Good read! Thinking about "the power of place as portal"--I have six friends, we all met in kindergarten in West Los Angeles, lived in the same neighborhood, went our separate ways after 4th grade, and all reconnected about 15 years ago. All of us are struck by an uncanny trajectory we've all taken since then--"there's something in the water" one of them likes to say, and I think we all wonder what would have happened if we'd stayed in touch. (spoiler: most of us became philosophers and scientists to one degree or another.)
My earliest memories are now my most powerful ones (I'm 63) and in looking back at that time and place I've been toying with the perspective that we are far more than our personal stories and memories and experiences and it has a lot to do with where we come from, in the broadest sense possible. Most people, I assume, think that it's family--our parents, for example, are 'where we physically come from' and we emerge superimposed upon the environment like an actor on a stage making our entrance. I'm looking at it from Alan Watt's perspective "You didn't come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here..."
The more I look at it that way, the more interesting it gets. :) My friends and I largely agree--we came *out* of our neighborhood, like the plants and trees--we didn't come into it from somewhere else. "There's something in the water." Maybe you'd find that perspective interesting too, if applied to your journey? Just another way of looking at things.
I had a colonoscopy last month where they needed to start an IV for the anesthesia. They wheeled in a portable ultrasound machine that was able to highlight where my veins were and helped them guide the needle into one without going through the other side which happens almost every time I have blood drawn and leaves a huge black and blue that takes weeks to fade away.
I’m scrolling along totally lost in your writing and suddenly it’s done. I found myself trying to force my little phone screen to keep going… surely there’s more? Nope. Dang. I could read so many more of your words! Thanks for sharing your world with us, it’s all so relatable and lovely too.
I, too, am a hard stick with schticks! Great point about repeating praise-worthy lines in articles or posts. I guess that’s what lyrics are for! And perhaps a song about Schticks is just what the doctor ordered 🍎🍏🍎
I’m very fond of schticks; I tend to say “Let’s Rock and Roll” way too often, especially to my students who do not appreciate it at all. Too bad for them; it’s my classroom, and I’ll say what I want to.
But needle sticks are another matter. A combination of uncooperative veins, a few mean lady phlebotomists from my childhood, and an aversion to the smell of rubbing alcohol (since it’s usually followed by something painful) kept me from trying the scary drugs, and continues to stalk me. I’m thrilled you found a phlebotomist who’s good. Value her; bring her flowers if you need to. And here’s to unclogging your blood without having to swallow a pill.
Deep thanks for sharing your introspective thoughts. You’re keeping it fresh and that is the best part of being here and NOW.
I caught myself doing my own canned short version of history the other day, with a dear friend I met 25 years ago. OMG. How long have I been doing this around her? It’s not just embarrassing, but a little scary. My memory isn’t what it used to be: under tremendous stress right now. But I appreciate this wake up call, Ms Valentine. You do a public service today, gently.
While a mild misery like this certainly loves company, I am all eyes to read how we get past this too-convenient knee jerk response.
This also brings to mind a profound question that was posed often by Byron Katie? a few decades ago. “But is it TRUE?” That’s also part of the equation that bothers me as I dig much deeper into the whole systems that facilitated my childhood and marital abuse. There’s more to the truncated schtick. I’ve made the g-rated short version and put it in that compartmented box.
I think you’re brave to call yourself out on something we all do in our habitual responses. It’s being fiercely present. You set a great example.
I hope the improved diet/lifestyle does the trick for lowering your cholesterol! I was able discontinue taking BP medication as well as using a cpap machine in the last 1.5 years after losing around 20 lbs. I did that just by cutting back on the carbs. It makes a difference! I sure do enjoy your dispatches! Shticks, snot, and all! 🙂
Thank you for sharing more of your fascinating life! And I thought I was the only person who wiped snot on the wall…
A few unrelated thoughts relating (?) to the “pandemique”:
As a hard-core introvert, it was a positive time for me (like a vacation almost), and I came out of it with three main things. First, I was able to take a couple of years to gather up the missing pieces from my traumatic childhood, sort them out and evaluate them, then put them back in the puzzle box and shove it back under the bed for later.
I also became a much better guitar player after a friend casually mentioned that you can actually “slow down YouTube videos,” and I set to work on transcribing Nina Simone piano solos, and working out those pesky Jimmy Page riffs that I’ve been fighting with since 1974. I’ve decided that the YouTube method is much better than moving the lever on the phonograph from “33” to “16.”
Perhaps the most positive event was the breakdown of the Geo Metro, and the realization that every place that I wanted to go was within “walking distance.” It’s not like I had to go out and purchase an exercise “outfit,” it just kind of happened … now I walk a few miles every morning, and sometimes there’s a croissant. I started eating meat (small portions) only 2-3 times a week and for some reason … I’m still alive!
