AN IMPORTANT DAY TO FEEL OLDER

Today marks an interesting day to feel older. For today my youngest niece turns thirty-five years old. My dear Jacqueline, daughter of my eldest sister, Lorie has always been a dear sweet person who has always loved me. I took so many pictures of her when she was a little girl. She was the most photogenic subject I ever had. When my niece was seven years old (or about to be) we asked her what she wanted for her sevnth birthday. She smiled and looked so cute and said "I want a globe of the Earth". Now there was an unusual request from a sevn year old girl so we asked her "Jacqueline, you're only seven, why do you want a "a globe of the Earth". Without hesitation, Jacqueline blurted out "Because-- I want to keep my fingers on the world". Great moment in family lore! Today is also the birthday of dear Benjamin Franklin (born in 1706) and Betty White is eighty-seven years old today. Jim Carrey turns forty-seven and remains one of my all time favorite comedians. I howled at "Bruce Almighty" as so many others in this country did. Interesting date also for copyright. The United States Supreme Court ruled on this day in 1984 that copying programs broadcast on television onto a video cassette recorder did not violate the program's copyright. It was a close decision 5-4. Imagine that! Imagine now there will be no more video casseytte recorders made. What I paid for one of the very first of these in 1977 was crazy-- almost fifteen hundred dollars. It was the first time i had financed anything. Of course, the real memory of this day came in 1994-- the big Northridge earthquake struck on the morning of this day in 1994--fifteen years ago today. I was living in Hacienda Heights at the time and was spared big damage by not living in this area at that time. I do remember that we had a total blackout that lasted several hours and the closure of the 101 freeway because of a big buckle that had been created by the quake. Today is also the birthday of the voice of Darth Vader aks James earl Jones and last but not least dear old Al Capone. Look what tax evasion did to that guy! Beautiful summer like day today in January. Recording session is next week. I am very excited about that on January 23rd and 24th. The new oprchestrations thaT My partner, John Nugent is creating is simply breathtaking.