Tag: Barbra Streisand

Hello and Happy IMBOLC! 
 

This winter, I’ve been listening to the audio book, My Name is Barbra, on my way to work. It is Barbra Streisand reading her memoir, which must have taken years to pen–she’s had quite the life! If you grew up in the 70’s like I did, your mom may have played Barbra Streisdand’s records one after the other, like mine did. So I kinda feel like Barbra is part of the family.
 

The great thing about listening to an audio book is that your brain (and eyes?) don’t have to work quite as hard; you can just listen. The pure joy of listening, of receiving information in the form of images, of a narrative–and that voice!–is heavenly. I’m not sure who helped her edit but you can add “Great Writer” to the list of her many talents. 

SO GORGEOUS–inside and out! 

Last week, I think it was around chapter 35 or 36, she explained many of the juicy details about making A Star Is Born. Her crazy boyfriend Jon Peters was jealous of Kris Kristofferson. The director was a jerk, who apparently tried to sabotage the movie by selling certain “filthy lies” to the gossip columnists. Barbra shares that she was exhausted after the movie wrapped and did not want to do any movies for a while. She needed a break, so she took one. Admittedly, she notes, “I got bored after about three months.” Then, she confessed, she needed a project. 
 

Her project turned out to be remodeling a one-story “ugly tract house I used as a small sound studio.” Throughout the book, she’s always recounting what she wore to this event or that party in great detail; she has a penchant for antique clothing and, as she puts it, “old things.” So it was no surprise when she tells the listener, “I didn’t want to tear the house down, as ugly as it was. That would have been too dramatic, and a lot more work. I wanted to fix it up, re-do it. Besides, you got to use what you are given.” 

USE WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN. Wow! The multiple meanings weren’t lost on me. Barbra begins this delicious memoir of her life in Brooklyn, and shares that she was told, “No Jewish girl with a nose like that will ever see herself on the big screen.” Can you believe it? Aren’t we all glad she didn’t listen to them! And God gave her a VOICE, but also a lot of chutzpah! Those beautiful songs, the enchanting on-screen performances, the literally millions she has given away to charity–ALL OF THEM (and more) would have never been realized had she not used what was “given” to her–her natural gifts of performing and singing. She never went to college; she took 1 or 2 piano lessons but reports that her family, or rather her single mom, couldn’t afford to continue with the lessons. 
 

She just knew she wanted to act. Particularly, on Broadway. And that is exactly what she did. To make ends meet–before she got her big break with Funny Girl–she sang in a nightclub in Manhattan called the Bon Soir. She just kept pushing those doors open, kept persisting. And she wasn’t afraid to ask, “But what if we do it this way?” It made me wonder if one of her ‘natural gifts’ was determination. Is that possible? 

There have been numerous places throughout this book that I thought I might have to pull over and have a good cry. Not because anything that Barbra was saying was sad–although there are sad bits in it. No, it’s because I get so MOVED! So incredibly enraptured by what ONE LIFE CAN DO, what one woman is capable of! It’s the epitome of inspiration! No one can say she has wasted one minute of her life…

And so this multi-layered “Use what you are given” line really, really stuck with me. It made me ask myself: Am I using what I was given? Have I taken any of my God-given talents for granted? Is there a dormant talent which was not nurtured enough when I was young? Was there someone who told me I would never do such-and-such, as those who told Barbra that her nose would keep her off the big screen? 

Which of those messages did I take in, and adopt as my truth? What door have I yet to bust open for myself, afraid of what I may discover, find, or reclaim? 

In addition to HIGHLY RECOMMENDING this memoir of Barbra Streisand’s, I invite you to ask yourself the same questions. Are YOU using what was given to you? It could be your voice, like Barbra’s. What about your metaphorical voice, the voice of your truth, the voice of your wisdom? What new heights are you willing to go, knowing that the only things in life you truly regret are the risks you DON’T take? 

That last bit is Ann Margret’s line in Grumpy Old Men. I guess the movie stars are acting as my muses today! 

Shine On, 
Mary Katherine 

UPCOMING EVENTS and AVALON UPDATES 

Sat 02/03 (11 AM–2 PM) 

•  Imbolc: Making an Altar to Brigid at the Sacred Waters 
• AT CAPACITY for this event! Pls join me and Kristi for future ceremonies, like Lughnasa on 08/03

Sun 02/11 (1 PM- 2:30 PM) 

• _Wise Women Talking (on Zoom this month) 
• Join the Zoom room by 12:45 PM ; our focus will be on acknowledging our gifts (God-given and those we’ve worked darn hard for-); Email me for Zoom link (I will send out to regular attendees the day before) 
• If you so chose, here’s a little journal prompt to enhance your circle time:

How does anyone know what their gifts are? How committed are you to seeing your “superpowers” uplift others and your community? What conditions need to be in place in order to have your natural-born gifts and talents thrive? 
 

Sat 04/20 (10 AM- 5 PM): 

• Drum Workshop with JaneE King, Elder, Story-teller and Wise Woman 

• Make a Drum using Deer hide: teaching, ceremony, construction and all materials (and lunch!) will be provided. 
• FMI: Check out the webpage link above for more info or to sign up! 
• FMI on JaneE: visit https://www.janeekinghearthealer.com/ 

Sun 05/19 (10 AM- 5 PM): 

• Woe Is Me Nevermore Workshop with Kat Beaudoin 
• Come explore ways we can transcend the energy of victim archetype – one of the 4 universal survival archetypes.  Despite the baggage that accompanies the word, the victim archetype, like all the other archetypes, is neutral – neither good or bad; and it can be a resource when we learn to navigate its energy as it shows up in our lives. This workshop will utilize the Work That Reconnects, designed by Joanna Macy and incorporate nature and mirroring exercises 
• Cost $111, location: Avalon Acres; please MARK YOUR CALENDAR for this special day-long, deep-dive event! Kat and I will be putting together a more formal event page soon! Stay Tuned! 
  
                                 

AVALON NEWS & UPDATES 

__Sweet Suite

• We’re oiling the walls (who knew you had to treat pine?) and fashioning a cabinet around the fridge. Bed, sink, and comfy wingback chair are installed! 
• To my Beta-Testers: Please be patient! Probably looking at over-night bookings by early March 2024 

__CSA’s! Are Available for the 2024 season 

• Don’t you want to support delicious, Maine-grown food? If you are wondering how you can enjoy nutrient-dense local food and support our efforts here at Avalon, please consider buying your CSA from Avalon. We thank you! 
• Delivery options available! We know everyone who supports us doesn’t all live in Hollis! I’m in town three days a week for my job, and am happy to drop off your box 
  AMAZING! The Sweet Suite looks fantastic! Thanks to the Re-Store, it has a few pieces of comfy furniture too! Stay tuned for booking availability 
   STILL WITH ME?! 

__Snow Shoe at Avalon: Trails are always open, always free! 

• We even have a rudimentary map! Send us a quick email at avalonacresofhollis@gmail.com if you’d like to experience our winter wonderland or just stop by! 

__ If you’d like to support Avalon Acres another way…

• Kindly like our FB page, subscribe to our Youtube channel and follow on Insta-G!