Boom

Written by the infamous Tennessee Williams and directed by Josephy Losey, this 1968 Elizabeth Taylor classic shows how one can have everything except what they really need. Materialism only goes so far and without health and happiness one really becomes the poorest in the world. With a budget of $10 million USD, breathtaking landscapes of Sardinia, and exceptional costumes/wardrobe not to mention the undying chemistry between English Elizabeth and Welsh Richard Burton this film browsed carefully on many delicate questions on life and death.

Running for 113 minutes, the audience is mesmerized every step of the way not only by Taylor's exceptional acting but also by her enormous beauty and grace. Clever dialogue, great transitions and good pacing, Williams left no stone un-turned. 

An exciting exploration of memories, the future, true wealth, and poetic dialogue that will keep you posing questions on nothing and everything all at once! :)) Drama, thriller, romance & passionate acting!

One of my favourite quotes from this film was: "Passports expire and so do invitations!"

Meet Again

I've been pondering lately on writing something meaningful, hopeful and inspirational for my readers on the topic of Death. Death visits every household, and has been my friend from a young age, and although we know about it, it never gets easier to let go, be at peace or to understand loss when it happens to us. Sure we know that things are born and things die, and we know that our bodies grow old and tired and needs to rest, but what happens when Death visits suddenly, unexpected or to those with so much life left in them? There are no definite answers and perhaps no questions that need to be explained, however we know that when Death comes, beauty also comes with it. We become mindful, we become aware, we awake from our slumber and seek God/Creator/Universe for a more definitive meaning of who we are and why are we here.

Sometimes, even though we cannot wrap our human minds around the departing of others on our spiritual journey, Death can be seen as a new beginning, a release of suffering, and freedom from our earthy shells. Others also believe that it may be of more significance to many with the lessons/blessings of love, heart and awakening that happens when one passes on. Death reminds us how powerful yet fragile we all are, and that we are only here on 'borrowed time'; we at this moment are able to reflect on the mystery that is life and it humbles our human ego, to practice unconditional love, patience and presence, even if only resonating with us for a short time.

Despite the seemingly harrowing experience of what Death appears to be to many of us; it is important that we know that it is not the end. We are, was, and always will be. Vast as the sea, endless like the grains of sand and boundless and radiant as light. Your 'loves' are still with you. They may carry different names in different times, but you are always connected. Many scoff and laugh at the thought of angels and nature spirits, but this world and heavenly realm is real. Because we are too busy to connect with this angelic wisdom does not mean that it does not exist. Sometimes if you are silent and still, you will begin to hear, feel, smell and even see this beautiful world. Trust your instincts and listen to your intuition, because these are whispers from above guiding you on your path in life.

Be joyful darlings, because you will meet your loved ones again… time and space are not the same, but you can be certain that this bond is endless because when you search within through prayer and meditation, the answer resonates…"We are infinite…and we will flow…on and on and on again…"

I will leave you with one of my favorite authors Kahlil Gibran's passages from 'The Prophet' on 'Death':

"You would know the secret of Death

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day, cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of Death, open your heart, wide unto the body of life.

For Life and Death are one, even as the river and the sea are one

In the depths of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; and like seeds 

dreaming beneath the snow, your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of Death, is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. 

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die, but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? 

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence, shall you indeed sing.

And when you reach the mountain-top, then you will begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs,  then shall you truly dance."

With Love,

Bless-up!

Jair

Gia

"We use them up, and throw them away! And "I want Sirloin Meat!" these are precisely accurate phrases of how models are viewed and used, not as people, but as merchandise to pump up sales for brainwashed consumers.

If they didn't make a film about Gia Marie Carangi, I'd never know about her; and I'm glad they did, because it seems to me that her life; despite her many downs, was just as important and poignant as any of us. This 1998 film written by Jay McInerney and Michael Cristopher whom also directed the film was expertly played out by Angelina Jolie and Elizabeth Mitchell. Of course I found the lesbian sex moments, completely amplified and un-called for; but I am not a male film-maker, and some queries just don't have answers, like Muholland Drive and Black Swan to name a few.

