Butterflies: Hope for the caterpillars

Book cover for Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus

While we’re still fresh with images of butterflies… ‘How does one become a butterfly?’ she asked pensively.   ‘You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.’ ~ Trina Paulus,    from Hope for the Flowers I posted this as a note on […]

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Speaking of spew… Jack Nicholson can’t handle the Witches of Eastwick.

Jack Nicholson ~ Witches of Eastwick

This post in response to a now defunct post, “Jack spews the truth and nothing but” in which the author lauds Nicholson’s memorable line from A Few Good Men… “You can’t handle the truth!” and a few other memorable film quotes. I’d add to that list Jack Nicholson’s delivery of […]

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Winnie the Pooh and the Vinegar Tasters

The Tao of Pooh ~ Benjamin Hoff

The Vinegar tasters is among my favourite allegories and provides an excellent introduction to the three philosophies that dominated China through thousands of years: Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. For me, the most important of these is Taoism, a gentle, soulful and luminous philosophy. I’m going to be lazy and let […]

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The Butterfly through the eyes of Zorba the Greek

Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis

        The Butterfly I remember one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the back of a tree just as a butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited awhile, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it […]

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On the Edge of Seventeen: Stevie Nicks & Gabriella Cilmi

Stevie Nicks ~ Bella Donna

While posting the last couple of articles about young Gabriella Cilmi, this song intruded … “on the edge of seven teen”. Stevie Nicks, another young singer songwriter with a massive presence, though her fairy-like soulful countenance is nothing like Cilmi’s old soul, simmering sexuality.

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Nothing Sweet About Me: Gabriella Cilmi’s enthralling presence

Gabriella Cilmi ~ Lessons to be Learned

I’d watched this video a few dozen times before learning that Cilmi was just 17 when it was produced. Oh, my, God! A Nabokovian nymph leaving a wake of men so enthralled they hardly notice or care for their sad state of bondage. Uhhhhmmm…. Excuse me….. I seem to be […]

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Fugitive Peace

Fugitive Pieces ~ Love Scene

I watched the film adaptation of Anne Michaels’ novel, Fugitive Pieces today. One of the most achingly beautiful love scenes I’ve ever seen is followed, closely, by Michaela picking up Jakob’s journal, holding it, looking at it, quizzically, curiously. she seems to be asking of it, “what else might you […]

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