I DID IT AGAIN...and so can you...

Before I tell you what I am referring to, I will say this blog is pretty powerful. The more I follow all the guidelines and thoughtful suggestions I have set forth for others, my own life improves.

A few weeks ago (before all the talk of turning Japanese) my dear friend Lori told me not to make any plans for Saturday June 5th. She had a surprise, belated birthday gift for me. I circled that date on my calendar and carried on with my busy life; care giving responsibility to Aunty, and all my writing (including this blog). Then, as I mentioned, my cousin from Japan showed up, invited me to tea. He also brought me sake (labeled in Japanese) and a fancy fan. However, my friends believe my karma is so good, and because I don’t let obstacles keep me down for long....> fun, exciting, and extraordinary things keep showing up in my life.

I had been so excited about re-connecting with my cousin, expanding the Japanese theme I had been creating, and open to more, well, needless to say, another serendipitous occurrence…..

This past weekend, June 5th, I found myself with two of my closest friends, in an authentic Japanese tea room, called "The Flying Heron." It's run by a man who studied the art of tea with a Japanese sensei named Kaji Aso. Our sensei prepared a traditional Japanese tea ceremony just for us. My belated birthday gift had appeared!

I was treated to a meditative and tranquil tea (the green matcha powder whipped up slowly with a whisk in the most precise way). There was bowing, sipping, ooh-ing and ahh-ing. I was in my element,  soaking up the culture, and the froth.

My friends continued the celebration by ending the day at a nearby Japanese restaurant. On the way there we stopped in a well-stocked consignment shop where I spotted a piece of jewelry I had been searching for… a sky blue cocktail ring. That particular hue, the shade of the sky, is the color of the popsicles Uncle D would bring me as a little girl. The ring fit perfectly, and was well priced. I walked out with my new belonging, strolling in-between two friends. Later, while sipping one of my favorite drinks (a rare sparkling sake called Moon Rabbit) my new bauble sparkled too. More good fortune can not be too far away.

Things keep getting better when you know they will. Surrender…. Let everything go… So it can all fall into place just for you!

Arigato

ALWAYS A REASON...

photograph by Aunty

Ten reasons I am smiling:

Aunty just told me she has always loved me…

I have a new guru named Mingman…he tells me to “be like water and go with thee flow.”

My good buddy G-bro updated my computer.

Received a sweet email from a dear friend who greeted me with “Hi Chicken…” and signed it xxxxooooo me.

Aunty was eventually able to take this picture by herself (her first time holding a digital camera as you can see).

I Read Roland Merullo’s Italian Summer.

http://www.rolandmerullo.com/

Sipped Rishi’s exclusive Organic Wild Rose White Tea with aunty (a generous gift from a friend).

www.rishi-tea.com/store/wild-rose-organic-white-tea.html

“One of the leading agents in the country” has my book proposal.

Aunty told me she will always love me…

I found the two Christmas stockings I bought for Aunty and My Late Uncle D many years ago.

Went to church with a heart full of gratitude for all of the above, and more, including YOU! Thank You for following our blog…We ask God to Bless You.

That was eleven….but, this blog is not possible without you...

Michael Sinatra...

An Ageless Friend Acts Out...

His name is Michael Sinatra, well, that is today, and last week too when he wanted a good table at the restaurant. Yesterday he went by Michael Corleone (a la the Godfather)…. And this morning he was a producer for Moo-lah Productions. Any way you look at it he is a long time family friend who is always on. My entire family including Aunty has been enjoying his outlandish company for years. Everyone should have at least one friend like “Brother Michael.” Everything about him is over the top, and I feel larger-than-life in his company.

My so-called brother loves me. He likes to give me a big hug and kiss, all in the spirit of a good longtime friendship. In this particular picture he was pretending to be an actor in a passionate love scene. I was doing what I always do when he’s around …laughing.
What I appreciate about him is…
He loves much red wine and always brings you jugs full of joy…
He seasons all his food (and ours) with an Italian Liquor called Strega.

He spends three days making his signature risotto.
He works out every single day… and some nights too.
His cell phone, home phone, shoe phone, and head phones all play Strictly Sinatra.
He only gives compliments. Yesterday I was gorgeous, stunning, magnificent and a palace all in one.
His best friend is an old Italian barber named Santa.
He speaks a few languages, some he makes up, but they sound intriguing.
He is fascinated with the art of shoe shining.
He has been known to order everything on the menu.
He may walk out in the middle of dinner due to another engagement, but will kiss everyone at the table first, including the waiter….
He walk’s on my mother’s back when it hurts, sometimes in her high-heels.
He claims to have astral-traveled with Elvis. And he yearns to take everyone he meets to Italy. He is writing his memoirs in his sleep. Luckily he is an insomniac. He’s an all around (eccentric) friend who helps keep my family laughing and entertained. He’s the one supplying aunty with fake cigarettes and bootleg mozzarella. Look for him at a shoe, liquor, or party store near you! Friends like Michael (no matter what name they go by) help keep you ageless.

Ageless tip of the week: create an array of colorful friends…

ANTI-AGING GIFTS...

Hello Kitty and Ageless Aunty

Keeping up with the spirit of giving….Here is Our own Ageless Aunty holding a gift from a friend. Aunty has many admirers and people that love to bring her presents (including me). Our dear friend Grace brought Aunty this darling little Hello Kitty pillow the other day. “Just because I love my Aunty so much,” she said. When Aunty opened the package she couldn't stop giggling. She hugged the puffy piece several times before hugging Gracie. I thought to myself… if someone gives me a Hello Kitty anything when I am Aunty’s age, then this blog will have worked because appreciating and enjoying such a youthful gift…. is Ageless. Then I realized I had recently been given a Hello Kitty Book for Christmas…. And I haven’t put it down since! Only once, and that was to take some mints out of my new Hello Kitty Clutch, another funky gift from a friend.

Aunty and I know we are blessed with such whimsical gifts from our childlike friends. Someday, when Aunty is older, I might bestow her with the Hello Kitty Crystal Business Card Holder . It’s brilliant. But for now she likes the little girl things.

YOU CAN'T BOTTLE THIS...

PRECIOUS CARGO

Make friends, call friends, visit friends, gift friends, stroll with friends, listen to friends, support friends, and gather with friends. Make more friends.
If they are willing, put crazy, silly, funny hats, crowns, and tiaras on their heads. Laugh a lot. Take pictures. Get giddy….

We all have so much to do these days, but making the effort to stay in touch with our friends is a gift we give ourselves. Today is the beginning of the Christmas rush (at least for me), yet, I took time out of my demanding schedule to drive over the river and through the woods to a dear friends house for our annual Christmas Tea. She set aside time out of her even busier day, to prepare a wonderful luncheon for us. I brought her a special gift and she gave me a homemade Holiday Greens Basket and a gift certificate to Rishi tea…the company I raved about a few blogs ago. I feel so blessed. Connecting with friends and keeping tradition is like being the richest person in the world. As a matter of fact, as I admire the lovely holly berry arrangement she made just for me, finish gobbling the homemade Danish pastry she sent me home with, and think about how she honored our tradition and our friendship, even though one of her children was home sick, and her husband is preparing for surgery in the morning, right now, I am!

Since I am seeing more friends and family this week, I think I will return that eye cream I just bought. The balm of friendship is more effective than anything I can buy.