'A Beautiful Woman' . . . Audrey Hepburn‏

'For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely
eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share
your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child
run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk
with the knowledge that you never walk alone.'

'People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out
anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will
find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older,
you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping
yourself, and the other for helping others.'

Spring Interrupted‏ . . .

Today I woke early, without a headache ... such a bonus,
and I lay there for a moment of thankfulness, acknowledging
the pain free area across my forehead with a smile. I got
up to be greeted by freshly fallen flakes of white powder
. . . when I peeked out between the blinds. The fog in my
head has moved outside of me, and it's perfectly fine because
I can see clearly now exactly where I am and the direction
I'm headed, even if I'm not sure of the final destination.

'Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world.
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your
soul take you where you long to be. . . Close your eyes let
your spirit start to soar . . . and you'll live as you've
never lived before.' ~ Erich Fromm

I have been feeling tense and restless recently, plowing
my energy into projects that don't seem ready for me. Two
days off has given me the space to gain some valuable
perspective, to acknowledge areas that have been neglected
and focusing on my ultimate goals, rather than just the
stuff that is necessary for living.
Sometimes we search so hard for the answers to our dreams,
that we miss the vital steps we need to discover them; and
sometimes we just need to have faith that every step we
take is in the right direction to becoming the people we
are meant to be with all the experience life has to offer
us. I'm not very patient with myself, but I can see that
the only obstacles in my path are the fears that I place
there, built out of some insecurity and stubborn wishes
for different gifts to those I have been blessed with.

'Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather
the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the
journey.' ~ Alex Noble

Taking a moment to accept myself, forgive my weaknesses
and understand their role in my journey, has given me fresh
perspective, and I'm feeling brave again. This has been
helped along by some dear friends, who somehow understand
my mission, and are able to show me parts of myself that
I miss when I'm too focused on a small issue to see the
bigger picture, and to whom I am eternally grateful.

So today I am feeling back on form, which is just as well
as it's going to be a busy one, but somehow it seems much
more manageable, just one step at a time, and if I keep
moving, I'll end up where I'm meant to be eventually. I hope
that today presents some opportunities for you to discover
the steps on your path that will bring you joy, love and
happiness.


* From Where I Sit!
March 28

Zou Bisou Bisou !

The original version from 1962 . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2vFOzG3GYqo#!

Here's a rough translation . . . “Oh! Kiss kiss ... My God, they
are sweet! Oh! Kiss kiss ... the sound of kisses . . . Oh! Kiss
kiss... That means, I confess ... But yes, I love only you!

Forever Friendship . . .

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend . . . Someone
who changes your life just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop . . . Someone
who makes you believe that there really is good in the
world.
Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked
door just waiting for you to open it. . . This is Forever Friendship.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy‏

Carla Gilberta Bruni Tedeschi was born in Turin, Italy, and is heiress
to the fortune created by the Italian tire manufacturing company CEAT,
founded in the 1920s by her grandfather Virginio Bruni Tedeschi . . . later
sold to Pirelli.
The family moved to France in 1975, reportedly to escape the threat
of kidnapping by the Red Brigades, a Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary group
active in Italy in the 1970s. Bruni grew up in France from age seven and
attended boarding school in Switzerland. She went to Paris to study art
and architecture, but left school at 19 and signed with City Models.
Paul Marciano, president and creative director of Guess? Inc., came
across her picture among composite cards of aspiring models and chose
her to model with Estelle Lefébure in campaigns for Guess? jeans. Bruni
subsequently worked for designers and fashion houses such as Christian
Dior, Givenchy, Paco Rabanne, Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Karl
Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Yves Saint-Laurent, Shiatzy Chen, Chanel
and Versace.
By the 1990s, Bruni was among the 20 highest-paid fashion models,
earning $7.5 million a year. While modeling, Bruni dated Eric Clapton,
then Mick Jagger. In 1997, Bruni quit the world of fashion to devote
herself to music.
In November 2007 she met the recently divorced French president
Nicolas Sarkozy at a dinner party. After a brief romance they married
in February 2008 at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

Power of a Woman

Powerful woman floating in cyberspace drawing others into her
circle. She can be everything that you wish for . . . a Goddess,
a Bitch or a Friend. She is every flavor of woman . . . feast
your senses with her words.

In the Rain . . .‏

A little girl had been shopping with her Mother at Sears. She must
have been 15 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image
of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes
over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it
has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the
awning and just inside the door of the Sears.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed
up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost
in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust
of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child
came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we
were all caught in. "Mum let's run through the rain," she said. "What?"
Mum asked. "Lets run through the rain!" She repeated. "No, honey.
We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mum replied. This young child
waited about another minute and repeated, "Mum, let's run through
the rain," "We'll get soaked if we do," Mum said. "No, we won't, Mum.
That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she
tugged at her Mum's arm. This morning? When did I say we could run
through the rain and not get wet? "Don't you remember? When you were
talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us
through this, he can get us through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear
anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left
in the next few minutes. The Mother paused and thought for a moment
about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her
for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was
a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent
trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. "Honey, you
are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us
get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mum said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as
they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held
their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked.
But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children
all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet.
I needed washing.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions,
they can take away your money, and they can take away your health.
But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget
to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under
Heaven.


