As March roars in like a rabid lion, this song seems  very timely to me, in lieu of what is gong on in our terribly troubled world.

I wrote this  a very long time ago, during another time of possible nuclear crisis, when the countries of the world were at each other’s throats, as they seem to be yet again. It was on an anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. The mental image of the shadow of a boy that had been burned into a brick wall haunted me then, and continues to haunt me now.

As Jacques Brel said even longer ago…”The dove has torn her wing, so no more songs of love. We are not here to sing. We’re here to kill the dove.”

FEBRUARY 2022

 

The month of storms and frost.

The month of early blush of palest green on limbs, stems,

Blossoms breaking through snow.

The month of cabin fever.

The month officially declared the month of Romance.

(As if all other months are devoid of it.)

So let us celebrate a bit!

Where possible and with whom possible let us hug, kiss, consume chocolate and champagne, be a little kinder to strangers a little more patient with ourselves. Let us sing songs of love and write poems .

Let us remember those days back in elementary school when cheesy little cartoon cards were handed around…when candy hearts, tasting of chalk and chemicals were consumed by the fistful.

Let us remember with a quiet smile one fierce, fiery passionate person from our past.

Let us celebrate VALENTINE’S DAY!!!!!

 

Here’s my poem…

 

MANTRA 

I love you

Is a mantra

It’s meaning shifting

With the menu

Of the day

It can mean

 You’re mad at me, aren’t you?

                        Or

Tell me I’m beautiful

                        Or

Honey, I wrecked the car

                        Or

Shut the hell up

                        Or

Good morning, the sky is glorious

                        Or

I’ll kill you if you leave me

                        Or

You are my prisoner

                        Or

You show me what I am

That I am

All I am

All that is pure and perfect

And unutterable joy

I love you                                                                                           

 

-Om-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darlings,

This is a magical time of year, filled with light, possibility and hope for a new year to come. There is a feeling that miracles can happen as we tune our eyes and ears to experience a renewed sense of wonder.

It is also a time of celebration. I hope that you will join Michele & me at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s to mark the festive season. We’ll be singing songs old and new in celebration of the season.

If you can’t make it out in person Feinstein’s will be live streaming it out all over the globe.Tickets for the live stream are just $20.  Put on your most festive PJ’s, pour your libation of choice, and sign on.

Tickets for both the in person show and the live stream may be had by clicking HERE.

We can’t wait to share this special time with you!

With love & Music,

Amanda

Autumn is finally here! Or so it feels in my garden today.

The sky is grey, the air is cool, there is a rumor of rain in the air, which those of us here in California are aching for.

Just the smell of moisture through a window screen can take me instantly back to highschool nights listening to the rain on the Texas roof with Mantovani on the stereo. (Oh, God , am I dating myself here!~)

I find it fascinating how smells go directly to the memory closet in  the brain.(My favorite nostalgic smells…sun dried towels, freshly mown lawn and gasoline. Hello , chidlhood!)

October is  memory time to me… the lovely, bittersweet promise of fire in the fireplace, sweaters,  PIE of ANY kind, holidays of every hue. And maybe it resonates even more these days, as I look at the calendar of my life, with so many pages gone. How did THAT happen????

And much to look forward to…my first concerts in almost two years! I am practicing  how to walk in heels and sing above middle C. (Covid did bring out the Talullah Bankhead in my vocal chords.)

You can’t beat Autumn in my book.

In honor of the season, this month’s song is one I wrote with my dear pal and Jazz GENIUS Roger Kellaway quite a while back.

It’s called AUTUMN IS MY TIME OF YEAR.

Definitely time to let THIS baby out of the closet.

So I wish you the mellowest and healthiest possible October.

Hot cider  hugs and caramel apple kisses…Amanda