Most Pleasurables: August 2009

It’s the end of summer, and I’m not quite sure where it went. I don’t feel very conscious in my life at the moment. In fact, this year is moving about as smoothly as a Colorado river overflowing with spring run-off. And I’ve had about as much control of my journey as a leaf would in that rapids-filled river. The weird thing is, that hasn’t been a bad thing. Just scary. And illuminating. Once again, I’ve discovered that the Control Freak streak in me is quite deep. I’m working on it, along with everything else.

Here are this past month’s highlights:

1. Halle Berry. Before you call the tabloids, let me explain. I do not know her. I’ve never spoken to her. But I happened to be at an event with her. I was left with two impressions… a) She is just stupid pretty. I mean, the damn woman GLOWS. Photos do not do her justice. The mind boggles. b) She is super sweet. Truly. Couldn’t be nicer, or more genuine, based upon watching her interact with other guests and staff at the event.
   

   Versace Campaign. Photo by Mario Testino.

   And it’s the sum of a) plus b) that make this a highlight… You see, I’ve been trying to dilute the venom that rises in my gut every time I contemplate the Entertainment Industry of late. Just one too many hacks or straight-out bastards failing upward, and one too few talents recognized, translates into quite an acidic brew for me to shallow. On a daily basis. So, seeing that Ms. Berry is actually kind and humane is like receiving a much needed salve to a wound struggling to heal.

2. A Canuck. Not just any Canuck. One of my best friends. She visited this month, from Vancouver, as she does almost every year. And, as always, it was a profound visit. The kind that includes non-stop conversations, challenging ideas, laughter and tears, and perhaps one too many Cantaloops.
3. The beach. Most New Yorkers don’t visit the Statue of Liberty much. Many have never been to Zabar’s. The same phenomenon happens in L.A. Living here, I find that I don’t go to the beach nearly as often as someone who doesn’t live near the beach would think one should. There’s the traffic, the parking, the pile of laundry that needs to get done. Always something. But every single time I do go to the beach, I am caught again in its grasp and swept away by its beauty and power. Luckily, this month, I actually got to the beach THREE TIMES! And on one occasion, I saw the most devastatingly rockstar, 15-minute display of acrobatics from a school of dolphins. It brought tears to my eyes.
4. A kill. No, I did not slaughter a deer. I simply pursued a long-shot and caught what I was reaching for. I know I’m being vague. Because it doesn’t matter what the long-shot was. What matters is that I followed my instincts, threw caution to the window and took a chance. On someone else. And I didn’t fail. And they didn’t laugh. Pretty awesome. Now, I’ll just have to work on using that same approach on myself.

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