Despite the girl-on-girl loving, I found the transitions unique and alarming, with total red screens, blurring and out-of-focus shots, which worked wonderfully with the film's composition. I felt that if the film-makers were able to use side by side shots and or footage of real interviews and photos of the real Gia Carangi, and her family and friends it would have made an even greater impact or familiarity of her. I'd heard many things about this film; some good and some not as nice, and now I can understand why, but despite the awry and shocking nature of this film, I must say I quite enjoyed it and am glad that I'd finally had the opportunity to see it.

It's messages were profound and necessary, not only for young girls and boys in the model industry, but for people, like so many of us who are lost, craving love and attention and because of it led astray in a thick net, that some of us never find our way out of. Thank-fully I haven't succumb to the temptations and alleviations of this world, but I can certainly relate to this dark side of so-called glamour and success. Gia Marie Carangi was a bombshell and I'd say an aspiring writer, and because of her propelled success and lifestyle and lack of love received and also for herself, she dug herself in a hole and buried herself at the tender age of 26. If one isn't grounded and comfortable with themselves, I can see how easily they can all let things go. I adored the bit said by Francesco (one of her photographers who never gave up on her) played by Edmund Genest:

"I know, I know, life is so disappointing. Here you are, you have arrived. You are here, this is your moment, and what do you have? You have pain. And when you have everything, what do you have? You have nothing. When everything is right, everything is wrong. It's disappointing, it's confusing. This is life. What can you do?"

I found that the balance between Gia's fanatical behavior brought on by the hurt and drug abuse, and the eloquence she sometimes achieved through her writing was spot-on. I thought that she struck gold when she said on the air-craft, "Being somebody doesn't make you anybody anyway…" I know that in this life, everybody wants to be somebody, and they already are unique and precious individuals, but it is always extreme power, greed or often-times just love that people crave that make them feel this way.

What we forget is that we are somebody to everybody, and that we are always being watched and admired by people we least expect, so every little thing that you do, is profound and worthy.
Faye Dunaway's answer to her on that airplane was: "You will always be somebody to me!"

I believe it's just those words that people in anxiety or fear need to hear, but more importantly need to understand and believe.

Faye Dunaway who played Wilhelmina Cooper was delightful to watch, and this film was a bit special to me also as when I first was approached to model, it was Wilhelmina that also first gave me that chance; and the fact that Gia/Angelina Jolie used the phrase 'doux-doux' when she called her lover (a beautiful term of endearment) [hahah]. I know many dislike Angelina Jolie, just as others critique Woody Allen and Madonna's life-styles, but I always strive to separate their personal lives from their performances or work lives. There is beauty and beast in all of us, good and evil, light and darkness, and one should never be judged, otherwise we also should be judged. Angelina Jolie is a phenomenal actress, and it is shown here again. Playing dark, un-likeable and ugly characters is not an easy thing to do, and even if it may be for some, to have the comfort and courage to transform your beauty and 'image' to something as sinister takes heart. Angelina Jolie isn't afraid to go there, and I admire that.

I'll leave you with the last conversation supposedly had between Francesco and Gia which went:

Gia: "Thank-you."

Francesco: "Gia, this is life; not heaven, you don't have to be perfect!"

Assumptions

I tend to find myself in sometimes rather un-savory situations, certainly not intentionally but surely because of lack of luster or strength to truly express my "No's". You see, I expect that everyone should respect one another; it is one of the wisest and greatest virtues in my book. For if you treat people the way you wish to be treated, the world would be a much friendlier and fair place. Apparently I missed the memo in that the world today, doesn't work that way; in turn, for my lack of love at filing paperwork, I become stuck in sticky situations with people who adore disrespecting and using me and my energy till the very small amounts of meat I've got on my bones, is pretty much sucked dry! Arrgggh! The torment!

I was told the other day by one of my new and dear friends, that if I was any gentler or polite, I'd be pretty much a sponge or an amoeba! I realized promptly that this wasn't a compliment, and however harsh was said with utmost love and absolutely necessary. People will take advantage of you or cross boundaries and limitations if you don't set any for yourself. I knew she was right; and it's not that I didn't see that, it's just that I always prefer to give others the benefit of the doubt.

