precious resources

I've been digging for precious resources lately. For some reason I’ve been obsessed with finding people from my past; people who profoundly touched my life. I’m super blessed to have met many incredible people, and to have had so many amazing experiences in my 61 year journey on earth. Because my family was heavily involved in music and the arts, I was exposed to an eclectic body of people. Swami Parampanthi was a dear friend of our family for many years, and I learned much from his wisdom and palm readings. I met teenage heartthrob, Bobby Sherman, when we performed music for a group of VIPs. 

I played drums and sang harmony. Like the girl in the background on the Partridge Family show, I wasn’t a particularly talented drummer, but I sufficed. I was more interested in becoming a writer. Bobby gave me pointers about how to work with my snare drum, and then I gave him a tour of our art filled home. I danced with Lawrence Welk on his TV show on my 10th birthday, while my brother conducted the orchestra. I met wonderful Mr. Dick Clark, and briefly dated his son. When I worked as Prize Coordinator on the game show, Super Password, I did a face plant into actor, Richard Moll’s belt buckle as we both came around the corner through a doorway from opposite directions. Yup, he was THAT tall! We had a good giggle together in that rather awkward moment. I was asked by Ann-Margaret to fill her new car with gas when she was recording at our Topanga Canyon studio. She was so wonderful. Talk about sweetness personified! 

Let me just say, it’s been a fun life, and often a wild ride filled with immense challenges.

One of the treasures I recently dug up was a reconnection with someone I knew well in the early 80s. I was dating the drummer in his band, The Model, and although I was underage, I got into the L.A. clubs (The Troubadour, The Roxy, Club 88, Madame Wong’s) with the band. What a great time it was back then! Marvin Etzioni was the lead singer and founder of the band, and later founded another band, Lone Justice. Marvin and I actually spoke for an hour on the phone the other day, and the conversation was utterly fascinating. He still creates music (lots of music), and told me that he dreams whole songs, then has to get up and write them down or he’ll forget them. When we said our goodbyes, I immediately searched for his music, and found YouTube videos about his band, Thee Holy Brothers. Their music is sublime, thought provoking and pertinent. One song in particular touched my soul deeply, and I think would resonate with many people today: The End of Suffering. 

The end of suffering is in your heart
The end of suffering

It’s up to you
It always was
Every breath
Is filled with love

[The End of Suffering • written by Marvin Etzioni • Performed by Thee Holy Brothers• from the album My Name Is Sparkle • Listen on Spotify]

I have so many other stories I want to share, and probably will, eventually. In my quest to reconnect with my past, my current relationships have deepened. Old friends have become new friends, as we have connected in fresh and unexpected ways. Lunch with my friend, Nan, proved to be very healing for both of us as we shared about past life persecution and how it has affected our current lifetimes. Even the children who I used to babysit next door when I was a teenager have reached out to me, wanting to visit and reconnect. And, many clients have reached out as well, and we have had such personal and intimate email exchanges about life.

The saying is that, when you die, "You can't take it with you." That, of course, refers to the material things in the world, including your body. But, thankfully, when we die, we take with us the beautiful memories, and the love of people that we have stored in our hearts. The most precious resources of all.