Facing the Blank Page
This is my One-Hundredth Blog Post.
One Hundred Musings,
Explorations,
Journeys,
Wonders,
Political Rants,
and Heartfelt Offerings.
As I start to write this, sitting in an airport,
a family with two screaming wailing children comes and sits right next to me.
I write anyway.
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on November 5, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/11/05/post-number-one-hundred/
Marcal Paper Products
We have very strict rules in my Household about Disposable Paper Products.
100% Post Consumer Recycled Only.
As a former student of mine phrased it,
“No one needs to kill a Tree to wipe their ass!”
Crass, but Clear.
Reduce
ReUse
ReCycle
The Words are decidedly in that order.
First Rule: Use Less. (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on October 30, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/10/30/do-what-you-can/
Recently, My Friend’s Mom died.
I was very sad to receive this news.
She was a great Lady and I Loved her.
I wanted to write something, and amidst the hundred million commitments between receiving the news on Sunday and the Funeral Service on Tuesday Evening, I did.
It was neither as fleshed out nor as Poetic nor as Deeply Expressive as I wished it to be.
But it was what I had.
I arrived at the Funeral Home and told my friend,
“I wrote something.
I am happy to read it.
And I am happy to not read it.
It’s not very good.
I am also happy just to give it to you.”
She shrugged, and said empathetically, “I don’t know.”
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on October 18, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/10/18/make-a-joyful-noise/
The First Sunset
The First was strangely Magnificent.
Majestic.
Wide.
As if it had been summoned by some Glorious Deity
For Some Grand Occasion
And it was.
‘Twas likely no Greater or Lesser than any other of the
Twenty-thousand or so Sunsets of my Life thus far.
What set this one apart was that
I paused, quieted myself, and opened to it.
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on October 9, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/10/09/four-sunsets/
The Universe has Its Say
POPE FRANCIS seems a pretty Cool Guy.
I mean, especially compared to his Dangerous Predecessor,
A Murderer I equate on a par with RONALD REAGAN:
POPE BENEDICT, formerly “CARDINAL RATZINGER,” a Hitler Youth who back in the Eighties authored the document, “On The Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons” which implied that the Murder of Homosexuals was something brought upon themselves by their behavior.
I have a copy of this Document.
POPE FRANCIS made his visit to the United States
Shaking hands with people so as to avoid having his Ring Kissed.
Speaking his Truth regardless of whom it might offend,
Speaking Out against Global Warming,
Calling for the Abolishment of the Death Penalty
Speaking in Favor of Equality…
Cool Guy! (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on October 1, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/10/01/1372/
One Gift: The Beautiful Sky
A Morning in Provincetown.
Attempting a few days away
Sans Phone
Sans Laptop.
Looking out at the Ocean
Magnificent.
Amidst the Peacefulness of Ocean and Sky,
I jump to my phone, as if by some automatic reflex in response to a few minutes of Nothing Happening
What must I be Missing?
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on September 28, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/09/28/nothing-to-do/
A Jewish Colleague and Friend asked me last week, “Can I ask you a question? Where did you learn your Yiddisha? You speak it better than anyone I know. You spell it better than anyone I know…”
I had signed an Email “L’Shonah Tova Tikatevu!” (i.e.: “HAPPY NEW YEAR! May You be inscribed and sealed [in the Book of Life] for a Good year…”)
I told her that I grew up in New York Theater, and the Fabulous BARBARA COLTON was my Mentor in such things!
I also have spent the Jewish Holidays every year with my Best Friend’s Family (And after more than 35 years, Very Much My Own Family Too!)
I’ve Always Enjoyed So Many Aspects of Judaism.
I Love that each Day Begins with a Beautiful Sunset.
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on September 24, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/09/24/day-of-atonement/
Earlier this Summer,
I planted a Basil Plant in my Kitchen Window.
I wanted a Rich and Robust Verdant Plant with Opulent Flavorful Leaves of Basil, like the kind you find in the Italian Markets at the Peak of Season.
I was wrapped in Glad Expectancy!
But that didn’t happen.
Instead, I got a long kinda’ scrawny, spindly plant with very small and thin pale green leaves.
And although it wasn’t what I was hoping for,
It is still a Miracle.
I stop and Count the Miracles.
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on September 19, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/09/19/small-leaves-of-basil/
The other day, I was talking to my MOM about all the Travel I’ve been doing.
“O.K.,” MOM commented. “As Long as You’re Having Fun! That’s the Important thing.”
And then it struck me.
She has Always said that.
Always.
Even when I was a Kid.
She said that to all of us — not just to her own Kids, but even to friends from the neighborhood who visited or to others at Family Gatherings, and to her own Friends, as well.
“Having Fun! That’s the Important thing!”
It makes sense to me that this kind of Wisdom comes with being almost ninety years old.
But, in this case, it seems more like
Something she has Always Known.
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on September 5, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/09/05/the-important-thing/
This Model, pictured at right, doctored up to look freakishly thin for the Magazine Cover. What? She wasn’t Gorgeous ENOUGH???
Wow!
With all of the things I have posted about and all of the Controversial Topics I have touched upon, this last post seems to have set off the most negative response.
I asked my HairDresser about it.
I told her that I had written a post about our Ability to see ourselves and our bodies as Beautiful, even as we Age.
She is an Absolutely Beautiful Korean-American Woman,
and the Best HairDresser in Show Business!
She stopped what she was doing,
Stood,
And Glared at me.
Then she spoke, “You’re on your own with that one.”
She shook her head and lamented, “Bodies…”
How has the Media been So Successful in Making us Feel that our Bodies are “Less Than?”
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on August 23, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/08/23/the-body-beautiful/
Live The Questions Now 