Many people believe they can read one another like an open book. They make assessments and judgments based on what their parents taught them, on the experiences they've had, good or bad, and of course from what they view on film and the television. They shuffle you into boxes or brackets or quotation marks whenever they deem necessary and most times they haven't begun yet to scratch the surface. We're all guilty of judging and making assumptions, but should we really automatically do this without first giving the person a chance?

We are all reflections of one another, along the same path at different points in life, and despite a person's demeanor, personality or physical attributes, we know very little about that person's belief system, childhood structures or life ambitions. We must remember that what we give of ourselves, we receive; which takes me back to my philosophy of respect being an enormous virtue. Treat people the way you wish to be treated. Period.

Assumptions and Ego, get you nowhere in life, except disappointed. Be open to the lessons available to you throughout your journey here, think of it like a University degree, and each course you take, despite the deadlines, boring teachers and the adventure of scales, algorithms and thrilling adjectives, the more you challenge yourself, the better your CV will look. For once you do the right things, and listen to that voice within, which always ring true, then sure enough when you're in that interview before entering the next stage after your time here, you'll have impressive character and heart, and there's only one that can judge you based on the sincerities of your heart. J

Let it Be

Well said John; the late and great John Lennon that is. So simple yet tremendously profound; Let it Be. I've been doing some 'soul-searching' recently; and you can take that to mean whatever you want it to be, but for me it is focusing less on the superficial and more of the inside and what it means to me. This I find pertinent to my growth as an individual in life; to not take the 'Jair' too seriously and focus more on what the small girl inside needs most. I found it! I like to make that small girl happy, but how forgetful we humans are; I always need reminding, and I'm forever grateful for my friends, family and spirit guides that light up my way and keep me on the right track.

Most things in life we DO NOT have control over. We DO have control of the 'oil-spills' we transport in our precious water. We DO have control over treating people with respect and kindness. We DO have control on being compassionate and forgiving to people that have done us wrong. We DO NOT have control however on how rugged our path should be. $hit happens all the time; life is not a smooth ride, that's for sure, it's a mysterious upsy-downsy, topsy-turvy thing! The ups are marvelous and the downs, makes you feel like burying yourself in a hole. But even though we're addicted to the more incredible moments, it is only at the darkest and harsher ones we are able to build our character as an individual and truly blossom into that fearless, strapping and astounding person we can be!

I've mentioned this before – some of you that read may remember… J My father always said, life is like a traffic jam; you look ahead and you see a whole long line of cars ahead of you, and you wish you were at the front of the line, but if you take a peek into your rear-view mirror you'll see also a daunting line behind you. Be happy with the spot you've got, you'll get off the highway eventually, just be patient. And he's so right! You see, we always want summer in the winter, winter in the summer and we always complain about what we want, want, want. Yes, wants and desires are valuable and significant in life; because it is what gives us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It makes us happy to say the least. However, we must think of our needs, our nourishment – and this doesn't only mean what you eat, but also nurturing that small girl/boy inside of you. Once you respect and love yourself then and only then you can move forward as a warrior of wisdom.

Some feelings/emotions and mostly people tend to have power over us; or so we sometimes feel. You value their words a great deal because you expect certain things of them; and you imagine that they are things they most certainly are not. You don't pick the story or the path, but you have to act the part of you. Have compassion; let go; let it be; you are still wonderful! Give that small boy/girl an enormous hug; they deserve it. Despite what others may do to you to make you upset, or when your positivity is drained and sucked away, try to remember that they should have no power over you!

Be the master! Of your thoughts, of your being, of your life!

Grateful for life, health, strength and for the single people out there! Your freedom! J These are some of the best days of your life. Lemme' tell you, I know, for no matter what games people play, know that you have the opportunity to be true to yourself. To walk bare-footed, and let your hair flow messily when you drive through the mountains of new destinations waiting to be discovered. That you can talk to who you want, when you want and for how long you want. That you can be just that….FREE! To dance, to squeal if you cannot sing and to just be! Enjoy the moments. And never stop being you and true to you, until someone worthy cares to join you for the bumpy ride 'se llama' LIFE! Be grateful of your spot…I'm quite sure you'll be rightfully blessed if you keep on the right path! J