Love Interruption
I was typing my blog last Friday, about my wonderful discovery (because my brain does not work the way it should at times) that Pasta can be vegetarian. I was interrupted by those who I had invited over for dinner, my son and grandsons (7 & 6 years old), and my sister. My grandchildren enjoy being in the kitchen with Gaga: tasting and smelling different seasonings I use, helping me stir, or getting to taste as I cook. I have said a million times that a child's place is in the kitchen, I will say it at least another million times hahaha. It's good to give them a sense of accomplishment and my grandchildren even have some of their own little spatulas and spoons made just their size to help me. (I got them at TheDollarTree.com and the boys love them!) I also made a wonderful salad with lettuce, green olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados it was fabulous; topped off with the yummiest buttery garlicky french bread. I had planned this menu specifically so I could tell my grandchildren that I am a vegetarian now, well I told them I'm a veggiesaurus because they are dinosaur fans. The oldest understood immediately and told his brother "vegetarian means herbivore" lol. It went perfectly and my sister stayed for the weekend. It wasn't until Sunday that she finally caved in and needed some meat, there is none in the house and I am not sure if I want any in the house other than maybe lunchmeat for her or anyone else that comes and stays.
Thriller!
I have had two major loves my entire life, and if you have been reading this blog you will know they are musicians. When I was a little girl I had posters of one of them and Donnie Osmond (give me a break, I was born in 1967 lol) all over my bedroom walls. My father came in and told me that my bedroom needed some "culture" and he hung a poster - horizontally - over the top of my door. I told him I did not want a poster of "old men" in my room. The poster was of The Eagles. I do not remember the exact year, it was before July 1976 though and The Eagles had long hair. They look great to me now, as a grown woman lol. I was gutted when Glenn Frey passed... it was not his time. The person who was all over my walls, with Donnie Osmond, was Michael Jackson of course. When the Jackson 5 hit it big in 1970 I was 2 1/2. My mom tells the story that I would watch them on tv and say I was going to marry Michael someday.
When my children were young I introduced them to Michael and his brothers and their music, indoctrinated you might say. One weekend my sister and I, and our children, were watching MTV (this is when they actually showed videos) and it was "Michael Jackson Weekend". Well, they loved all the music and videos and dance parties, until we got to Thriller. I traumatized my children right before bed and then NOBODY slept that night! (Remind me to tell you the "Chocolate Pudding Man" story sometime lol). I tell that story now and parents are horrified, we did not think the children would be upset... we were wrong! The worst part was on Sunday a concert was shown. I thought, ok I am safe. The music started and my kids started getting nervous and said they didn't want to see "Wolf Michael" (yes they had a name for him now). I told them they would be fine. I had made a rule of not lying to my children, if I told them I promised something I went through with it - good or bad. You already know what is coming next. I promised them that "Wolf Michael" wouldn't come out. Halfway through the song he goes backstage and comes back out and makes a liar out of me! Thanks, Michael.
Girlfriend
Most people do not know that Paul McCartney wrote the song Girlfriend for Michael Jackson, of course, most people aren't obsessed with both The Beatles & Michael Jackson at the same time! My musical tastes do not betray my age because I don't happen to think music HAS an age. Sgt. Pepper should appeal to people one hundred years from now just as Crazy (Patsy Cline) still appeals to people just as Beethoven still appeals to people. I dance it out to Dua Lipa and Bruno Mars and The Commodores and Aretha Franklin. Okay, enough lecturing, back to The Beatles. Of course, my favorite is John. I believe you can tell a lot about a person by their favorite Beatle, and EVERYBODY has a favorite even if it's who they "would like if they liked The Beatles". The Beatles are like Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water wonderful alone and even better and complementary together. I love all of them, John was just the one that touched me and then he died... the story of my life! I remember waking up to the radio, do you remember listening to the radio all night or setting the clock radio to wake you up with music lol great times! I remember waking up and the deejay saying the John Lennon song he had played was by "The late, great John Lennon". I knew what that meant and knew it couldn't be true because he was alive. When I moved to New York 6 years later going to Strawberry Fields was on the top of my list of places to visit. At that time the news would show the mourners every year on John's birthday and the anniversary of his murder. We would gather and sing his songs, people would bring their children, it was a place of love.
I am grateful I have lived long enough to appreciate the genius of George Harrison. I genuinely love his songs and how intricate they are. My two best friends in h.s. loved Ringo and Paul so I loved them very early on. Of course, I loved Paul McCartney for the beauty of his voice and the mystery/conspiracy theories that ran rampant. My parents listened to all the evidence about this new "Faux Paul" nonsense all night one night; I was destined to be a Beatlemaniac. I also love that Paul McCartney, like me, stays current with music and is also a vegetarian.
Wonderful Christmastime?
I told you all of that to tell you about a couple of the most amazing Christmas gifts I received this year. My daughter lives in Chicago and could not come to town for Christmas, especially after we lost her father. Losing her father on Nov. 28th (Thanksgiving weekend) made everything "difficult" for the whole family. I say "difficult", what I mean is I stopped eating and my grandchildren are still dealing with it and my ex-husband's brothers are still hurting and none of that equals the pain my children are feeling. To have all of this happen during the holidays when most of us also have our birthdays, only added to the pain and loss. We didn't want to celebrate anything, the presents that I had ordered before Thanksgiving were all family-oriented. On Christmas, my son gave me the gift my daughter got for me: an autographed picture of MICHAEL JACKSON!!! Are you kidding me?! Best gift in the world, amiright? Today I received a text from my daughter telling me to check my mailbox for a package. I did immediately because I was hoping it was her... it wasn't, bummer. The package was from Barnes & Nobles, one of my favorite places because I love books. I actually prefer HalfPriceBooks.com because shipping is always free and they keep books out of landfills. I have passed on my love for books to my daughter, one of the things that makes me the happiest in the world. I opened the package, half expecting books on being Veggie or grieving. It was Paul McCartney - The Lyrics!!! This is an amazing two books that delve deep into Paul's life through his songs, something I understand when music is your love language it is literally how you speak and how you remember times and events. I will be back soon, I am going to let Paul McCartney heal me as he heals himself through losing his mum, Linda, and our beloved John.
i hope to see you soon & be good to yourself
