Rare Angels

Every time someone beautiful and kind is taken from us, I always wonder, why them? Why take the ones who could have lived so much longer and taught us enough to create a quantum leap in the art of loving?

And so goes Natasha Richardson, from a freak skiing accident anyone could have had. I’m indulging in a bit of survivor’s guilt, having walked away from a number of Herminator - type falls without a helmet since 1963.

So really, why her? I can’t stop thinking about how much pain her family is going through today. That numb, void feeling… the maneuvering to put one step in front of the other to get through the day... my heart and prayers go out to them.

Then I thought, Natasha, in her transference of consciousness, might be chuckling softly at our condition. For she’s one of those rare angels who walk the earth for a short time, reminding us to embrace and appreciate each moment for what it is, and use every circumstance as an opportunity to express love.

What the hey is that?!?

You'd have to be a nudibranch in a sea cave not to be feeling the thigh-pinch of excitement within our socio-political climate, so I won't even bother talking about that today. (A quick note on self-defense: if you are caught from behind and can reach back and pinch the fronts of your assailant's thighs, you can buy yourself some time. Go ahead. Try it. It's a real creepy feeling.)

Instead, I've decided to offer a picture of mystery every so often. Try and guess what it is! This first one's pretty easy and not a nudibranch. What the hey is it?