Death of an inspiration at age 30

Prayers for neighbors.. one of my favorite neighbors just died in the hospital, her things still at home, from very aggressive cancer. She was about 30years, so dynamic. I loved chatting with her about her dreams in life... she came from Jamaica to study to be an industrial interior designer. Another neighbor in rehab, very similiar diagnosis to mine. I remember crawling on the floor unable to walk, i had zero benefits, had to work or be in a shelter or dead. It is a tough plight and gave my big support to his wife. (juxtaposed with the stupidity and judgmental attitudes one oft hears on health). TY universe for my being here to hear their stories and teach these in many venues. I am a tough person with a focused will oft from the love and inspiration of people who fought to get out of poverty or terror and all to make our world better. In NYC, I have known many dynamic people, good mentors, but mostly an older def privileged world. In Newark, I have known so many dynamic people creating in the real world where one may not have money to eat, or pay their rent late, yet still bringing smiles and joy daily to our lives. om mani padma hung for such a brilliant mensch. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFKA3ucNIpk Video of those inspiring me in my year I willed me to walk again; photos of my world 2007-08. My neighbor who just died was a true inspiration

Happy Saint Patrick!

Happy
Saint Patrick!
images of Monday, 17 Maart 1980! Coldish Maart day, it had snowed on the 13th. Went with a friend to the start for the parade at 54 and 5th, out from the E train. Watched local elected officials such as Carol Bellamy, Governor Carey, and Robert Kennedy Jr en marche! Heute, Council President Quinn is out of sight, and a host of other elected officials participate elsewhere due to the parade ban on openly lgbt banners etal.

That 1980 day, we drank beer and I bought a tam-a-shanter and an Irish flag! Photo of me in my hat. Whoa.. my bushy beard and it used to be so flaming red! Alcohol prohibited today!
Walked to Rockefeller Center where we met up with mio amico Frankie! Hanging with my Italian buddies that Saint Patrick's! Photo of my buddies at the Rock playing with the Irish flag. The three of us got caught up in a large crowd surge so we left the area! I have yet to go to another 5th Avenue Saint Patrick parade, remembering how we were swept up in the mass unable to freely move. Montage photos of Irish Nurses, part of the immigration wave of Irish to NYC in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as a band with Saint Patrick's Cathedral in the background.

Then off to a Blarney Stone over on 8th Ave in Hells Kitchen for a traditional luncheon of cabbage and corned beef! Photo of menu and other media from that day! Later met other Brooklyn buddies for drinks on Christopher Street, a snack at Tiffany's diner; then off to John's Pizzeria on Bleeker Street! Spring break that week for NYC Board of Education employees, so my buddies and I had the week off!

hope Saint Patrick's was good! The luck of the Irish to you! love that movie with Tyrone Powers, one of my Mom's cousins!

Today, quiet, gorgeous day! Long lunch chat about the history of Newark, rise of Corey Booker and Newark politics, with my neighbor who ran arts programs for the Newark board of education! Like many in Newark, we see Corey Booker more on television than on the streets. Why do so many progressives like him? Once again, maybe they should actually come to Newark, take the subway, walk around. Well we are more the Obama community organizer types. Per a Lynn Sweet Sun Times article (on my rss feed) Mayor Booker will be at the White House Saint Patrick Day dinner. Hopefully getting more for the working people in Newark! At the koffieclub today, we all drank regular koffie, no Irish coffee today, yet!

Congrats to Senator Kennedy on his knighthood to be bestowed by Queen Elizabeth this year. In 1980, we all boycotted the UK what with the Irish problems. Senator Kennedy was a prime sponsor of pro Irish measures. Times change of course. Salut also to President Obama for including Gerry Adams at the White House dinner tonight as well!

hugs, peace, compassion

Mies van der Rohe warmth

brrrr... thru this winter of freezing temps in NYC/Newark! however, great views and relatively warm in the apartment, a Mies van der Rohe building built 50 years ago (1959). photo from May 2007 .. warmer weather at least!

I have lived here the longest time in any apartment/house in my lifetime. Comfortable even with 500+ apartments in the building. Sometimes an elevator needs repair and my timing coincides with building "rush hours" or there are new neighbors who need to be reminded that others live below or next door or that the hallway is not a playground. Some recent Afghani refugees interestingly left all their garbage in very neat piles in the garbage room, so they needed to be taught that most of their garbage needs to just go down the garbage chute (diapers, food). After living in midtown Manhattan most of my life, interesting to see families and children growing up. There are at least 10 children I remember from their diaper days. The gorgeous daughter of my neighbors from Ghana would scream in her infant days when I put out my arms to pick her up. Today, she plays vacuuming outside my door at times in hopes to get me to "come out to play", and she is now in kindergarten! Life changes and our "koffie Club" is now history as folks have moved, but our minimart now has stools so I can sit and drink my koffie!

The Bauhaus movement is now 90 years!
some links:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,610283,00.html

http://edwardlifson.blogspot.com/2009/03/baldessari-puts-brick-wallpaper-over.html

hugs, peace, compassion

Happy Thanksgiving

So much to be thankful about. Just happy to have real stuffing etal on Thanksgiving! Afternoon chatting with my koffieClub friends! Pleased that Obama won! A life of teaching and interesting students! Look forward to swimming again soon! Open to all of the new opportunities ahead!
Remembering Harvey Milk who was assassinated just days after I moved to SF in 1977. Gonna see the new movie! Remembered my Mom (2 years passed now) and saw that her favorite Pope John XXIII shares the same birthdate! So pleased that almost a 1000 hits to the YouTube video I made on her! Remembering Macy's parades and the preThanksgiving parties at the Paradise Garage!
In solidarity with the people of Mumbai what with the latest horror attacks. Thoughts of the people of DR Congo and Haiti.
Just blessed to live in a country with an infrastructure, social programs and people who care. At times it can be a struggle but somehow it works out in the process.
Many blessings, peace, compassion!

photo: 1977 Tede, me, SF