IN MEMORIAM

 

IN MEMORIAM

Ken Maloney October 1,1945 to April 30, 2020

AS WAS HIS STYLE

He died alone

Drama free

As was his style

At 3 am I woke

Sensed a shift

Wrote the phrase

"Go if you must"

She found him

Arms folded behind his head

As was his style

"He seemed to Ponder"

She queried

"Just another set of

Differential equations

Or a dream of Hawaii

As was his style," I said

SPRING IN LAGUNA

 

New life once more.  Seems almost impossible considering the world-weary events we witness every day on the news.  Yet here it is.  As I drive through the canyon in early morning hours, I marvel at the green hills contrasting with an almost impossibly blue sky, yellow mustard flowers and golden poppies.  The ocean emerges at the end of the road.  How did I get so fortunate to be able to live in such a beautiful placc?  I am grateful and pray that I never forget to say, "thank you for this," to whatever entity has made it possible.

 

In Memory and Celebration of Kenneth Long Maloney

October 1, 1945-April 30, 2020

Ken Maloney wandered into my life while sitting on the beach at Fisherman’s Cove, in Laguna Beach, during spring break in April 1974. It was an “instant” attraction over an orange. That encounter resulted in a passionate and intense affair that lasted until 1978 when a disagreement about marriage resulted in a parting of the ways. (short version-he married and had three wonderful offspring-I entered an exciting era of new work and a variety of non-marital adventures!)

Twenty-five years later an unexpected (and not necessarily welcome) phone call resulted in a problematic encounter over coffee at Jean Paul’s which resulted in another intense, and passionate, affair that lasted until his passing on April 30th. He was the exemplary warrior who fought stage 4 cancer for over six years. Ken took delight and pleasure in his two new young grandsons as well as the accomplishments of his children.

Ken graduated from Wilkes College with a BS in Chemistry, and took a PhD in Fuel Science at Penn State University. He did post- doctoral research at Princeton University and Drexel University, and held several patents during his career which took him to China and other areas for major projects and consulting. He was an expert in his field.

He was my travel mate, champion, companion and partner. He was loving and supportive and “Had my back,” when things got tough. He was stubborn and somewhat resistant to change unless it involved a trip to Hawaii. When he was quiet (which was often) I quickly discovered that he was either solving differential equations or pondering the meaning of life. He understood that I would take advice (if I asked for it), but that I expected him to take mine, whether asked for or not!

I miss him and keep expecting him to walk through the door on Friday evenings. I talk to him all the time, but realize all too often, that he is peacefully contemplating rainbows over the islands of Hawaii.

Aloha, Keneke.

Carole/Kalola ( Your Forever Fiance)

Egyptian Fantasy Fulfilled

 

Carole on the Giza Plateau

Shopping with the Girls

Cairo - Queen of the Desert at Queen Hatsheput's Palace

Meeting Young Women at the Library in Alexandria

At Nefertari's Tomb in the Valley of the Queens

Ancient Papyrus of Nefertari and Isis

Mr. Charming at Edfu Temple

Carole and her new son Mohamed

With the Girls at the Nubian Museum in Aswan

At the Sphinx

In the Agatha Christie Suite in Allexandria

At the Great Pyramid

Cailey Grams and Lexi in Egypt

LAGUNANS MARCH IN LOS ANGELES

 

LAGUNA PARTICIPANTS IN THE WOMEN'S MARCH IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AND FELLOW MARCHERS IN OAKLAND

One hundred men and women (actually 90 women and ten men) traveled in two buses from Laguna Beach to participate in what turned out to be an historic Women's March LA. Arriving in buses arranged through Hoffy Tours, a local tour company owned by Bill Hoffman, the group arrived at Pershing Square at 9 am and quickly became part of an energized mass of over 500,000 plus marchers,

Despite the bottleneck in the square, the group made their way to City Hall and back participating in a festive display of signs, chants, costumes, speakers and entertainers. There were so many marchers, in fact, that the Laguna group didn't get to hear many of the speakers. But it didn't seem to matter. The true energy came from the spontaneous display of solidarity, enthusiasm and common purpose.

Farie Momayez, PhD, commented: "The LA March was massive. The estimate was 750,000. We left Laguna around 7:30am and got to LA before 9:00am. We got caught in a crowd that didn't move(couldn't because of the numbers.) We didn't hear any of the speeches, and didn't see any celebrities, but my personal and collective experience was priceless. I felt a surge of incredible energy and vigor that I had lost after the outcome of the election. I even had a talk with a Trump supporter who had come to fight, but we ended up hugging! That is enough for me to go on and continue the needed work."

Some of the group had always been active in the 70s, but many were first time "activists" who felt, "If not now...when!" Members of the group are currently exchanging information to form a local group to maintain the momentum through phone calls, texting, post cards and other activities to ensure accountability and the preservation of women's and human rights.

