What I’m Reading: Leon Russell In His Own Words

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“Once in a lifetime across your lifeline crosses an energy like no other. This is Leon Russell to me.”
Gary Busey, musician, actor, long-time friend of the Master of Space and Time.

It’s a sunny and warm November day here in SoCal, a perfect time to sit outside on the deck and read Leon Russell In His Own Words.

It’s not a huge book but any light shed on the mysterious, charismatic, and enigmatic MOSAT is appreciated.

It features memories by and about LR from his childhood, high school bands, session work in Los Angeles, and some of his tours.

I’m always amazed at the sheer numbers of records that benefited from Leon’s words, arrangements, and productions. He was a legendary musician, composer, and performer whose musical influence can’t be overstated.

Leon Russell was a one-of-a-kind human; I don’t think we’re likely to experience that kind of genius in several lifetimes.

This little book was enjoyable and informative; I totally recommend!

Now I’m waiting for my Christmas/Hanukkah gift: another book about Leon Russell ; this one is written by Bill Janovitz: Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History

Some people simply defy stereotypes:

Divine Transmutation

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“Once every people in the world believed that trees were divine, and could take a human or grotesque shape and dance among the shadows; and that deer, and ravens and foxes, and wolves and bears, and clouds and pools, almost all things under the sun and moon, and the sun and moon, were not less divine and changeable.” — W.B. Yeats

Artist~ Jody Bergsma

BEWARE OF HOLIDAY SCAMMERS! Another Public Service Announcement

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Beware of scammers! They’re out and about this holiday season like mosquitos around a stagnant pond. I can’t even count how many robocalls and spam calls and texts I’ve received even though I’m on the Do Not Call list.

Apparently, there are several “pending lawsuits” for which I need to take immediate action (not at all true) and all my worldly possessions are in danger of being taken away from me (also not true).

There are SERIOUS legal matters that I must respond to or else the sheriff will hunt me down or something like that. (Not true.)

Here’s part of the transcript: “We have a legal pending action. Failure to contact us back will unfortunately be best no choice, but to take further actions.” Hmmm…not a great command of the English language…

The other weird spam/fraud/call/text was supposedly from Walmart regarding a special edition Playstation 5 Pulse 3-D headset for $919.45. The message directed me to call to cancel or accept the order. I blocked that number too, but that’s the only one that was flagged Spam Risk by my carrier.

BEWARE! Don’t respond at all to texts, voicemails, or emails like this. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

To Live Among The Stars ⭐

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These are such exquisite words, it almost hurts my heart to read them.

“And at night you will look up at the stars. My star will just be one of the stars, for you. In one of those stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night. And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. I shall not leave you. There is sweetness in the laughter of all the stars….and in the memories of those we love.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince ⭐

Curated from Pinterest-Credit to artist


Goethe’s Wisdom

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I’m not sure there’s a whole lot to celebrate this year; I don’t feel entirely full of the joy of the holidays, and I’m not all that excited about buying presents for anyone. The depressing election results seem to have cast a pall on our future and what’s going to happen in just a few short weeks.

I found these Goethe quotes which make a lot of sense to me right now. Even though I really only know about Goethe because of my German professor Angel Boy, and despite the fact that Goethe died in 1832, his words are timeless…

“Man sieht nur das, was man weiß.” (You only see what you know.)

“We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe.”

“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.”

“You must, in studying Nature, always consider both each single thing and the whole.”

It is said that the following words were Goethe’s last as he lay on this deathbed, “More light, more light! Open the window so that more light may come in.” 

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is widely regarded as the greatest and most influential writer in the German language, his work having a profound and wide-ranging influence on Western literary, political and philosophical thought from the late 18th century to the present day.

Spectacular Sunset Photo

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From the deck, no filter, just purely gorgeous November colors! I DO love a sunset, don’t you?

Thanksgiving Thoughts

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“Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.” Joy Harjo

While we’re in the midst of preparations to enjoy a feast with friends and family tomorrow, I hope we don’t forget to honor, and with gratitude, recognize the Indigenous Peoples.

For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest because it commemorates the arrival of settlers and the oppression and genocide that followed.

“Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.” Chief Seattle

“When you know who you are when your mission is clear, and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will; no cold can touch your heart; no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive.” – Chief Seattle, Suquamish/Duwamish (1786-1866)

Chief Seattle (more correctly known as Seathl) was a Suquamish and Duwamish chief. A leading figure among his people, he pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, but I bet he regretted it as soon as he realized what it really meant to his people.

Photo of people and tents and quote credit to Chief Seattle and Native Red Cloud Maȟpíya Lúta~Hińhan Wakangli. Photo credit of Chief Seattle from Wiki

Word of The Day: Komorebi

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Komorebi is a Japanese word that’s more of a feeling, that of “sunlight leaking through trees”. It describes the loveliness and wonder of rays of light dappling through overhead leaves, casting shadows on the forest floor.

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

There is a profound peace and sense of tranquility with komorebi. It creates a mood of calming gentle energy, reminding us of our connection to the earth.

Komorebi is comprised of several parts of different words: “Ko” means tree or trees. “More” means: something that comes through, something that shines through or seeps through. “Bi” means: sun or sunlight.

I’m grateful for these transitory moments of beauty, as if time stands still in abeyance of SOMETHING, as we observe nature’s simple but profound tenuity and we can deeply, finally– fully breathe.

What’s YOUR Guilty Pleasure?

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We still have a few days left in November to observe World Vegan Month and it’s perfect timing to share a guilty snacky pleasure that’s actually guilt-free.

My current guilty pleasure is this: Everything But The Bagel seasoned bite size crackers from Trader Joe’s.

They are crunchily yummy with hummus and flavorfully satisfying all by themselves.

Best of all, they’re vegan (not gluten-free FYI).

Each serving of 14 crackers is 140 calories and contains 3 grams of protein, so it really seems like an innocent indulgence.

What’s YOUR guilty pleasure?

*This is an honest review; I received no free product nor any compensation.

A Little Fairy Magic

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I don’t know about you, but I need some fairies to perform a little magic right about now.

The Fairy Forest

The faery forest glimmered
Beneath an ivory moon,
The silver grasses shimmered
Against a faery tune.

Beneath the silken silence
The crystal branches slept,
And dreaming thro’ the dew-fall
The cold white blossoms wept.
Sara Teasdale

Art credit: Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes