Think Positive...it’s all we’ve got.

earrings by Beatnheart on Etsy

Today is going to be great.

all things are possible

i am wonderful

 loving,

 kind

and considerate.

 full of spirit

 and of joy.

Instead of letting things get me down

and responding in a negative way...

Today, I want to live like it’s my last day.

I’m eating ice cream.

Beatn down heart

and the old door shuts one last time

Just a tiny little pin prick of light...shining in her dim and clouded eyes.  Recognition?  Does she

remember me?   The baby girl she had so long ago, held for countless hours, lost sleep over..Now

I am a mere shadow.   I saw Cindy on TV she told my brother.   And after the first visit, she never

asked for me again.   She didn’t remember me coming there in the flesh, holding her in my arms, whispering in her ear..it’s gonna be alright Ma.    But is it?   This is where the elderly end up...after all those years of struggle and pain and heartache and abuse and suffering and laughing and crying.   Oh yes.  Crying.

Years and years and buckets of tears and rivers of tears flowing endlessly out of those cloudy eyes.  And

now?  Now what?    All those years of saving and sacrificing and not spending a penny on the nice things..the money saved so carefully...the sacrifices made for what?  Adult diapers and a tiny hospital bed in a stifling, airless room with the noises and wails of others...suffering equally.

            The woman who never shared a secret with anyone is now living among strangers where there
are no secrets.   All the dirty laundry is aired out right there in front of everyone.
Partners in wheelchairs and walkers.  Roomates.   Wailing like infants in a maternity ward.   Get me
out of here.   No longer able to walk...talk...think clearly or think at all...back to crawling and crying
and wearing diapers.

  91 years is a long time to live.   Sometimes too long a time to live and in the case of my mother the tears
and agony and wishing for things better carries on still.   I’m still on my knees...I’m still praying for
something better... for the pain to end for her...and us.

Beatnheart is beating harder.

Time for my yearly trip back home and it is

going to be filled with so much sadness and pain.

My mother fell and broke her hip and at 91 years old

you know that that is not a good thing.  I am so

full of dread at seeing her... this time in not very

good shape both physically and mentally, lying

in a hospital bed and not walking on her own. I

am praying for strength and courage so I don't

break down and that I am strong enough to give

her some light and love.  I always say to myself

that this will be the last time that I see her but the

old gal just keeps on keeping on.   a miracle really.

There will be fun times too.  I’ll make sure of that.

I have some good friends to see, some music to hear

and play and a chance to have some quality time to

spend with my brother.   I have a flea  market in

Elkhorn, Wisconsin that I plan on going to and

old pals in Milwaukee to visit.

So hold down the bloggy fort and I’ll be back on August 18th.

Cynthia

The Fabulous Bettye LaVette

Had a chance to see Bettye LaVette Saturday in Pasadena

for a free outdoor concert. 

She has been around and has been at it for a few years now.

Her list of credits and accomplishments could cover this

whole page and then some.   She is kind of under the

radar but it just goes to show if you stick it out things do

happen and this has been one heck of a year for her.

I took a lot of photos of her but she is like a hurricane

and so many pics turned out blurry cause this

gal never slows down.

On keys, our friend and excellent singer in his own right Al Hill.

A beautiful evening in Pasadena on the lawn in this 

great park, not to shabby sound system and free.

My kind of night...

Check her out HERE!

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Libby from libbysvintage.

You are the giveaway winner.   Please contact

me with your address so I can mail your earrings 

out to you.   

Thanks to everyone who participated.  And

to all of you who found etsy for the

first time...welcome.

Giveaway in my Etsy Shop

How many of you shop at Etsy?   For those of you who

do not, you are missing out on one of the coolest

shopping sites on the internet.  You can find

so many beautiful handmade things. Also great vintage things, clothing,

beads, jewelry findings, jam, homemade candy, hand crafted perfumes,

soaps, hand knitted sweaters..... Whatever you need

you can find it there.   I can spend endless hours looking and

putting things in my cart.

Some of the shop keepers set up a beautiful site.  Fabulous

photography...careful editing...cool props.  Just like

a real brick and mortar store.

So in the interest of getting you to stop by, I am

giving away these earrings  that I am now selling in my store.

  What do you need to do???

If you are not already registered you have to do that first.

It’s easy, only about 4 simple steps and it’s free.    And hey,

once you are registered you are then able to open a shop of

your own if you are so inclinded..

NOW THAT YOU ARE REGISTERED...

   Go to my shop by clicking  on the word

‘beatnheart' over on the right hand side.  Look

around at my shop and then when you find these earrings

 click on "add them to your favorites”...

That’s it...you’re entered.   I will randomly pick a winner next Sunday night

and post the winner here on Monday morning July 25th.

EVERYONE CAN ENTER. That means all  my wonderful foreign friends. 

 I’ll ship these to any part of the world.  

Alot of  people don’t know about ETSY and they should.

It’s a wonderful way to support artists that make some

of the most beautiful and unique things that you’ll ever see.

And they come from all over the world.   If you haven’t

been, I promise you that you will love it and be inspired.

Some of the handcrafted jewelry is especially amazing.

And because you are buying directly from the maker,

you can save a bunch of money in the process. 

 Many of the sellers are willing to ship your purchase as a gift

and will wrap it up pretty and send it off for you.

And all you have to do is click”buy it now” ...no

getting in the car, looking for parking...pain free. Suppose

your sister has a birthday...Find some homemade fudge on etsy

one click and the item is selected, payed for and shipped

all in one go.  And your sister gets an awesome homemade

delight that you can’t get anywhere else...

Let’s keep the love flowing...support your local shopkeeper...

buy something handmade.  Stimulate our economy!

It feels good.  And you make some lovely friends in the process.

  So thank you everyone for making my shop a success

I am enjoying it very much.  Now go on and win these earrings!

Cheers,  Cynthia  xx

The Ukettes at The Rancho

The Rancho Los Cerritoes

The Fabulous Ukettes!

Every band needs a sex symbol...pretty Laura is ours.

adorable, talented, new mommy Hannah.

our adoring fans.

A great gig at a wholesome family event..

This amazing Banyan Tree over a hundred years old.

Album Cover Potential.

What would the world be like without free spirts?

Imagine the world without free spirits...

those among us who do as they please...

without caring what others think.

colorful, inventive people.

Marching to the beat of their own drums

or no drums at all.

This dude is still looking for Haight Asbury.

No one told him it’s not 1969.

Who said tie dyeing was out of style.  Nobody told

these folks.

yo...modern day father.

California Cops.

And of course, everyone’s favorite Free Spirit...Tom

from Wisconsin.

Hope you’re all keeping cool.   way too hot here...

I’m in hibernation.