Happy Birthday Clint, May 31, 2016

Clint Eastwood is 86 today, May 31, 2016.  He saw this in the Daily News and thought "My how time has flown by!". Eastwood made many movies, created a great character, "Dirty Harry". Was a mayor of some rich burg in California and is known for this and much more  but one error sticks out, his talking to an empty chair at the Republican convention. President Obama was supposed to be sitting in that chair.

He understood what Clint was doing. This is an exercise practiced in an acting class and it is supposed to be done with great artistry so as to make the audience believe the scene as though whoever was sitting in that chair was actually sitting in that chair. Now if Eastwood was in class he would have performed in a manner that convinced everyone that he was talking to a sitting President but it was obvious Eastwood didn't believe the chair held anyone and that it was empty. One of the worst acting jobs he has ever done and in front of millions if you count the TV audience.Yet because of Clint Eastwood's body of work he is held in high esteem and should be.

Well he thought, perhaps I should examine my body of work. Maybe it isn't as famous as widely held as a celebrity but doesn't a life lived well count as much? He thought so. He reflected on his childhood and came to the conclusion it was a blessing to have a mother and father who was always there providing and helping him and his brother grow into manhood. The additional blessing was was growing up with an extended family in close support. There were plenty of Aunts and Uncles and cousins and close friends  that he always felt secure. It was true that there were plenty of arguments but plenty of kissing and hugging and eating great food.

He grew up in a neighborhood that had a schoolyard that was an ecosystem for every kid in the neighborhood meeting there for softball, fast pitch, basketball, handball and even Chinese handball where the loser had to go asses up while everyone threw the spaulding at his ass. All the adults looked out for the kids and would even break up some fights when they broke out.

In his house the radio was always playing, music, serials and news, Gabriel Heater and "Ah there's good news tonight.". So it was natural for him to play an instrument. It was natural for him to become a pretty good ballplayer. But educationally he was a dud. Later he would have to go through two decades to get three degrees the last one being his Masters.

He married one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen or has seen. Together they lived a life of love for 50 years before she had to check out and go home to the Lord. But in that time they produced a large family which always had a full house, not much money but plenty for fun, love and food. Also Living in that house were dogs, birds, cats a white rat and what seemed like a million friends, theirs and their children's. From his children has come great grandchildren. And he's proud of everyone of them.

During his life he has done everything he ever wanted to do. Was a working member of Local 802 for 15 years, wrote songs that were published and played TV, not a lot but enough not to be a total failure. Was offered Class D with the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team but turned that down to play music. Had to work to provide for their growing family while his beauty stayed home and did all the hard work. For a while became a young man on the rise in a fledgling company when he traveled some parts of this world. Actually spent one year doing the legal work in this firm because the young Attorney that was there was  going through a breakdown and he covered for him. Practiced corporate law without a LLB.

Later in life he was active in SAG, AFTRA and Equity production. He was in a few series and plays. Not nearly as successful as Clint Eastwood but he did continue to perform, first as a musician, composer and now actor. He managed to win one golf outing at Brier Cliff Manor country club run by The Variety Club of NY.

As outside activities he ran a respite Saturday program through Catholic Charities with plenty of help from his family and volunteers. Parents of mentally challenged children got a Saturday morning off while their children were taken care of. Did consulting work with Marriage Encounter. Actually it was more of getting together with people who wanted their marriages to succeed. Was active in Catholic activities such as Cursillo and Saint Vincent De Paul.

He thought God Bless Clint Eastwood for his life. His body of work is exemplary.  But he thought Thank God for all the gifts he has given me. A beautiful wife with whom he lived, loved and was loved for 50 years, more if you count the time they dated. He got to experience everything in life he ever wanted to experience. AND even at this late stage of his life he is still waiting to experience new and wonderful things. He has learned that whatever may happen love must be involved, not the tepid kind but the passionate kind because whatever one does it should be done with the desire to enjoy it to the fullest. like Sinatra sings. "All The Way"!

Happy birthday Clint may you have many more!

 

     

Let Me Vent May 2016 Part II

Bernie Sanders has been an Independent for all his life who caucus with the Democratic Political Party. He chose to run for President as a Democrat because it opened up many more opportunities to his political ambitions than running as an Independent. Now even though he is losing his bid by any count he is attempting to change the party to his image and likeness and while doing this making Hillary Clinton a weaker candidate who will eventually run against the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. The fact is Bernie Sanders might even contribute to a Trump win which means disaster for this country. Disaster because Trump will appoint conservative Supreme Court judges and push a conservative economic agenda which benefits the rich and penalizes the poor and weakens the middle class. My rant is who the hell gives Bernie Sanders the right to screw up the Democratic bid for the Presidency of this country when he isn't even a true Democratic. He is an Independent and will always be one. So beware of his run because politically he has his own agenda which seems to favor the lower 99% of this country but actually doesn't. If he succeeds at all he will hurt us all by helping Donald Trump and the Republicans win and help ruin the benefits gained in the last eight years.

The one thing Trump and Sanders has brought to the forefront is that the winners of any race are those who have passion. The heart and desire to push forward against any odds to gain their objectives. One has to be passionate, intense, ardent and hot blooded while pursuing anything that is worthwhile to that person. Hillary Clinton may be passionate but doesn't show it like Trump & Sanders which is why they draw tremendous followings who have the same passion exhibited by their leaders. Hillary Clinton better rev up her engine or she will be left in the dust because she'll be boring in contrast to the passion exhibited by Trump and possible lose the Sanders followers who are really Independents anyway and not Democrats.

Their is a lack of passion on many levels. Our Millennials seem to lack passion in many of the things they do yet they do it because they can. Sexually they are possibly the freest group yet they do it without the passion of ardently being in love. They do it because it brings pleasure like drugs, alcohol and whatever it takes to have fun but not with the passionate feeling for the other person. This attitude finds it way into their marriage and leads to eventual separation due to ennui, complete boredom. The kiss may be wet but it doesn't sting and bring rushes of blood to the brain it is just two pieces of skin meeting.

The really good musician is so in love with his instrument that it is an extension of his very soul so that when he practise for hours on end it isn't work it is pure pleasure AND he is ready to go out and play the rest of the night at his gig never wanting to go to bed until he has to from complete exhaustion, when he wakes he can't wait to grab his musical instrument and start all over again, loving every minute of it all.

Someone once said passion is over rated. This is usually said by someone who has no zest for living left because their life has drained them of the joy of living. Even the book of Revelation expounds on this when the Spirit says to the churches of the time, So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot not cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.",  I can think of nothing worse than being lukewarm in anything one does be it your job, marriage, relationship of any kind that is worth anything because all that means is you get up each day and just go through the motions never really experiencing the joy of living.

I will end this venting the way I started with the current race for the Presidency of these great United States. Sanders get out of this race before you insure that the next President will be Donald Trump. Hillary please change the way you are running this race show a great deal of passion the way your adversaries do so that you will be able to lead those hungry for justice to be passionate about it. And for all who want to live a really meaningful life be passionate about everything you do that is worthwhile especially in your relationships never losing the fervor of first love weather it may be your first or seventh. Enjoy life by living it.