My neighbor Theresa and I had tickets to hear Joshua Bell play his Stradivarius on Tuesday evening. In Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is not just a music venue, it's a social event. Planning for the trip is extensive--bus tickets from Lakewood Mall; a trip to the deli for food; careful selection of appropriate wines; a picnic satchel with tablecloth, plates, napkins, glasses, and wine opener; snacks of aged cheddar and pita crisps; the list goes on.
In fact, it mattered not what the program was that night nor where our seats were located. We were headed to the Bowl, to dine, to wine, and to hear beautiful music.
Young Joshua Bell did not disappoint. His fingers flew over the strings, or paused gently, holding notes to those exquisite musical moments between harmony and ecstasy.
Of course, throughout the evening, I compared this experience with similar evenings in Cyprus. No, it wasn't the Abby at Bellapais, on a cliff above the Mediterranean Sea near Kyrenia. No, it wasn't the concert hall in Strovolos.
And, there were no stars above Los Angeles (the city lights erase the heavenly ones in this area--a fact I only noted when I gazed at the sky one evening on the Karpas Peninsula and actually saw the Milky Way!).
But, it was a beautiful evening, fun, friendly--an occasion shared by hundreds of Bowl-goers, one of many concerts this season from this historic place at this particular moment in time.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
What's up with the car thing?
Recently I read that people who pose pictures of themselves with shiny, expensive "toys" have issues. I know I have issues, and that comment made made me wonder, "What's so important about my new car? Why did I buy it in the first place? What does it say about me and my priorities in life and for the planet?"
Those are heavy-duty questions. But, my answers to all three are repetitively non-complex: I like Mercedes.
Blame it on my older brother Norm who drove home one evening in the sixties with a new, dark green, diesel-driven MB. "Do you want to go for a ride, Nance?" he asked.
The smell of leather, the sense of power, the luxury of the new car--the first new car I had ever ridden in during my first, impressionable 15 years--it was too much. I fell in love. The car, a 1962, I think, had little fins. In fact, it looked like a big, green, metal box with little fins. Maybe it had no appeal at all. . .except prestige and class. . .and my brother and I had neither. But now, he had "the car."
Years later, when my husband and I could afford our first really nice car, I talked him into a navy blue, 1975 Mercedes. Soon, he added another--a used '69 navy blue mercedes--a matched pair. Somewhere along the line we traded for another. . .and then another. I drove our last MB for 12 years, and separated regretfully from it before I left for Cyprus.
On my return, I promised I would buy a hybrid. I tried. I knew I should think more of the environment than of my image--whatever that might be.
But, once I settled into the seat to test drive the Mercedes, adjusted the mirrors, glanced over my shoulder, felt the steering wheel. . .it was all so familiar, so nice, so new, so "me." I couldn't resist.
For the first two days it sat in the driveway, undriven. I was embarrassed I had succumbed to vanity.
Then, I took it to the supermarket, parked it in the lot, took its photo, and smiled.
It makes me happy. Maybe it's just the familiarity. Maybe it's just a connection through my past. Maybe it does expose my "issues" to the world. Oh, well.
At least it gets 30 mpg, is easy to parallel park, and has a sun roof.
It also blinks its lights at me in the parking lot. (It's in love with me, too.)
Those are heavy-duty questions. But, my answers to all three are repetitively non-complex: I like Mercedes.
Blame it on my older brother Norm who drove home one evening in the sixties with a new, dark green, diesel-driven MB. "Do you want to go for a ride, Nance?" he asked.
The smell of leather, the sense of power, the luxury of the new car--the first new car I had ever ridden in during my first, impressionable 15 years--it was too much. I fell in love. The car, a 1962, I think, had little fins. In fact, it looked like a big, green, metal box with little fins. Maybe it had no appeal at all. . .except prestige and class. . .and my brother and I had neither. But now, he had "the car."
Years later, when my husband and I could afford our first really nice car, I talked him into a navy blue, 1975 Mercedes. Soon, he added another--a used '69 navy blue mercedes--a matched pair. Somewhere along the line we traded for another. . .and then another. I drove our last MB for 12 years, and separated regretfully from it before I left for Cyprus.
On my return, I promised I would buy a hybrid. I tried. I knew I should think more of the environment than of my image--whatever that might be.
