Happenings - good and sad

Where to begin. . . from Dec. 12, I was up in the Los Angeles area 3 times in 6 days. The first two were turn around trips for funerals.

Growing up, I had 3 wonderful examples of woman who were non-judgmental in their approach to life. The first was Nadine, my mom from when she married Harry, my dad, in 1954.

The second person was Genevieve Butler, who lived across the street from us on Randolph in Glendale. Religiously, she was a "fundamentalist". She was my refuge from life at home. My dad always said, "If you want to know what Sally is thinking, just listen to her." So across the street I would go where Mrs. Butler listened and did not pass judgment.

The 3rd remarkable woman in my youth was Mrs. Pat Pope. It was her funeral I attended on Friday, Dec. 12, in Long Beach. She too was non-judgmental and accepted people as they are and didn't try to change them.

Mrs. Pope 1918-2008

Now with all theses examples, up close and personal, how did I turn out to be an "arrogant, judgmental, and a $%^&#"? I need to reflect on that this coming year.

On Monday, Dec. 15, in the pouring rain I did another turn around trip to Los Angeles to another funeral. My dear friend's son died suddenly and totally unexpected. He would have been 43 years old on Christmas Day. Mike had baby-sat my two kids when they were really young. I gave him piano lessons. Talk about someone always smiling. He always seemed like such a "big kid." And, he was. He stood 6'4". He was like Wikipedia regarding anything television or music. Remember to always make sure that the people you care about know how much they are loved. Luckily, Mike did know how much his sister and her family, his mom and his aunt loved him.

On Wed. Dec. 17, Ernie and I returned to Glendale. Again, it was pouring. It was my girlfriend's annual Christmas Dinner. In the past we have always gone to the Tam O'Shanter. This year we had reservations in Pasadena at Becham's. Like the Tam O'Shanter, they have the Currier & Ive's carolers. It was wonderful and we laughed and had a really great time.

Alice, Julie, Carole, me and Patty

Winter Symphony

Friday, Ernie and I headed home via the Honda Center in Anaheim where our Christmas Present from my kids awaited us - Sarah Brightman's Winter Symphony. The seats were excellent. Sarah was amazing. What a drama queen! That's what makes the show so special - the drama and Sarah's voice. . .

Have you seen her Symphony in Vienna on PBS? All I can say is "Wow". Below is just one of theatrical sets. There is a GIANT screen behind her where interesting backdrops were projected.

Sarah perched on a swing from the ceiling

It wasn't fun getting there, though. What should have taken about 45 minutes to get from Glendale to Anaheim, took over 3 hrs.

Erik, Kari and I had seen Sarah Brightman Christmas 1983 at the Music Center in Los Angeles. We sat in the 11th row and she was singing all the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. At the end of her concert they made a surprise announcement: Andrew Lloyd Webber was there and he came out on stage to a standing ovation. It was so very magical, just like Sarah's concert at the Honda Center.