…………………It’s always a special time when the PEONIES bloom!……….I think they are the most beautiful flower….delicate and lush. Their subtle fragrance makes them even more enchanting….Unfortunately, once bloomed they don’t last long. Their fragile petals have no defense against the elements of rain and wind…..They must be enjoyed while they are in their full glory.
…………If I ever needed a reason not to move to Australia….or down under….this is it!!!!!! This snake found its’ way into the toilet bowl and made itself at home…..It gives the old adage “Look before you leap” new meaning! If this was my house I would have packed up and left immediately let alone take a picture!!!!
………………………This picture was taken in 1971…..This was taken on my birthday, and I had just turned 22 years old, and still had my baby fat face!!!!!! LOL…..I had just started working as a full fledged “designer” at a company called Giorgini. My very first designer job…Previously I had been a design assistant fresh out of Parsons School of Design…..Maurice Antaya [in the photo with me] worked right next door, literally. The doors to our offices were next to each other. He designed for a sister company named Ginori, which was a more moderate priced sportswear line. I was brought in to design this brand new division of a more expensive Designer Sportswear line…….Our friendship had a rough start. He didn’t like this young kid coming in and “sharing” HIS space. I think he felt a little threatened by this upstart, and he didn’t like that I was designing the NEW higher priced sportswear line….Eventually, we became fast friends, and he sort of took me under his wing and taught me the ropes…..I was a complete novice….the Long Island kid living in the BIG CITY….He took me to the trendy men’s boutiques in NYC to help me get a new wardrobe…..a 70’s wardrobe….He thought it was time I got out of the khakis, blue button downs and tan buck lace ups…..The funny thing is….when I started working at Anne Klein years later, I went back to my khakis, blue button downs and tan bucks……He arranged a birthday party for my 22nd birthday at the office…..Maurice was very crafty and made me the box with our picture on it, and gave it to me at the party…which I still have!……FIFTY PLUS YEARS later we are still best friends……..BBF……We have both been through a lot together over the years, both losing our life partners, and soul mates…..but we are keeping on keeping on……This year Maurice will be 86 years young.
……………..Looking up from a white sand beach and seeing beautiful Palm Trees…………….makes me HAPPY
…………………Is this what freedom has become? How do you interpret this?