Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores
Photographer Patricia Gulick

Sunday, August 31, 2014

1/14/14 RMB Light of Love



1/14/14 RMB Light of Love

Dear Rita Mae Brown,

Today Teddy tells me she has been reading your letters on the blog. I like the reflection your letters formed in her words. At the end of a long day, this was a welcome sight… 

"I like your writing.  It's conversational, easy to read, yet often thought provoking and open.  And we do share a dream.  Here's to a kinder, gentler world.  One that starts with ourselves.  A world that celebrates our differences.  A world that sees the wonder and embraces the magic. A world that lives in the Light of Love."

Yesss!

Loraine

Saturday, August 30, 2014

1/14/14 RMB Moms Mabley



1/14/14 RMB Moms Mabley

Dear Rita Mae Brown,

Tonight I learned about Moms Mabley via the special Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley. I saw bits of it at Carol’s when I visited. She recorded it for me to watch later with my nephew trio. She remembers her, like I remember listening to Bill Cosby on vinyl. And now technology allows us to watch a video on YouTube that was originally recorded sixty years ago. Nice.

In an interview Whoopi told an African-American female reporter that Moms did what she did so that “you could do what you do”. What did she do? She made people laugh while prompting them to think, not an easy task. She was her own woman, out and proud, female and black, entertaining audiences from the 1920’s to the 1970’s, not an easy task at all.

Further research reveals that Clarice Taylor, an actress known for playing Bill Cosby’s mom in the The Cosby Show, produced and starred in the live show Moms in the 80’s.  

Remembering is good. Every generation has firsts and greats and those who travelled paths far more difficult than some of us will ever see. I am humbly thankful to them and to those who help us to remember them.

As we deal with our daily trials, we learn to live in the present. “This moment, this very instant, is the most important one.” I tell my nephews, and “Do you know why? Because this is where we put to use all that we have learned from the past and it is this moment that will shape our future. We must give it our best.”

Focus and clarity of our own potential, fed by history’s insights and dreams of possibilities, edge us towards brighter days.


Cheers,

Loraine

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

1/10/14 RMB More to this Life



1/10/14 RMB More to this Life

Dear Rita Mae Brown,

Life is aflutter. Transitions and changes and adventures abound. My niece has flown to London to study acting in a USC overseas program. That is one of the neatest adventures happening right now. Another is getting to know a new friend and testing out my 6th sense on her.

Travel takes on numerous forms, from place to place, from time to time. Hearts make the journey to connect to one another and to cities an ocean away. How can a place visited for the first time have a feel of coming home? How can a brand new friend hold the presence of someone you have treasured for lifetimes?

These are the things I ponder as I fear that London might reclaim my niece and I reconnect with a friend I feel I’ve known for centuries. Strong pulls cause me to believe there is more to this life than this life. There is more to us than the sum of one lifetime’s days. And in this belief, I find hope for our potential, yet to be discovered.

Somewhat fascinated,

Loraine