals, additives, faux food or fast food.  It’s all about slowing down, pleasure and savoring. Yum.  Which led me to purchase The Slow Food Diet by Marc David, whom I am listening to in the car.  His audio cd collection is called Mind, Body, Nutrition. Wow, I guess I am a bibliophile since I listen to books as well as read them and amass them.  Pulled out my old 1997 copy of The Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People by Jill Podjasek I have highlighted and flagged to death and realize – It’s the same advice and counsel!  Will have to re-read.

Every one of these authors’ intent is to bring us back to basic, good ole common sense, whole organic foods and moderation.  I am loving it.  So is my BFF.  I have lost four pounds since March 21 which is only about one pound per month but I feel super energetic, was taken off my HRT and my belly fat has shrunk three inches at least since June 12 when I recommitted to training and was measured.  I feel like I have a monkey off my back and will never diet again.

I am also reading Marianne Williamson’s latest, The Law of Divine Compensation whenever I am in the mood for spiritual insight and validation.  I keep it on my night table and read a page or two or more before my eyes get super tired and then switch over to lighter fare… like my new mystery, Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers.  This is not a modern story.  Sayers wrote and lived in the 1920’s and 30’s.  She was a great inspiration to the contemporary detective fiction writer, Elizabeth George of much acclaim.  The only negative critique I have, is the way too small font this 5th edition, copyright 2012 by Bourbon Street publishers chose to print with.  Lord Peter Wimsey is her aristocratic sleuth and I got hooked because of a PBS series on Masterpiece Classic Mysteries I watched a zillion years ago.

I am still engaged and almost finished with The Tao of Womanhood by Diane Dreher.  It is a thoughtful self-help/spiritually based book for women.  Although written in the late ’90’s, it still dispels a prescription for incorporating calm and wisdom into the ordinary daily life of every woman at any age or time.

I am excited to receive my Amazon arrivals, finish what I have started and maybe later in the summer, open up one, two or three more books (of the many) I have strewn under, propped up against or nearby, my side of the bed.

What are you reading this summer?

A long time ago, I found a book, that I believe is out of print now, called A short course in Kindness by Margot Silk Forrest.  I picked it up at the diminutive but spiritually charged bookstore at Unity Church in Tustin.  Its subtitle describes the contents, “ a little book on the importance of love and the relative unimportance of just about everything else.”

Like A Course in Miracles, any book written by its followers like Dr. Gerald Jampolsky who wrote Forgiveness: The Greatest Healer of All and Love is Letting Go of Fear or Marianne Williamson, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Buddha’s teachings, Jesus’s sermons, any religions’ core, Greek, ancient, pagan and native philosophy…the message is foundational, clear and the same…Love is the answer, the purpose and the journey.

I thought about this today, as I ruminated over my own and other people’s actions.  There is nothing wrong with taking an inventory once in awhile.

When I am kind, I feel I have done the right thing – even when the reaction is not what is expected.  To have the correct attitude of kindness benefits me.  And, first, I need to learn to be kind to self.  Then, I know how to be kind to you.

Whenever someone else is unkind, I get the opportunity to ask if something else is going on?  Maybe they are uncomfortable in their own skin somehow.  That thought breeds compassion, for how unfortunate for them, I think.

That doesn’t mean I have to hang around them, put myself in their path or even approve of their behavior.  But I accept that this is so, I do not take it personally, I get to say a silent prayer for their healing and move on.  And when I find I have been unkind, I get to look at what is underneath and really behind my snarky, bitter or snappy behavior and come to terms with it and quickly and (wholeheartedly knowing why) – apologize for it.

 “ Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.”  – Theodore Isaac Rubin

“ Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless.” – Mother Teresa

“ Kindness heals, forgives and exudes love.” – Cecilia

Benevolence and Goodness come from that soft place in your heart.  It is a vulnerable spot.  But when you reach in, find this power full of grace, embody its meaning and generously give it away…you find peace, you feel rewarded and full, you engender more of it and you get that overwhelming emotion and sensation of abundance and gratitude for your very breath of life.

“ Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Notice the string of events and connect the dots as you practice kindness and you will see miracles in your Universe.  I know.  I have witnessed many such wonders and have been given many opportunities to practice what was freely given to me, over and over again.

Kindness is just a choice to respond with love.

Next time you open your mouth or send a text, email or letter – ask yourself three questions:  Is it true?  Is it necessary?  Is it kind?

My peach donating neighbor was out and about this morning as we (my good friend J and tu/th walking buddy) were finishing up our walk up the steep climb of our hill.

“Good morning, L”  I greeted.  “Do you need any help ?” I queried.

“No, but come in –  I have some avocados.” She replied.

Well, soon, we were holding on to a dozen green, heavy and hard organic Haas specimens and after loading up our arms, shirts and holding a few with my neck, we climbed just a little further to my house next door and placed them in my sink.

Here they are in all their glory waiting to ripen:

Whipped up Lobster Thai style with brown rice tonight and ate outdoors.

Ingredients:  coconut oil, onions, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, kale, coconut milk, turmeric, curry powder, fish sauce, lobster tail, lemon juice and basil, on a bed of brown rice with swiss chard leaves.

inspired…my amethyst cruiser!

Happy Bastille Day!