Reflections . . .

Then and now circle around me vying for my attention: My vibrant driven past that is surprisingly still alive in so many ways, and the ocean of this day, teeming with sustenance, wide sky and seemingly endless possibilities -- this day with hummingbirds, trumpet vines and the magic of each moment unfolding.

    




** My next posts will be on the 10th of July, and then again on my regular date of the 20th. On July 4th I will be celebrating with joy and honor, but will not make a post on that date, as I will never, ever be able to capture five pelicans flying in unison past the American flag again (I invite you to take a look at last year's post on the 4th.) Until then,   ~   My warm wishes,    ~   Aneet

With Love to Dad

On this Father's Day, I'm taking you to Santa Barbara's Natural History Museum, to view fathers on outings with their children. With its Spanish architecture and tile roofs, the museum is housed in a park-like setting that encompasses the rocky watercourse of Mission Creek and its surrounding oak trees.

 

 
The Natural History Museum is a perfect place to spend an enlightening time with your child. Beginning with its entrance, where you'll be greeted by the life-sized skeleton of a blue whale. You'll proceed through tiled hallways to twelve exhibition rooms with displays of regional birds, mammals, insects and marine life, as well as artifacts from the museum's vast collection of Native American and antique art.

This day, I enjoyed watching the different moods of fathers with their kids, from playful, to pensive, to protective. They all enacted their fatherly roles with warmth and caring, and made me well aware of the memories they were fostering.

I watched them observe the animated dinosaur, with its flashing teeth and ground-rumbling roar. I saw them wander past docents who displayed live birds: fine-feathered kestrels from the falcon family that were perched on poles. From there, the fathers took their children to one of my favorite exhibitions:

the biennial Butterflies Alive exhibit. Here, live butterflies are enclosed inside a large netted bungalow with a lush interior of flowing fountains and floral gardens. It is always an enchanting scene.

 

Dear Fathers, thank you, and please take a bow!



**My next post is just days away, on the 20th. I hope to see you then. Sincerely,    ~   Anitra

Homebody in L.A.

Though I've never considered myself a big city person -- I like open spaces, vacant lots, room to breathe -- I wound up living in L.A. for my career. And except for the year or two that I returned to my home town of Manhattan Beach, I spent the better part of 20 years in Tinseltown. The pace and size of Santa Barbara suits me better than L.A., but when I return for a visit, or a periodic cat-sitting stint, I never fail to find delight in this diverse metropolis.

Which brings me to the fact that I house sat for my daughter, Erin, recently, and her four cats (two of which you haven't met until now.) Along with the incomparable Charles, and the elusive Ruby, Erin has two black cats: Frank and Joey, who are litter mates. They're mellow, lovable saps, without the complexities of a high-strung Abyssinian, or a skittish feral Tortie. Frank and Joey are an affectionate team -- brothers through and through.

While Erin and her husband went to the desert for a get-a-way, the four cats kept me hopping, and it was a refreshing change of pace from my Santa Barbara day-to-day. At Erin's, I delighted in the steady stream of goldfinches that clustered on her thistle-filled bird feeder. On walks around her neighborhood, I spotted a beautiful sidewalk shadow and a mailbox inspired by Man Ray. Later, at a friend's house in Benedict Canyon, I got lost in the liquid shapes and colors of his koi pond.

At one point Erin called from Palm Springs to tell me about an art exhibit she'd seen. It was one of the many exhibitions connected to "Pacific Standard Time", a widespread retrospective of Southern California artists from the 50s and 60s. The six-month-long event, which was just winding down, had been celebrated at scores of galleries and museums from San Diego to Santa Barbara. The exhibit she attended had been at the Palm Springs Art Museum, which she found to be first class. There, she viewed artworks by David Hockney, Ed Ruscha and Dale Chihuly. Last but not least, she described a photo gallery in the museum, displaying themed photos of scenic swimming pools. In the gallery, she found a pedestal encased in Plexiglas. Under the Plexiglas were three magazines. One of them, a Saturday Evening Post from 1964 . . . and guess who she found on the cover?

