Do you take personal days? I can't begin to tell you the importance of stepping outside of your everyday circumstances and taking a breath of fresh air and the rejuvenating powers of looking at something new or different... I have long believed my mother invented the personal day specifically for she and my brother and I to take a quick break from the demands every day life and of school work and athletic pursuits and family issues--- these days typically took place in the late spring and started with an early visit to a doctor or dentist and we spent the rest of the day without a care in the world. Visiting Catalina Island became favorite tradition.
Catalina Island has always been somewhat magical for me because it's a beautiful enclave just 26 miles off the California coast with no automobiles, traffic jams and honking... (something all of this is like a dream if you have ever been stuck in rush hour traffic on the 405)... we used to take the boat service from San Pedro (you can also depart from Long Beach and Dana Point)
The trip evolved over the years from renting bicycles and having a picnic lunch and discussing our wishes and dreams and as we got older to renting a golf cart and having lunch at The Inn On Mt. Ada (also and excellent place to stay if you are spending the night)
It used to be the home of William Wrigley Jr. (of chewing gum fame) and his wife Ada... the only way to get there is to walk or rent a golf cart... (I highly recommend the cart as it's quite a strenuous and difficult walk uphill) Having lunch or dinner on the outdoor patio is not only sublime because of the view but the food and ambience is out of this world wonderful...
You will need a reservation so call in advance... 877-778-9395... before leaving you can get the best ice cream (I think maybe in the whole world) at Scoops located at 505 Crescent Avenue... if you want to rent a bicycle head to Catalina Bike Rentals and golf carts can be found at Island Golf Cart Rental.
Our clandestine days here were always a secret and entirely "entre nous" and that is part of what made the day and events so special. The last time we went was in 1976 and although I've been back many times in the years that followed... it's just not the same... it's still beautiful and a great way to spend the day and/or night... but it's not the same as when the three of us shared our dreams and planed our plans and shared the most private parts or our souls with each other.
As I was thinking about some of my personal days over the years I was reminded of people and places and specifically I was remembered a couple I met in Kentucky at a party of one of the horse set elite... they were very brash and rude and bickered like I imagine hillbillies from the back hills might behave in public (but I have to apologize to anyone from the back hills because I feel you likely were raised with better values and manners) what I came away from the evening was quite simply; you can wear expensive jewelry and clothing but clearly you can't use any of your money to buy class or manners or good taste (it just can't be bought or sold or sent away for)... I admit that you can acquire the patina of it with enough discipline and exposure... by some coincidence I ran into them again about five years later in Aspen only this time the man and wife were sparring and arguing with someone who turned out to be his mistress and future wife... and I mused at the time how nothing had changed and how people seem to attract others with qualities and morals that are almost exactly the same ilk... about another five years flew by and the same man ran into me with his umbrella crossing 57th Street and 5th Avenue during a rain storm and yelled at me... (I have to admit I have had to train myself to behave sometimes with the manners and decorum with which I was raised) because I barked back "F***Off... You ran into me dick head!"... and it was not until I reached the other side of the street I realized it was Donald Trump and it was from that point on I began to refer to him as "Oh Her!"... in all these years that have passed never in my wildest dreams did I think I would live in a world with a President Donald Trump (I still can't use the title nor will I)... my opinion of him has not changed over all these years but only can add that I suspect that he suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder... and is maybe insane.
This past Wednesday I watched the David Muir interview on ABC and came to the realization that he is possibly alienating the press in hopes that they will stop reporting on his activities so that he and his cabinet and their agenda will go more unnoticed by the public. For the sake of the world I hope the press becomes more diligent .... but until he resigns or is impeached (and hopefully behind bars) I can't listen to him anymore... he is a clueless child and I only hope whatever damage is done will be easily put to right again... So with this I will have no further discussions about him again in this venue, my home or anywhere else for that matter. I will however take this opportunity to focus on his administration rather than him as a person and will do anything and everything in my power to be on the right side of history... my feelings about him as a person I am happy to say that I am completely indifferent; I don't hate him or demonize him but I don't and will never support him... I am behind anyone who wants to do the right thing ... Should I outlive him I will not dance on his grave but I will not waste another second of my precious life discussing or trying to rationalize Donald Trump... so for now I'm taking a personal day from Donald Trump pretty much forever and choose to look at the situation from a completely new and fresh angle dealing with life and his administration as proactively as possible with the mantra of "when bad people and things happen we are just going to have to ride it out and be strong and hold on to our principles and dignity"... So I'm taking one giant step forward outside of the Trump Circus and Side Shows and focusing my attention to what is important to me and the people I love and respect... but whatever your political or moral affiliation is please take into consideration that Ivanka Trump had never registered to vote before this election and her husband registered in two states... it helps to clearly define hypocricy and subtetrfuge from two different angles pretty clearly.
So there it is! I have a lot on my plate next week and in the midst of everything I want to reflect on some of the people who I have respected and admired who have inspired me to be a better person so I will be discussing some of my heroes here in two weeks!... I have a lot of thinking to do but I always start very simply with... Does he/she look like a nice person? is he/she decent? is he/she intelligent?... is he or she interested in their own interests or the greater good? ... You can usually tell by looking directly into someone's eyes... and eventually noting their actions in life and the legacy they leave behind when all is said and done.
And last but certainly not least I'm not at all interested in listing to "Alternate Facts" I'm more focused on knowing and responding to the "Actual Facts."
Our clandestine days here were always a secret and entirely "entre nous" and that is part of what made the day and events so special. The last time we went was in 1976 and although I've been back many times in the years that followed... it's just not the same... it's still beautiful and a great way to spend the day and/or night... but it's not the same as when the three of us shared our dreams and planed our plans and shared the most private parts or our souls with each other.
As I was thinking about some of my personal days over the years I was reminded of people and places and specifically I was remembered a couple I met in Kentucky at a party of one of the horse set elite... they were very brash and rude and bickered like I imagine hillbillies from the back hills might behave in public (but I have to apologize to anyone from the back hills because I feel you likely were raised with better values and manners) what I came away from the evening was quite simply; you can wear expensive jewelry and clothing but clearly you can't use any of your money to buy class or manners or good taste (it just can't be bought or sold or sent away for)... I admit that you can acquire the patina of it with enough discipline and exposure... by some coincidence I ran into them again about five years later in Aspen only this time the man and wife were sparring and arguing with someone who turned out to be his mistress and future wife... and I mused at the time how nothing had changed and how people seem to attract others with qualities and morals that are almost exactly the same ilk... about another five years flew by and the same man ran into me with his umbrella crossing 57th Street and 5th Avenue during a rain storm and yelled at me... (I have to admit I have had to train myself to behave sometimes with the manners and decorum with which I was raised) because I barked back "F***Off... You ran into me dick head!"... and it was not until I reached the other side of the street I realized it was Donald Trump and it was from that point on I began to refer to him as "Oh Her!"... in all these years that have passed never in my wildest dreams did I think I would live in a world with a President Donald Trump (I still can't use the title nor will I)... my opinion of him has not changed over all these years but only can add that I suspect that he suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder... and is maybe insane.
So there it is! I have a lot on my plate next week and in the midst of everything I want to reflect on some of the people who I have respected and admired who have inspired me to be a better person so I will be discussing some of my heroes here in two weeks!... I have a lot of thinking to do but I always start very simply with... Does he/she look like a nice person? is he/she decent? is he/she intelligent?... is he or she interested in their own interests or the greater good? ... You can usually tell by looking directly into someone's eyes... and eventually noting their actions in life and the legacy they leave behind when all is said and done.
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