She turned our world on with her smile.......

40 years ago,  Mary Tyler Moore  lived at my house. Every week, she, Murray,  Ted, and Mr. Grant  came into our living room  and made us laugh  for a full half hour.  Some weeks  Rhoda, Phyllis, Sue Ann  or Georgette were there,  but Mary was the main character  And we loved her. She was a quiet feminist  who produced the news,  in a time period when it was a  job usually reserved for men  She was a serial dater, who threw awful parties,  and we laughed every week. A couple of weeks ago,  I pulled the Mary Tyler Moore show up, on streaming service. And my mom, dad, and I started watching it again  And it's still relevant  And still just as funny.  Even more special,  She resembled my Aunt Cynthia. who was also single And a quiet feminist  Working at a job  usually reserved for men. When we had Aunt Cynthia's memorial  The song we played  to start the service  was the Mary Tyler Moore theme song,  "After All" by Sonny Curtis When we heard today,  that Mary Tyler Moore died   My sisters texted that  Aunt Cynthia can meet her,  and, that they can have a good  laugh together in heaven. Thank you, Mary Tyler Moore  For making us laugh, And for bringing my family together, in so many ways. You did make it after all.  
 
 
(Aunt Cynthia, when she finally got to Minneapolis, in the classic Mary Tyler Moore "throw the hat in the air" pose). 
 #marytylermoore @marytylermoore #mrgrant 


Julie Andrews will not be singing "So long, farewell", this year

2016 This year We lost: King (of golf) Prince A Princess, of a far away galaxy A Professor of the Dark Arts A Starman A Candy Man A First Lady A Lovely Lady An Eagle A Fish And A Singing Nun And we mourn Because they entertained us. But we also lost 14 members of the military 138 police officers And 89 firemen And we mourn Because they protected us. But even more importantly a lot of us suffered personal tragedies. And for me, that made this the worst year ever. Yet, there were some Reasons to celebrate Because this year: We found a vaccine for ebola. The United States had it's first woman presidential candidate. Green sea turtles, white tailed deer, grizzly bears, and giant pandas have been taken off the endangered list. For the first time in 100 years, the number of tigers in the wild has increased. Measles has been totally eradicated from the Americas. and The Chicago Cubs won the World Series! Was it the best year? Good God, no! But it wasn't the absolute worst either. Still, I'm glad we can finally say goodbye to 2016. And I DO hope the door hits it on it's ass on the way out.

"Filthydelphia", possessive trash, and poop

So, I went to some Tile Place with a friend on Washington and 15th Street In Philly Got out of the car, And stepped into a sh*t-pile Of everything That every person who Has ever lived in Philly Owns. They just dumped it. There. On the sidewalk Bottles, broken glass, Cups, cigarettes, ketchup packets, Cheetos, plastic bags, a seashell. And I couldn't even handle it. So I did my random act of kindness For today. I went to the Tile Store and asked for a trash bag. He looked at me funny look, But gave it to me. The gloves that I keep in my bag ripped when I put them on. (Always prepared: I still carry them around from my years at Bancroft) So, I went to Dunkin Donuts And asked them for gloves to clean up the trash. The counter workers (not one American), all gathered around me and wanted to know "What trash?" I said the trash in the street. They asked: "What trash in the street?" I said "I don't know, the trash in the street, the trash in the street" Because if you say something twice It has more impact. So they gave me gloves. And I walked around And picked up safe trash. No glass. Nothing that looked like anybody's mouth had been on it. And I filled the bag about halfway. But I stopped when I got To a pile of poop. People poop. Seriously? So I turned around, and brought the bag to the girl who was outside Dunkin Donuts cleaning, and sweeping up the trash around there. I said "Here you go!" She asked what it was. I said "it's trash." She shook her head, she didn't want it. I said, "It's trash, right here, trash from in front of your store, I'm doing your job for you, trash, it's trash." She said no. I smiled, took my gloves off, plopped the bag of trash on top of her sweepy broom thing anyway. Then turned around and left. So if you go to the Dunkin Donuts On Washington Ave Be wary. They're possessive of their trash. They don't want you to pick it up for them. If you do clean it up anyway, don't put it in their dumpsters. And watch out that you don't step in people poop.

They fine people for that???

So I ran into my doctors office In Philly this morning a couple minutes late As usual, And I asked the girl At the front desk, "Hey, do they give tickets to street walkers here?" She looked at me funny and Said, "Yeah, they give them big fines, Like $2,500, and arrest them." I didn't believe her. She said they really did. I told her that was a bunch of crap. And no wonder Aunt Cynthia hated Pennsylvania.cc I said that I'M a street walker. And in New Jersey I've never gotten fined, or arrested. Who the hell wants to park their car. Walk to the corner. Cross at the light. Then come back to the Opposite side of the street Where you parked your car. The girl looked at me and said. "Julie. That's a JAY WALKER"

We need an Autumn runway collection, shoes to keep me safe.

I went outside today and made the mistake of taking one step onto the concrete. And hit a wet leaf. My feet did that air peddling Like I was on an invisible bicycle While my arms were grabbing For anything I could get hold of. Finally, I was able to latch onto the doorjam And fall back into the lobby With minimal damage. Of course I was laughing hysterically because it was funny And I was soaking wet. Why do they have Shoes for rock climbing Boots for walking in mud and puddles Crampons for walking in ice Flip flops for the beach But nothing for walking on wet leaves?

Thank you, Netflix

I know I said I'm taking a break, From social media, but I feel the need to get this out of my system. With the environment the way it is right now, I'm probably going to make some people mad by saying this. But a week from now, on the 25th, there's an event that a lot of us have been waiting for. And I want to say that I hope Netflix doesn't bring Kirk back. To Gilmore Girls. There. I said it. I'm not a fan of Kirk. He added nothing to the show. Other than that. Woo hoo! 8 more days Till we can get cozy again With Lorelai And Rory And all will Feel right with the world. For at least 4 episodes. Thank you, Netflix. #GilmoreGirlsComfort @gilmoregirls #netflixgilmoregirls @netflix

"Trump's America"

I just read a woman's post who said she was in Philly, when she saw a white man get into an altercation with a cab driver. And the white man told the cab driver to "go back where he came from". This woman was upset. And she said "This is how it is, now that we're living in "Trump's America". I know people are upset And scared But to say THAT? "This is how it is, now that we're living in "Trump's America". Is a bunch of crap. Stuff like that Has been happening for years: Since 9/11 Since planes flew into our towers, And our Pentagon. And a loner in Virginia Tech And backpacks in Boston Shooters in too many malls, A loner in Santa Monica college A damn shooter in a nightclub, A loner in a Christian University, And a married couple at a special needs party. Everytime a cab driver gas station attendant Dunkin Donuts owner 7/11 owner rips you off The first thing you hear people say: "Why doesn't he go back where he came from". If everyone starts saying: "This is how it is, now that we're living in "Trump's America". It will perpetuate the media frenzy That Donald Trump is taking this nation to hell. What that lady saw was not a hate crime That was an ignorant, pissed off white man Who would have called the cab driver a rude name, no matter What color, race, or gender he was Regardless of who was elected on Tuesday. Why don't we wait until January And see what Donald Trump does Maybe "Trump's America" will come to mean something positive. But we won't know until then. @trumpsamerica #trumpsamerica