But, once I settled into the seat to test drive the Mercedes, adjusted the mirrors, glanced over my shoulder, felt the steering wheel. . .it was all so familiar, so nice, so new, so "me." I couldn't resist.
For the first two days it sat in the driveway, undriven. I was embarrassed I had succumbed to vanity.
Then, I took it to the supermarket, parked it in the lot, took its photo, and smiled.
It makes me happy. Maybe it's just the familiarity. Maybe it's just a connection through my past. Maybe it does expose my "issues" to the world. Oh, well.
At least it gets 30 mpg, is easy to parallel park, and has a sun roof.
It also blinks its lights at me in the parking lot. (It's in love with me, too.)
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Settling In
I'm back in California after three weeks with my daughter's family in South Carolina, including the new baby boy Walker and her 17-month old son Foster. Wow. What activity. I taught Foster to climb up on the couch by himself. We all were sorry after that. . .now, he is on top of everything!
My biggest challenge in the last week here in CA has been purchasing a "new" car. I finally decided on a 2006 C230 Mercedes. I tried to buy a Prius, but prices in CA had escalated beyond reason with the current gas crunch. Besides, those of you who know me understand how attached I am to my car. I've driven a Mercedes since 1975; I know how the car handles, and I feel safe. Besides, it has a sunroof! :-)
Settling back into my office at the university is even more difficult. I miss my Cyprus routine and my friends there. But, it is ever-so-nice to be recognized on my campus here. I feel welcomed back!
Fortunately, too, the California weather has been incredibly fine. 70s/low 80s. Beautiful place this is!
Perhaps another adventure I've had recently is my venture into the E-Harmony world. That is a stitch--and worthy of a blog entry all its own.
Another accomplishment in the past two weeks: I passed my motorcycle skills classes and can take the written exam for my motorcycle license in CA. That has been on my "to-do" list for at least five years. I'm not a Harley-girl, but I love the openness of the big bikes on the road. Yes, yes, yes. I will be careful. I will not ride on the freeways. I will not weave in and out of traffic. First, I have to get a helmet, then a bike, then some good boots. Oh, yes, and the black leather pants (how could I forget those--it would be my only excuse EVER to wear black leather pants!). And, I promise, no tatoos.
I'm thinking about buying a Honda Rebel. . .I read on-line where it's the cycle of choice for women. I rode a Suzuki in training. Who knows. As I told one of my classmates, I have to find an old guy who's willing to ride with me before I take off on adventures. Most of my friends think I'm nuts. But, for the record, I have two older brothers who have motorcycles--and they still ride. One even races. Who put the age-limit on fun?
My biggest challenge in the last week here in CA has been purchasing a "new" car. I finally decided on a 2006 C230 Mercedes. I tried to buy a Prius, but prices in CA had escalated beyond reason with the current gas crunch. Besides, those of you who know me understand how attached I am to my car. I've driven a Mercedes since 1975; I know how the car handles, and I feel safe. Besides, it has a sunroof! :-)
Settling back into my office at the university is even more difficult. I miss my Cyprus routine and my friends there. But, it is ever-so-nice to be recognized on my campus here. I feel welcomed back!
Fortunately, too, the California weather has been incredibly fine. 70s/low 80s. Beautiful place this is!
Perhaps another adventure I've had recently is my venture into the E-Harmony world. That is a stitch--and worthy of a blog entry all its own.
Another accomplishment in the past two weeks: I passed my motorcycle skills classes and can take the written exam for my motorcycle license in CA. That has been on my "to-do" list for at least five years. I'm not a Harley-girl, but I love the openness of the big bikes on the road. Yes, yes, yes. I will be careful. I will not ride on the freeways. I will not weave in and out of traffic. First, I have to get a helmet, then a bike, then some good boots. Oh, yes, and the black leather pants (how could I forget those--it would be my only excuse EVER to wear black leather pants!). And, I promise, no tatoos.
I'm thinking about buying a Honda Rebel. . .I read on-line where it's the cycle of choice for women. I rode a Suzuki in training. Who knows. As I told one of my classmates, I have to find an old guy who's willing to ride with me before I take off on adventures. Most of my friends think I'm nuts. But, for the record, I have two older brothers who have motorcycles--and they still ride. One even races. Who put the age-limit on fun?
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