Magical Moments Archives - Page 4 of 8

Chez Josephine NYC and One of the Greatest Nights of my Life

May 21, 2021

Walking through the front door was like entering another world. Red velvet drapes trimmed with golden tassels, brick walls covered with images of Josephine Baker at the height of her dancing, the kind of warm lighting that makes even the most weary of us look beautiful… Josephine peers out from every wall, bananas on her hips, feathers arching above her, body joyfully moving, her pet cheetah with a diamond collar walking beside her, a smile promising mischief… Chez Josephine is everything I love about the 1920’s, divine decadence, giddy and glamorous, an invitation to leave your cares outside and surrender to this one gorgeous moment.

Grief Journey with Winged Victory, Paris, and a Group of Blind Children

May 19, 2021

Experts speculate which ancient battle Winged Victory was created for, but does it matter? We are all fighting our own battles in our own way every single day. The fact that we are here, out in the world, celebrating the majesty of the human spirit through art, creating our own art, walking through these treasured creations, letting their astonishing beauty wash over us, is a winged victory in itself. I wiped my tears off my cheeks with the back of my hand and walked on, with my shoulders rolled back and my dress rippling across my hips.

Mozart and The Galloping Pianos of Salzburg

May 8, 2021

Now I can’t stop thinking of the wild pianos of Salzburg, and in my dreams, they gallop around the mountains, breathless and wild and glorious. If you catch one, you can sit down and make music like Mozart.

The Dancing Bear and The Miracles

May 2, 2021

When I first saw him, I thought I was hallucinating. I looked up and saw a twinkling bear dancing through the audience at the top of the Superdome. I blinked my eyes a few times, and decided, real or not, this bear was my kindred

Once Upon a Time

April 14, 2021

Reaching out your hand full of sand and building a magnificent glittering castle, with room for everyone you have ever loved. You know it will soon be washed into the sea. Build it anyway. Revel in the gorgeous momentary beauty, and remember, one of the things that makes it all so beautiful is that fact that it won’t last. Nothing will. I have seen the darkness, been on my knees with grief, and I still choose love.

High Rollers in Monte Carlo

April 12, 2021

One warm summer night in Monte Carlo while backpacking in 1990, Zar, Tanya, and I decided to splurge on a banana split, while eating on a cliff overlooking the sea. As backpackers, we never ordered dessert, because we had to save every penny. But tonight,

It is said, When Aphrodite’s Necklace Fell into the Sea, the Most Beautiful Jewel Became Elba

March 28, 2021

If I was a Love Goddess, my precious necklace would be made up of a string of magical moments, experiences that I will treasure forever, that can never be taken, lost or stolen, or dropped in the sea…

Sell the Jewels, Take the Trip

March 5, 2021

My motto: Sell the jewels, take the trip! In 2018 I had a banner year–I lost my father to cancer, my best friend to suicide, and my marriage to infidelity. I didn’t know what to do to keep my head above water, so I decided

Creating a Ritual for Girls Becoming Women

March 2, 2021

It’s a magnificent time when our girls start to blossom into women, but it can also be a jarring time, as their hormones begin to swirl and their bodies start to change. Creating a ritual to honor their journey, set intentions for their path, and

The Night Andrea Bocelli Sang to Us Under a Starry Sky in Hollywood Mixed Memories by Courtney and Marci

February 27, 2021

And even all these years later, when the world seems so sad, I love to think about that transcendent night: sitting under the stars with a beloved friend, a bottle of wine, and singing so exquisite that it took my breath away, filling me with irreplaceable treasures that money could never buy.

Category: Magical Moments