Michele Bedigian

Sunday morning we made sure to set the alarm for 6am. Anticipating the first snowfall this season, (I mean real snowfall, the kind that makes you think twice before leaving the house) we wanted to be out, and out early, to seize the offer of that precious hour just as day breaks.

It was Winter’s first gift,                                                                          The quiet of a Sunday morning magically hushed even more by the buffer of fresh white snow. This was the kind of moment that makes it soooo easy to hear your soul speak and appreciate life’s wonders.

And then it happened .. like the sound of a locust on a warm summer’s eve. Before we knew it, our silence broke. Vibrations of the almighty snow blower revved it’s engine as it came closer and closer. If I knew any better I’d say this disturbance was nothing more than testosterone “battling another for the mystical blue ribbon on the slopes of sidewalk way”. Those who had one in hand dominated the snow, feeling ever so proud of their new found power, while those who did not looked on with envy at the efficiency of modern technology…or maybe not.

I was determined not let this interruption disenchant my day. So with an arsenal of hot chocolate, a few pencils and my handy dandy notebook I started to draw…

So if Sunday was any indicator of what’s to come it’s sure to be a memorable one! Here’s to a healthy and happy New Year for all! – best wishes, Michele

… in Rockefeller Center

There’s a joy of skating in the middle of Manhattan I’ve never been able to find anywhere else.

As I look up from the ice it’s 8pm. The night’s sky (as expected) is replaced by the vision of lights on this years Christmas tree. There’s cars and people everywhere! They’re moving east, moving west, left, right, up, down. All with an agenda. Although it might appear chaotic there’s a rhythm to the way this crowd moves that’s just so inherent to New York City.  It’s as if each person intuitively knows exactly where the other one is going. When done correctly, it’s an urban two step that’s undeniably quite impressive, (and not so easy to learn).

And yet with all the energy stirring about there’s still something so timeless, so constant about Rockefeller Center that I know I can depend on.

There’s always a place to shop, a place to eat, a place to pray, a place to wonder and even a place to sit.

.. and there I am , lovin’ every minute of it … ’tis the season!

A long acquainted sister to Mystic’s busy shore .    It is early Sunday,     here          in Newport, Rhode Island.            Ah, the crisp morning air feels so good as I’m graced by the essence of fresh coffee and warm fudge being prepared for the day’s sales.           The familiar is genuinely comforting.                       I draw, but am not alone, as the spirited folk who tiptoe by whisper greetings of “mornin’ … mornin’ to ya” (ever so careful not to waken the weary).                   The crumbled sound of the morning paper rustles about.                                                                              The bells toll for first service.

So it is most Sunday’s in Newport – generously simple.

This September 11th it rained             … and rained

… and rained here in New York. One might’ve called it tears of angels.

It was a tender day for the many who were reminded of the destruction we had experienced 8 years back. For me, personally it’s always been a painfully sad day. So each year I try to do something special to ease the heart. This one was no exception. I had the privilege of seeing Andrea Bocelli perform at Carnegie Hall. He was accompanied by the New York Philharmonic and the world renown conductor Asher Fisch. Words are few that can illustrate the beauty of such heavenly sound. All I can say is that it truly did transcend time and for that, I am grateful.

One thing I didn’t know was a small fact about the orchestra that couldn’t be any more appropo … “In February 2008 the Philharmonic made a historic visit to Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It was the first performance there by an American orchestra and an event that was watched around the world for which the Philharmonic received the 2008 Common Ground Award for Cultural Diplomacy.” What a glorious movement! It’s one that so easily can be embraced by Despina’s concept for  “End Terrorism Day” . Think about it , music connecting lives from country to country. It’s a language that crosses all borders. So simple – yet so incredibly powerful.

If only…

medium?: a ballpoint pen I stole out of my Mom’s pocketbook ………………….. paper: why the type? it was the evenings PLAYBILL (actually it was the only thing available, no excuses)