I also was able to add “Pandemique” to my “drag queen” name: “Velocity Pandemique Mistletoe,” so life is good :)
Hello Kathy, thanks for having me, I'm new here from South Australia. I read your last interview and I was blown away. Your depth of experience and character, along with your talent and willingness to learn have achieved success tenfold. I'm truly impressed. It's great you've avoided medications like statins, I have too and I'm 57. I really wanted to tell you about 2 amazing supplements that I'm fairly certain might benefit you greatly. The supplements are N Acytl Cystine and trimethylglycine. They increase glutathione and decrease homocystine. Very powerful health and longevity boosters. You may already be familiar with these compounds but if you're interested in learning more then you could use AI. I personally use Gemini..the free version is still amazing I swear. But if course I must say please check with your doctor or pharmacist or naturopath before experimenting with any supplements. I love your bass work Kathy and your moves and presence on stage. I showed my sister today and said Kathy is 65 and my sister didn't believe it because you still look young, I told her no this is her latest photo lol. Hope you have a great day today legend. I could talk to you forever. One last thing, have you ever met Del Palmer? I was just about to tell you about him and his partnership with Kate Bush and I'm shocked and saddened to learn he passed away aged 71 Jan 5th. We exchanged a few emails ages ago, we talked about bass equipment and through him I met his favourite luthier Chris Larkins and even he passed away a few years back, his wife messengened me. Then my other favourite guitar builder of Tony Iommi passed away also recently. John Diggins of Jaydee fame. My favourite person of all time died while performing on stage, Mick Farren. Honestly his omnibus, The Quest Of The DNA COWBOYS is totally epic and should be made into a movie. I've written short art house movies and I've been using Leonardo.ai to create the story boards. I'll show you later. Think about it, you could wrote a story, add pictures and your own music and post it to YouTube. Honestly you can make a great movie that's kind of arthouse bit with an unexpected twist at the end. I'll show you some examples later Kathy. Hope to catch up legend 🙏
Shticks to me just means “go to points”. Like when comedians do their “best routines” or “classics”. I do it all the time in conversations too. I just never realized it until I read your substack. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ Now when I speak, I have to train myself to leave out “my classics”. Relevant or not. 😆😂 But the boogs though. Me, personally? I was one of the “dig and flick” gang. 😳😬🥴😆 Great read, KV! ♥️
I highly recommend The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause study. And Dr Mary Claire, The New menopause.
My cholesterol increased due to estrogen depletion as well as many other issues to long to note with no changes in lifestyle. HRT has given me my life back.
Good read! Thinking about "the power of place as portal"--I have six friends, we all met in kindergarten in West Los Angeles, lived in the same neighborhood, went our separate ways after 4th grade, and all reconnected about 15 years ago. All of us are struck by an uncanny trajectory we've all taken since then--"there's something in the water" one of them likes to say, and I think we all wonder what would have happened if we'd stayed in touch. (spoiler: most of us became philosophers and scientists to one degree or another.)
My earliest memories are now my most powerful ones (I'm 63) and in looking back at that time and place I've been toying with the perspective that we are far more than our personal stories and memories and experiences and it has a lot to do with where we come from, in the broadest sense possible. Most people, I assume, think that it's family--our parents, for example, are 'where we physically come from' and we emerge superimposed upon the environment like an actor on a stage making our entrance. I'm looking at it from Alan Watt's perspective "You didn't come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here..."
The more I look at it that way, the more interesting it gets. :) My friends and I largely agree--we came *out* of our neighborhood, like the plants and trees--we didn't come into it from somewhere else. "There's something in the water." Maybe you'd find that perspective interesting too, if applied to your journey? Just another way of looking at things.
I had a colonoscopy last month where they needed to start an IV for the anesthesia. They wheeled in a portable ultrasound machine that was able to highlight where my veins were and helped them guide the needle into one without going through the other side which happens almost every time I have blood drawn and leaves a huge black and blue that takes weeks to fade away.
Ask about it next time you need to get stuck.
I’m scrolling along totally lost in your writing and suddenly it’s done. I found myself trying to force my little phone screen to keep going… surely there’s more? Nope. Dang. I could read so many more of your words! Thanks for sharing your world with us, it’s all so relatable and lovely too.
omg LOVE that you made a forest!!! ♥️
I, too, am a hard stick with schticks! Great point about repeating praise-worthy lines in articles or posts. I guess that’s what lyrics are for! And perhaps a song about Schticks is just what the doctor ordered 🍎🍏🍎
Shtick is akin to crutches: you rely on them, but you’d rather be free. I’m gonna begin noticing mine! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I’m very fond of schticks; I tend to say “Let’s Rock and Roll” way too often, especially to my students who do not appreciate it at all. Too bad for them; it’s my classroom, and I’ll say what I want to.
But needle sticks are another matter. A combination of uncooperative veins, a few mean lady phlebotomists from my childhood, and an aversion to the smell of rubbing alcohol (since it’s usually followed by something painful) kept me from trying the scary drugs, and continues to stalk me. I’m thrilled you found a phlebotomist who’s good. Value her; bring her flowers if you need to. And here’s to unclogging your blood without having to swallow a pill.
Deep thanks for sharing your introspective thoughts. You’re keeping it fresh and that is the best part of being here and NOW.