* From Where I Sit!
www.fromwhereisit.co
March 20

Monday Blues !‏

Today I woke early, my brain alternating between churning over all
the tasks that await my attention, and the thoughts I'd rather dwell
in, as the clock ticked gently on to a decent hour. I drifted in and
out of consciousness, witnessing those weird dreams that appear so
real, yet make no sense at all.. Eventually the tasks won, and I
breakfasted at my desk, preparing some notes and researching for my
new novella becoming absorbed in my work, still in my nightshirt till
now (11.30am).

It's a beautiful sunny day here in Montreal, rather exciting and
inspiring . . . brimming with possibilities for the beginning of
another week. It's very quiet and still where I live, just moments
from a busy high street and main trajectory and the birds chattering
are the only sounds to compete with the mellow jazz sounds emanating
from my computer. . . and my breath as I sigh at what I have done
and have left to do.

However, as I pause to write, a familiar quote runs through my
mind . . . 'Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.' ~ Jim Rohn

. . . and I know that's all it's going to take to get me pumped and
motivated to step outside for some fresh air and time to reflect on
the bigger picture. Hope you're having a great start to the day, and
if you're not that you have time to notice it and find a way to nourish
your soul in whatever way suits you.

* From Where I Sit!
March 19

The Confessional

A married Italian man went into the confessional and said
to his priest, "I almost had an affair with another woman."
The priest said, "What do you mean, almost?" The man said,
"Well, we got undressed and rubbed together, but then I
stopped." The priest said, "Rubbing together is the same
as putting it in. You're not to see that woman again.
For your penance, say five Hail Mary's and put $50 in the
poor box."
The man left the confessional, said his prayers, and
then walked over to the poor box. He paused for a moment
and then started to leave. The priest, who was watching,
quickly ran over to him saying, "I saw that. You didn't
put any money in the poor box!" The man replied, "Yeah,
but I rubbed the $50 on the box, and according to you,
that's the same as putting it in!"

American Industrialists

'A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.' ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

* Henry Ford, Thomas A. Edison and Harvey Firestone, at Edison's home in Fort Myers, Florida, were generally considered the three leaders in American industry at the time, and often worked and vacationed together. They enjoyed an annual camping expedition from 1916 to 1924. All three were part of a very exclusive group titled 'The Millionaires' Club'.

International Women's Day‏

International Women's Day is marked on March 8 every year
in different regions to focus on the celebration of respect,
appreciation and love towards women . . . Celebration for
women's economic, political and social achievements.
Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended
in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe,
Russia, and the former Soviet Union. In many regions, the
day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion
for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat
similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.
In other regions, however, the original political and human
rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong,
and political and social awareness of the struggles of women
worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

Racism . . . Still lingers !‏

A 50-something year old white woman arrived at her seat and saw
that the passenger next to her was a black man. Visibly furious, she
called the air hostess.

"What's the problem, ma'am?" the hostess asked her.

"Can't you see?" the lady said. . . "I was given a seat next to a black
man. I can't seat here next to him. You have to change my seat."

"Please, calm down, ma." said the hostess. "Unfortunately, all the
seats are occupied, but I'm still going to check if we have any."

The hostess left and returned some minutes later.

"Madam, as I told you, there isn't any empty seat in this class - economy.
But I spoke to the captain and he confirmed that there aren't any
empty seats in the economy class. We only have seats in the first
class."

And before the woman said anything, the hostess continued. . . "Look,
it is unusual for our company to allow a passenger from the economy
class to change to first class. However, given the circumstances, the
commandant thinks that it would be a scandal to make a passenger
travel sitting next to such an unpleasant person."

And turning to the black man, the hostess said, "Which means,
Sir, if you would be so nice to pack your handbag, we have reserved
you a seat in the first class."

And all the passengers nearby, who were shocked to see the scene
started applauding, some standing on their feet.

* From Where I Sit!
www.fromwhereisit.co
March 7

Virna Lisi‏

'A subject that is beautiful in itself gives no suggestion to the artist.' ~ Oscar Wilde

* Virna Pieralisi (1936 – 2014), better known as Virna Lisi, was an Italian actress. Hollywood producers sought a new Marilyn Monroe and so, Lisi debuted in Hollywood comedy as a blue-eyed blonde temptress opposite Jack Lemmon in 'How to Murder Your Wife' (1965). She then appeared with Tony Curtis in 'Not with My Wife, You Don't!' (1966), and the same year she starred with Frank Sinatra in 'Assault on a Queen'
Some other titles in her filmography include 'Beyond Good and Evil' (1977), and 'Follow Your Heart' (1996). For the film 'La Reine Margot' (1994), she won Best Actress at Cannes and the César Award for Best Supporting Actress. She garnered attention for a photo of her 'shaving' her face that appeared on the March 1965 cover of Esquire magazine.

© Frank Borsellino™
© From Where I Sit™


* photo by Douglas Kirkland '1965