My 10 Best Epiphanies of 2020: Covid Game-Changers for Oldies + Music

For starters....

The Courage to Be Yourself: ee. cummings on Art, Life, and Being Unafraid to Feel

“To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight.”

Beer Fashion Plate

?You Are Alone no one is coming to rescue you - not even family; embrace the upside - no one is watching or critique-ing; wear glamorous gowns at home or nothing; paint yourself in colour - be bold, be fantastical; play music loud; keep going; call for help if required - you are not crazy

Dance me to the End of Love: Madeleine Peyroux

?There is Safety Within indoors and within you - keep breathing, dancing, hand-washing; go swimming or be lazy; enjoy twilight and sunrise - and jazz; therapise yourself -give yourself permission; you don't need approval; toast yourself; remember how far you have come; celebrate the Season

Photo by Confetta on flickr

 · · · Mistinguett (5 April 1875 - 5 January 1956) was a French actress and singer, whose birth name was Jeanne Bourgeois. Charles Gesmar (pronounced "Gesmar") French Poster Artist and Costume Designer Born: May 21, 1900 Died: February 27, 1928 Charles Geismar, simply known as Gesmar, was one of the greatest designers of costumes and posters during the golden age of the Paris music hall and was primarily renowned for his work for the great Parisian star Mistinguett. 

Perfect Christmas. Vintage Seasonal Tunes From The 20s, 30s, 40s. A Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Social Media is Illusory no one really cares - you will be used; celebrate your friends - if you have any left after Twitter; Facebook is doomed; bend rules; fly close to the sun but not too close; be pithy; be kind

Undun: Kurt Ellling

flickr.com;Photo: dovima_is_devine_II on flickr(cc)

They Can't Take That Away From Me: Lisa Stansfield and Larry Adler (harmonia) on The Glory of Gershwin Album

The World is a Dangerous Place the bastards are out to get you - disinformation, misinformation and cyber-attacks; be 'dangerous' -

“A girl could never have too much jewelry or too much weaponry”

I would add shoes and be a word warrior for good; travel slowly with awareness; keep company with the moon and the stars; go incognito; rug up; always carry an umbrella and binoculars

Vogue 1911; flickr.com Magazine cover illustrated by George W Plank

A Practical Arrangement: Sting & Jo Lawry-Practical Arrangement Live, NYC

Erté Champagne glass by Lalique

You Must Love Yourself or Die the inner life is (almost) enough, so, be creative and celebrate yourself by yourself; write; treat yourself - only drink bubbles; me, me, me is ok on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.....stretch a lot; most important! don't take advice of others

Embraceable You: Oleta Adams and Larry Adler (harmonica) from The Glory of Gershwin Album

Pink Martini - The Lemonade Song | Official Lyric Video

?Melody Gardot album “Sunset in the blue”

Older People Are Invisible and Irrelevant To The Young some of who think we've had our turn, screwed up, can't keep up, should be ignored and be last in the vaccine survival queue (except those 90+ in rest homes otherwise it would be a bad look!); not snarky it's a true perception - mine!; don't expect to be invited anywhere - don't go anyway as no social distancing or mask-wearing for your benefit ("herd immunity" means their immunity - YOU will be sacrificed); you will be humoured not included; accept your lot and transcend it; not bitter and twisted, well, only a little! So, deal with it and get over it! We will get on with having angst-less fun!

buzzfeed.com In difficult times, fashion is always outrageous. - Elsa Schiaparelli. We might find the fashion of the "Hunger Games" capitol citizens outrageous, but our grandmothers just think it's 1930s haute couture.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Chris Botti and trumpet

Being Invisible and Irrelevant is Freedom drop the mask, say what you like, be ruthless about who not to bother with, be selfish - except for climate change and world peace of course! being truthful is delightful fun - no employer or brand image to worry about; make YOUR brand image honesty - very scary; be outrageous and naughty - when your children aren't watching - no one else will ever notice or care

Running Wild: The Hot Sardines

Cristobel Balenciaga (1895-1972); metmuseum.org Balenciaga achieved what is considered to be his most important contribution to the world of fashion: a new silhouette for women.

Like-Minded People are a Joy you can find them everywhere - treasure them -after running a few tests; watch out for scammers

Cuban lady with cigar

flickr.com Photo by SCLR13 on flickr

 · · · People of Cuba - Havana, Cuba, December 2011

Melody Gardot and Sting: Little Something

Stock Up on food, a survival kit (all the boring stuff), medications, hand sanitiser, wipes, masks, perfume, bubbles, real books (forget magazines - too expensive); Netflix, Neon, Beamafilm, Amazon Prime and TVNZ on Demand; back-up computer equipment (iPhone charger); sunscreen, mosquito repellent - summer is here! spare sun and reading glasses

Model June Pickney; this image comes from the historical archives of LIFE Magazine.

?Melody Gardot - So we meet again. Live in San Sebastian Jazz Festival 2012

Keep Laughing taking things too seriously can be fatal for your health - including this piece of flummery; read satire; cheer up - you are not depressed, you are simply a realist - make it work for you

Meme: cheezburger.com

Un Village Fran?ais 01.Générique

Vive La Libération!

Sophistication 1, 2 and 3 Vintage Music With Style From the 1930s & 40s (Past Perfect)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPdsHOf-Tn0

https://youtu.be/wnlFJCGttx8

https://youtu.be/Z5koRA2Ink8

Pamela is a New Zealand consultant, CEO and founder of Sky Canopy Consulting, a writer, satirist, poet, researcher, analyst and synthesiser, with a Masters in Conflict and Terrorism Studies from the University of Auckland.

She has been around long enough on this planet to be a former lawyer, psychotherapist and executive coach.

She loves owls, masks, ballet, black cats, hot air balloons, witches and wizards, Shakespeare, metaphors, memes, magical realism, reading, history, walking around lakes, carnivals, carousels, circuses, Fiat cars, surrealism, Mozart, opera, dragons, cheongsams, sky rockets, turkish delight, spider brooches, mosaics, museums, hot baths, beer, red wine, bedtime stories, Alice in Wonderland, Christmases, holidays, native birds and their habitats, riding on her broomstick and travelling in her imagination. She is a red-headed owl and her avatar is a Venetian flame-feathered Colombina mask of the Commedia del Arte.

Her Blog is at Sky Canopy Consulting and will resume in the New Year some time. https://skycanopy.wordpress.com/blog/

Image: Venezia Colombina Mask, Pixabay