**Have a wonderful Memorial Day! I'll be back on Father's Day and again on my regular date of June 20th

Memories of Mom

My mother had gowns -- dazzling gowns -- that she kept in a trunk in our garage. They were keepsakes from when she'd been an actress on the stage. She had satin gowns and beaded dresses, as well as feathered fans and boas. Each piece as stunning as a Bob Mackie design. Retired from her acting days -- and a full-time wife and mother -- Mom let me play with her stage wardrobe.

A little girl of age seven and skinny as a twig, I donned her shimmering clothes. And in boat-sized high heels, trying to keep my balance, I clopped across the patio. Holding the hems high, I lifted my shoulders tall and pretended the gowns fit. And as I waved my hands and spoke with an invisible prince, I dreamed of a day in the future when I might really wear those kinds of clothes.


With memories of my mother, Cleo, and her effervescent spirit, I want to wish all of you Lovely Readers a beautiful Mother's Day.

Sincerely,   ~   Anitra

** My next post will be next week, on the 20th.

Spring Splash

Last year at this time, I began to notice more vintage cars on the road. Now, with spring in full swing, I'm seeing these relics again. I imagine that many people with vintage cars have more than one vehicle, and in the way that spring displays its splendor (birds fluffing their feathers, flowers bursting with color), I've come to think that vintage car owners too are moved by the season.



Yesterday, I had a day chock-full of chores. To bolster myself for the tasks, I did something uncharacteristic: I began with a breakfast biscuit from Jack in the Box. From there, I stopped at Office Max and picked up printer ink, I then swung by Ace Hardware to gather bricks for a new shelf for my bookcase. After that, I drove into the heart of Santa Barbara and stopped at The Bead Store, hoping to find a small fleck of coral for the missing eye of a brass owl.


At this point, with half my chores crossed off the list, I headed uptown to tackle the second half. As I drove up Santa Barbara Street, approaching Alice Keck Park -- on this gorgeous temperate day of 74 degree weather -- I began to daydream about stopping and taking a stroll. I pulled over.





In the park, I wandered past turtles sunning themselves on the rocks and couples enjoying lunch beneath the trees. By the time I returned to my car, even though my "to do" list was still clamoring with hungry expectation, I began to wonder, "What if I take an instant vacation? What if I jump ship on my list of things to do?" And with that, I got back in my car and began to meander. I coasted along the elegant streets of the Upper East Side passing Spanish-style houses with tile roofs, two-story Victorians and stately Craftsman homes. Ultimately, I wound up at the Rose Garden on Plaza Rubio, across from the Santa Barbara Mission.






After last week's rain, the Florabundas were in full bloom. And so I stood there, gazing into a sea of roses -- and in time, what else could I do but dive in.





** I'll be back on Mother's Day, the 13th of May, and again on May 20th. Until then, my warm wishes, ~ Anitra

This Day

At this time of the year, in the full bud of springtime, it becomes especially clear to me that every day is a gift.



So fragile it is, this life . . . and rare . . . dangling from a silver web in the wind.

To me, now, the air itself is enough, gives me all the information I need to know that every moment is gold, and to hold it all, everything that is arising, expressing and dissolving, with reverence.



Have a beautiful day, ~ Aneet






** I will return again on April 20, look forward to seeing you then.

DBE Blooper Reel #1: Jelly Isn't A Good Prize!

Here is a sketchy clip from The Price is Right. It starts out with Bob then goes to black and follows with visual static, but after that, you get a glimpse of me doing what I did thousands of times -- and this one with superb lighting!

I came across the clip several months ago and tried to post it then, but to no avail. A couple of days ago, I came across it again, and even though I have stated that my next post will be on Easter, I couldn't help but give it one more try. Obviously, this time it took :)

See you again next Sunday.