Has anyone noticed our pretty November skies? After a long spell of haze and smoke from forest fires in Indonesia (and our own smog), suddenly there are more than just tiny patches of blue. On the skyway the other afternoon, I had a grand view of little puffs of white and gentle streaks of purple against an immense spread of bright blue. God’s creation and masterpiece! Gorgeous!
I hope everyone saw it! The person with me in the car totally missed it. She had her eyes riveted on her phone. And when I exclaimed in awe of the beautiful sight, she merely grunted. Pity.
A legend
The news of Maureen O’Hara’s passing saddened me. I particularly loved her in “The Black Swan” with Tyrone Power. Wasn’t he gorgeous? O’Hara was also known as the Queen of Technicolor. Anita Gates of the New York Times explains, “Nothing seemed to show off its splendor better than her rich red hair, bright green eyes and flawless peaches and cream complexion. Even the creators of the process claimed her as its best advertisement.” She was 95.
Election poop
I was watching the news on TV the other day, and someone asked why I was cringing. I didn’t know that the way I felt inside was also obvious on my face. It also happens when I’m on social media. Even my toes start curling. And the back of my neck feels weird. This is the feeling I also get with the thought of fingernails scratching a blackboard. Get the picture?
I used to read everything, hoping to learn more about each aspirant. Then the bashers took over and it turned ugly. When they resorted to name-calling and using disgusting language, I knew it was time to draw the line.
I have decided to summarily “unfriend” or “block” the offenders. It is obvious that many of them are paid good money to do their worst. I have better things to do with my time.
I refuse to accept the images, dirty innuendos and blatant lies that publicists and special-ops experts want us to swallow. They awaken in me a feeling of revulsion, not for the political wannabes but for the authors of such trash. Please, in the name of decency, if you see another one of those, hit “unfriend” and put them out of business.
I dined with friends recently and we touched very briefly on our 2016 favorites, in our hearts agreeing to disagree and choosing not to let our differences of opinion spoil our lifetime friendship. Or sour the delicious dinner we had ordered at Abe’s.
What is your take on “tanim bala”? If you are not traveling any time soon, you probably don’t care. But it has taken a life of its own. My friend suspects something sinister. Political. You think?
‘La Otra Carta’
One of my favorite stores anywhere in the world to buy anything at all for the home is IKEA. I don’t remember their TV commercials. But I can hum “It’s the Real Thing,” the Coca-Cola jingle back in the ’70s, and still get all warm and fuzzy thinking of the many “Kodak moments” of way, way back when.
But last year, in Spain, IKEA came up with a winner.
“La Otra Carta” (The Other Letter) was an actual experiment done on 10 families. Their children between the ages of 5 and 9 were asked to write a letter with their Christmas wishes to Los Reyes Magos (Spain’s version of Santa Claus).
The kids had a fun and easy time. They knew exactly what they wanted. Someone wanted a guitar. A boy asked for a Wii, and another one quickly checked off four or five items on a list. Their letters were ready in no time at all.
But the experiment was not over. They were now asked to write la otra carta (the other letter), this one addressed to their parents to tell them what they wanted for Christmas.
The children were surprised and gave their new assignment serious thought. They took more time.
When they were done their parents were asked to read the letters out loud in front of the camera.
One child asked his parents to pay more attention to him. Another one asked mama and papa to be home for dinner. Still another wanted to spend a whole day with them. There was a wish to read a book together; to spend more time at home. One simply wanted cosquillas (tickling). Another asked them to play cowboy with him, or soccer.
“La otra carta” tugs at heartstrings lulled and dulled by the busyness of life. It is an unmistakably clear wake-up call for parents around the globe, especially at Christmas.
The parents were visibly moved. One mother could hardly hold it together. She said, “We have this desire to substitute ourselves and fill the vacuum with toys.” But another mother really got it: “We try to give them the best always, but really, the best is yourself. ”
The experiment had a last step. The children were asked which letter they would prefer to send—for Los Reyes Magos or mama and papa.
They all chose la otra carta.
A question shown at the start of the commercial hit home. “Why do we insist on not giving our children what they really want for Christmas?”
Think about it, moms and dads. This may yet be the best Christmas you and your children will ever have.