I caught myself doing my own canned short version of history the other day, with a dear friend I met 25 years ago. OMG. How long have I been doing this around her? It’s not just embarrassing, but a little scary. My memory isn’t what it used to be: under tremendous stress right now. But I appreciate this wake up call, Ms Valentine. You do a public service today, gently.
While a mild misery like this certainly loves company, I am all eyes to read how we get past this too-convenient knee jerk response.
This also brings to mind a profound question that was posed often by Byron Katie? a few decades ago. “But is it TRUE?” That’s also part of the equation that bothers me as I dig much deeper into the whole systems that facilitated my childhood and marital abuse. There’s more to the truncated schtick. I’ve made the g-rated short version and put it in that compartmented box.
I think you’re brave to call yourself out on something we all do in our habitual responses. It’s being fiercely present. You set a great example.
I love you more every time I read something you've written!
I hope the improved diet/lifestyle does the trick for lowering your cholesterol! I was able discontinue taking BP medication as well as using a cpap machine in the last 1.5 years after losing around 20 lbs. I did that just by cutting back on the carbs. It makes a difference! I sure do enjoy your dispatches! Shticks, snot, and all! 🙂
Thank you for sharing more of your fascinating life! And I thought I was the only person who wiped snot on the wall…
A few unrelated thoughts relating (?) to the “pandemique”:
As a hard-core introvert, it was a positive time for me (like a vacation almost), and I came out of it with three main things. First, I was able to take a couple of years to gather up the missing pieces from my traumatic childhood, sort them out and evaluate them, then put them back in the puzzle box and shove it back under the bed for later.
I also became a much better guitar player after a friend casually mentioned that you can actually “slow down YouTube videos,” and I set to work on transcribing Nina Simone piano solos, and working out those pesky Jimmy Page riffs that I’ve been fighting with since 1974. I’ve decided that the YouTube method is much better than moving the lever on the phonograph from “33” to “16.”
Perhaps the most positive event was the breakdown of the Geo Metro, and the realization that every place that I wanted to go was within “walking distance.” It’s not like I had to go out and purchase an exercise “outfit,” it just kind of happened … now I walk a few miles every morning, and sometimes there’s a croissant. I started eating meat (small portions) only 2-3 times a week and for some reason … I’m still alive!
I also was able to add “Pandemique” to my “drag queen” name: “Velocity Pandemique Mistletoe,” so life is good :)
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis
Hello Kathy, thanks for having me, I'm new here from South Australia. I read your last interview and I was blown away. Your depth of experience and character, along with your talent and willingness to learn have achieved success tenfold. I'm truly impressed. It's great you've avoided medications like statins, I have too and I'm 57. I really wanted to tell you about 2 amazing supplements that I'm fairly certain might benefit you greatly. The supplements are N Acytl Cystine and trimethylglycine. They increase glutathione and decrease homocystine. Very powerful health and longevity boosters. You may already be familiar with these compounds but if you're interested in learning more then you could use AI. I personally use Gemini..the free version is still amazing I swear. But if course I must say please check with your doctor or pharmacist or naturopath before experimenting with any supplements. I love your bass work Kathy and your moves and presence on stage. I showed my sister today and said Kathy is 65 and my sister didn't believe it because you still look young, I told her no this is her latest photo lol. Hope you have a great day today legend. I could talk to you forever. One last thing, have you ever met Del Palmer? I was just about to tell you about him and his partnership with Kate Bush and I'm shocked and saddened to learn he passed away aged 71 Jan 5th. We exchanged a few emails ages ago, we talked about bass equipment and through him I met his favourite luthier Chris Larkins and even he passed away a few years back, his wife messengened me. Then my other favourite guitar builder of Tony Iommi passed away also recently. John Diggins of Jaydee fame. My favourite person of all time died while performing on stage, Mick Farren. Honestly his omnibus, The Quest Of The DNA COWBOYS is totally epic and should be made into a movie. I've written short art house movies and I've been using Leonardo.ai to create the story boards. I'll show you later. Think about it, you could wrote a story, add pictures and your own music and post it to YouTube. Honestly you can make a great movie that's kind of arthouse bit with an unexpected twist at the end. I'll show you some examples later Kathy. Hope to catch up legend 🙏
Shticks to me just means “go to points”. Like when comedians do their “best routines” or “classics”. I do it all the time in conversations too. I just never realized it until I read your substack. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ Now when I speak, I have to train myself to leave out “my classics”. Relevant or not. 😆😂 But the boogs though. Me, personally? I was one of the “dig and flick” gang. 😳😬🥴😆 Great read, KV! ♥️
People say, "Oh you're left handed". My response is "Just since birth". And welcome to the diet of Weeds and Seeds for the cholesterol.
I highly recommend The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause study. And Dr Mary Claire, The New menopause.
My cholesterol increased due to estrogen depletion as well as many other issues to long to note with no changes in lifestyle. HRT has given me my life back.
thanks Kelley, I'm quite overdue to have hormone levels checked and should've realized that estrogen deficiency could lead to increased cholesterol.