At the Dawn of 2016

I'm pensive at this New Year's dawn,

I wish my heart felt light,

It's hard to celebrate and cheer,

When world peace seems out of sight.

I am seventy-one this year,

I'd hoped that I might see,

A new year when I'd really feel,

A sense of revelry!

What joy if only hatred ceased,

And terror stopped its spread,

And each new year brought hope,

And a bright outlook ahead!!

Much of the world is suffering,

Each day, worse than the last,

I wish our resolutions could,

Make all this in the past.

I pray that in this year to come,

Our hearts will overflow,

In love and true compassion,

Towards those who need it so.

May all of us slow down a bit,

In the chaos and the strife,

And stop to breathe and cherish,

The treasures in this life.

Let's start at year's beginning,

To find some joy in every day,

To be a bit more loving,

In our own special way.

Best wishes to all for blessings

and peace in the new year.

Carmen Henesy

12/30/2014

In India - Thoughts As 2012 Begins - December 31, 2011

I find myself so far from home,

As I wait for New Year's day,

Yet the magic of technology,

Makes no place far away.

I'll raise my glass at midnight,

And toast to all I see,

For here in crowded India,

I've fulfilled my destiny.

Last New Year's eve I told myself,

I'd made a dream come true,

To return to far off India,

To see beloved cruise ship crew.

People thought me crazy,

It's not for one your age,

That trip is for a youngster,

You're way beyond that stage.

I felt just more determined,

Though I suffered from self doubt,

Each time there was an obstacle,

I, somehow, worked it out.

With the blessing of my sons,

I boarded that long flight,

And the rest, of course, is history,

As I celebrate tonight.

I embrace the New Year,

From this land so dear to me,

And pray it showers blessings,

To every land and sea.

I always pray for peace,

To reign upon the earth,

To follow every little child,

From the moment of their birth.

From this land of many gods,

I wish for all mankind,

Prosperity in the coming year,

May happiness you find.

Carmen Henesy

 Copyright (c) December  31, 2011 by Carmen Henesy 

All rights reserved

Jazz, Burgers and Beer - Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, CA

My friend, Margie Baker, the wonderful jazz singer, PhD, esteemed San Francisco retired teacher and educator, performs one Thursday a month at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay, California.  I've always wanted to see her in that venue but the Ritz is a little out of my price range, especially since my retirement.  Nonetheless, my friend, Silvia and I decided to go for their "Jazz, Burgers and Beer" event this past Thursday.  The Ritz offers this package for $19, including validated parking so we figured that wasn't too bad.  We'd sip and eat slowly, enjoy
great music for three hours, and enjoy the incredible ambiance.

I must say, this Ritz Carlton is one of the most beautiful I've seen.  It is perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific coast of Half Moon Bay, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.  We went on a perfect day, just before sunset so, for our $19 each, we had magnificent views ( of course, the view could be had for no monetary outlay, compliments of the Creator - but the enhancement of a nice glass of wine and Margie Baker singing the blues made it truly beyond description! ).

One of many orchid displays

Part of the golf course, on the Pacific

Pacific sunset at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, CA

Day is almost done

The gazebo, in the glow of the setting sun

The Ritz, as viewed from the Pacific Ocean side -

lounge is one the second floor with the wide windows

Silvia had fish and chips

I opted for fritto misto - a combination of calamari and shrimp

Our beloved, Margie Baker

Margie did three songs that really made me happy - "Georgia" ( of course, this GA girl always

likes to hear that and can she ever do this song justice! ) - "Basin Street Blues" ( Margie knows I went to nursing school in New Orleans - my friend, Shota Osaba, a fabulous jazz pianist who plays for Margie occasionally and is the one who introduced me to her, always plays this for me

but this is the first time I've heard her sing it - WOW! ) and my all time favorite, "At Last" ( in her wonderful voice that can reach out to the Pacific, Margie sang this so beautifully, it almost brought tears to my eyes!  Really, every song she sang was great but I love to hear her do blues.  It always makes me think of those nursing school days back in New Orleans. 

I just kept thinking that this woman, who taught the children of San Francisco for almost half a century, and traveled the world singing jazz, probably did more for world peace than half the U.N. negotiations and political struttings over the years.  I think music is a universal language that helps people communicate and understand each other and Margie Baker sure knows how to speak it!