Yolanda Mendiveles shared the following: "Everyone there was peaceful and friendly, and there was a lightness and exuberant mood in the air. There was a small group of people playing samba drums, and I saw a group of people dressed in Aztec attire as well as other costumes. I saw Rob Reiner, Anjelica Houston and Maria Shriver in the crowd alongside of us. It felt good to be part of a movement to stand up for human rights of all kinds. To tolerate our differences with respect to honor each individual's journey."

Bill stated, "I don't think we'll ever forget that incredible March on Saturday. Beautiful weather, positive energy, creative and nice people, wonderful signs, and most of all...standing up for respect and dignity for all. The crowds were tremendous and, at time, slow moving, but I think we were all moved beyond words."

#LosAngeleswomensmarch #womensmarch #lagunamarchers

ANGELS AND DRAGONS

 SILVER SUNDAY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BLACK FRIDAY! THE ELVES ARE THRILLED!

Carole Zavala and Linda Mc Innis are happy to welcome you to their first Holiday Boutique

Join us on Sunday, December 6, 2015- from 1-4 pm in Laguna Beach, CA

For Address and Directions please send an RSVP email to czavala831@gmail.com

Credit Cards Welcome - Great prices on jewelry, cards, "pocket" paintings, ornaments and collectibles

#holidayboutique #cards #jewelry #ornaments #collectibles

Strolling in the AvantGarden

 Strolling in the Avant Garden…Gallery Nights in the Santa Ana Arts District

There’s nothing like a new adventure to take your mind off the daily routine. Leah Shapi, a vibrant and enthusiastic artist in my Friday Art Salon, invited me to consider showing my work at this gallery in the beautiful and historic Santora Building in downtown Santa Ana.

I took a selection of abstract acrylics, along with a few pals, to check out the gallery and to see if it would be a good venue for my work.

The vibe is refreshingly different from the Laguna art scene. First Saturday Art Walk nights are alive with music, a younger and more “hip” energy, edgy and diverse art and several terrific restaurants along the promenade that is closed to cars! What a concept, right?

The gallery has been there for more than 15 years and is part of the Orange County Fine Arts Association which also has the Artists Eye (in Laguna Beach) and the Showcase Gallery in the South Coast Village area. It’s open on Fridays from 6-10 pm, Saturdays from 2-10 pm and Sundays from 2-6 pm.

Let me know if you are coming to visit. I have a wide selection of small/reasonably priced paintings and cards and a few larger acrylic abstracts. A small selection of unframed watercolors and special order giclees are on view as well.

Come and stroll along with me in the AvantGarden....and enjoy the great food and drinks at Lola Gaspar!

#AvantGarden #SantaAnaArtsDistrict #ArtWalkFirstSaturdayofeachMonth #livemusic

BEWARE OF SMALL CHARMING REPORTERS

 

Sereena Hoso is a fearless young reporter at the age of 12. She's a sixth grader at Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach and needed an "elder" to interview for a time-honored tradition at her school. I got the call as her granny lives in Los Angeles and wasn't readily available for the interview and the project. We are now best friends, and if I truly ever need a biographer, she'll be my choice.

Smart, funny, articulate and beautiful, we had several in person sessions as well as a few on the telephone and via email. The culmination project was in the school's gym. I had expected an intimate, lunch hour event with several of her classmates as they shared information they had learned about their interviewee.

I was shocked to enter the gym, along with about 600 other people (parents, kids, teachers and those who were the topic of the biographies) amidst long tables decorated with flowers and walls filled with posters filled with photographs and other memorabilia about our lives.

Each student gave a quick overview of their interviewee, thanked their parents for their support and then asked us each to rise to be acknowledged. I later learned that they held this luncheon four times to allow every sixth grader the chance to be "on stage." It was an astonishing feat of coordination, timing and what must have been exhausting work on the part of the staff at Thurston.

Her lovely mother, younger sister and two adorable younger brothers, missed her speech. She was one of the first and her mom was trying to find parking which was a formidable task that day.

The questions were fairly typical for a biographer: "What was your childhood like?," "How was school different from now," "What were some of the most important moments that changed your life?"

It was a memorable experience for me as I shared stories about what had influenced major decisions in my life, how I had made career and lifestyle changes, the challenges of being a student, a mother, then a teacher and principal, and ultimately making a major career change at 40.

We discovered that we both loved dance, theatre, literature, the arts and writing. I hope to know her more as she grows up and pursues her dreams.

In her own words: "Sereena Mahmoud Mohammed Hoso was born in Long Beach, California on February 19, 2003. The spark that made Sereena love writing is she had the passion to make her stories shine. Her future plans or goals are to get into a great college and her doctors degree. When she was in 4th grade, she got an award of the class peacemaker (AKA The Dove). Sereena is an amazing author...and she is very happy about what she is doing."

Wouldn't you just love to interview her?

#Biography #ThurstonMiddleSchool #elders #lifestories