Magical Moment 96, "Venice in my Dreams"

Ever since I saw the movie, “Only You” with Marissa Tomei (love her!) when I was in sixth or seventh grade, I’ve been aching to go to Venice. I sift through Starving Artist paint sales searching for the perfect Venetian, framed scene of gondola, water, sunset, and romantic, brick buildings to fill that blank wall I’ve been saving in my living room. Still haven’t found the right one yet. I have tour books that tell me where and when to visit, shop, eat, and stay. Cliché or not, I don’t care. I want to ride in a gondola, eat lunch al fresco, and buy a pair of genuine, Italian leather shoes.

Of course now, I’m almost terrified to really go. If Venice didn’t live up to my expectations, I would be crushed. I’ve heard people say it’s not worth it. The water smells and the streets are narrow. I imagine Venice is much like New York City, in the way that some people see beauty and originality in every nook and cranny of the city, while others see garbage, crowds, and endless construction.

One thing is certain, I will always love Venice, whether or not I ever go, for the dreams it gave me, its beauty that inspired and influenced me, and some day, the lovely piece of art that will hang in my home.

Comments

Eddie said…

I promise I will take you to Venice and you will love it.

May 11, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-

Search This Blog