1931-2023
I do not remember the exact moment that I met Joanna Merlin. But I cannot remember my life without her!
She lived her life as a Guardian Angel in human form to those of us who knew her and to the Community at large.
Casting Director.
Actress.
Mother.
Teacher.
Friend.
Talent…
Grace…
Incandescence…
Always and at every turn!
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on November 17, 2023
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2023/11/17/joanna-merlin/
[Below, a colorful Writing Prompt from SARK’s Happy + Successful Writers Community which begat this Post…]
…emerged from the palm of my hand.
I wasn’t even aware that that clamminess and itchiness I had felt for days or centuries had been some kind of chrysalis. I thought it was just my skin getting older and craggy. Turns out it was about neither deterioration nor loss, but rather an emergence.
I did nothing to earn such a Beautiful Release which did come seemingly from me.
It was simply Grace.
Orange Sulphurs
Menelaus Blue Morphos
Prepona Laertes…
Grace,
As in Something unearned,
Splendor Bestowed,
Without Cause or Reason.
I forget sometimes that we are Beloved Children of God and Good things just keep happening.
Viceroys
Zebra Longwings
and the Common Buckeye…
Miracles Manifest and no matter how downtrodden we feel, we can do little to stop them, or to prevent the Love that ignites them.
From nowhere, and All of a Sudden,
A Fluttering of Red Admirals,
Queens,
And Pipevine Swallowtails…
Butterflies emerging…
Rising Up,
Bringing Loveliness to the World!
(more…)Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on April 25, 2021
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2021/04/25/all-of-a-sudden-a-fluttering-of-butterflies/
Amazing Grace
By Arnold J. Mungioli
I wake up a Crazy Wretch,
Tortured by all that I haven’t achieved,
Insane with perceived lack…
My Inner Critics reveling at a tea party on my head,
Full ground-length lace tablecloth and tea china, perfectly set.
Finger sandwiches of So Many Varieties
Cucumber and Self-Deprecation
Comparings and Clotted Cream
Watercress with No Self Esteem and a sprinkling of “How Dare You” Salt
I wake up choking on a mouthful of these Tiny Sandwiches
Grateful that it’s only High Tea,
And not their Holiday Grand Buffet.
I am awash in my own UnWorthiness.
Lost
Blind
Fearful
UnBelieving.
Now,
Here,
The Sun Shines in my window,
As if God is looking in, (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on June 1, 2019
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2019/06/01/amazing-grace/
It’s here!
It’s all around You!
Fresh Basil!
Fresh Cherries!
Fresh Raspberries!
Melons!
Peaches!
Fresh Figs!
It won’t be for much Longer!
Have Some! (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on August 10, 2017
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2017/08/10/tis-the-season-presto-pesto/
Baby AJ
A Christening on Long Island.
Baby AJ.
Trains to Oakdale run every two hours.
Only the 9:41am Train at Jamaica Station will get me there in time.
After four hours sleep,
Long Waits…
R to the F…
I get off at Briarwood — change for the E to Jamaica.
Almost there…
Postings everywhere read: “No Jamaica-bound E Train service at this station!”
Take the F Train on the other side all the way back to 71st/Continental
I will have missed Baby AJ’s Christening.
I am devastated.
Upstairs in the token booth, I find a small East Indian man, eating a bowl of rice (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on February 18, 2014
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2014/02/18/grace-at-the-token-booth/
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