Day 153 of Firsts: Get a Henna Tattoo

Women, don't get a tattoo. That butterfly looks great on your breast when you're twenty or thirty, but when you get to seventy, it stretches into a condor. ~Billy Elmer

I've never had a real tattoo. I don't ever want a real tattoo. But hey, when in Venice.... a henna tattoo will do. (Comes off in two weeks. Perfect.)

Day 152 of Firsts: Tarot Card Reading

There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it. ~Elizabeth A. Behnke

In the spirit of the Venice Beach experience I decided to get a Tarot card reading.  

As you might guess, I'm generally a skeptic. But I leave a little room in my logical mind for the mystical and things that just can't be explained.

I wasn't feeling too confident when an older woman named Carol came out in a pink bathrobe like she'd just rolled out of bed.  She insisted I couldn't record the session.  I wasn't happy with that.

But then she proceeded to pretty much describe my life to a tee. I swear I didn't give her anything to go on. Both my daughter and I were kind of blown away and shaken a little by it.



She said my life is about change right now and writing is going to be key.
She said some things about personal relationships that were detailed and true.

If anyone asked, I would tell you I don't believe in this stuff. Still, I can't explain how this woman read right into my life.

Like I said, I leave a little room for things that can't be explained and I suppose this is just one of those times. 

Day 151 of Firsts: Join the Venice Beach Drum Circle

Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams. ~Mary Ellen Kelly

There may be other drum circles in the world, but I doubt you'll find a more bohemian, tribal gathering on the planet than the one that gathers every Sunday afternoon on Venice Beach, California.

It's a trip watching, but who wants to just watch??? Get me a drum, man!



That's my daughter in the big sunglasses and feather earrings beating the drum. Nice. 

I don't know about "awakening the soul to ascend" but there was something very primal and spiritual about this experience.

At first I was self conscious just hitting the drum, but after awhile I forgot myself and just found a beat.  I did feel transported for a bit. (No I didn't inhale anything.) 

I walked away feeling stress free, relaxed, smiling.  It turns out there's something about a drum circle that soothes the soul.  You don't need to know what you're doing, you just need to join the circle.

 I get it now.

Day 110 of Firsts: So many in La La Land!

California is a queer place - in a way, it has turned its back on the world, and looks into the void Pacific.... It's sort of crazy-sensible. Just the moment: hardly as far ahead as carpe diem. ~D.H. Lawrence

I'm not sure where to begin.  Okay, lets just start by saying I'm in Los Angeles to see my daughter.

Next fact: I let my husband make the accommodations.  I agreed it would be a nice first to NOT stay in a hotel. 

 Phil told me he found a sweet little bungalow to rent near Venice Beach.  I said fine as long as it had a tub.  (Last vacation there was no tub.  That's minor really.) 

This place has a tub, but No Shower (A MAJOR issue if you ask me.) The place is ummm....rustic.



 The owner calls it "hand crafted" in a neighborhood that is supposed to be in "transition".   It's a First alright. A funky first. Takes me back to the days we lived in Miami's Coconut Grove in the late 80's and an occasional body would randomly be found in the neighborhood.

We could have taken off , but what the heck. It's a year of firsts, right? So I'm thinking let's embrace the simplicity and hope we're safe. The owner is nice. Whatever.

I decide I need some food, Sangria and a nap to get in the proper vaca mood.  

We head to a nearby Whole Foods market where I get green tea gelato.  (It turns out green tea gelato tastes like grass with sugar. I never have to try that again!)

I turn my flip cam on to document the gelato purchase.

 

Just then a security gaurd comes up to me and says I have to put away my camera. ( So sorry I missed recording this but my flip cam ran out of space. AHH)  The guy behind me pointed out there were people openly smoking pot in the front of the store but i was getting in trouble over shooting my gelato purchase.

The security gaurd did not find this amusing and made it clear I was in jeopardy of being thrown out of Whole Foods if I continued to break the "rules".

Welcome to La La Land. Stay tuned.  Who knows what will happen next.