It’s raining right now, otherwise I would go downstairs and grab a photo of what my porches look like now with the flowers on them!
I’m really happy, gang. But, wow, what a ton of work. I was so hot and sweaty and covered in potting soil. And really just exhausted by the time I was through. (About 5 hours.)
Mostly because it was really hot and humid out.
But I got everything done and put away about 3 seconds before it began to rain. So it worked out really great.
Another thing that worked out great (after it stopped raining) —
Yesterday evening was the start of what they call “Homecoming Weekend” here in the village. Where they close off most of 2nd Street and there are amusement rides and carnival food, live music, games.
2nd Street is one block over from me and the whole area gets filled with people and kids. So I was really happy that all my flowers were out, since it feels really festive around here and a lot of people walk by.
It’s called “Homecoming Weekend” because anyone who grew up around here and moved away, comes back to visit everyone.
And I was doubly happy about being ready for this because last year, right at Homecoming, that awful tornado hit and destroyed several businesses, dozens of homes, our Veterans Memorial Park, and it uprooted just a ton of beautiful trees.
This (below) had been one of the most beautiful homes in the village — it was the second oldest home, over 200 years old. It was huge, with a big double-veranda in front. And every Christmas, they had a big beautiful Christmas tree lit up right in the front window.
It was just heartbreaking to see, especially since it was the first house you’d come to when entering the village, so I had to drive past it twice a day. It’s completely demolished and gone now.
It feels good to be a part of moving on.
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Okay, here’s another thing I love about living out here.
The Honda dealership where I’ve, so far, bought or leased 4 Hondas in the last 8 years — they are really nice and really funny out there. Their Instagram page usually cracks me up. They post short videos that are just really, really sarcastic or just plain silly/stupid.
Anyway.
They are in the next county, where the police department has a volunteer Christian Ministry at the station. If you or someone in your family has been arrested or is the victim of something awful, there is always a minister on duty to counsel you or pray with you.
Just yesterday, the owner of the Honda dealership “got arrested” and wasn’t going to come out of jail until people donated $3500 to pay his bail. (The donations go to the police department’s volunteer Christian Ministry). There was a really cute video on Instagram to publicize it. I donated $20.
And by this morning, they already had $2350 in donations! Less than 12 hours later.
I just find that kind of stuff so cool.
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And of course–
My favorite 94-year-old Japanese man was friends with Mr, Honda back in Tokyo. The real Mr. Honda. Why wouldn’t he be???
And Hondas are his favorite cars. (Mine, too (!!), but of course I never knew Mr. Honda!)
And once, several decades ago, when my client was a successful electronics engineering executive in Tokyo, he and Mr. Honda took a huge group of Boy Scouts on a campout at the base of Mt. Fuji. It was Japanese Boy Scouts/ US Boy Scouts, “the war is over let’s all be friends” kind of thing. There were about a hundred Boy Scouts in one giant tent!
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Okay!
Meanwhile…
Sandra and I have only TWELVE PAGES of revisions to finalize before we head into pre-production in NYC!! This includes 3 musical numbers.
So, rather than needing to have the entire script revised by July 7th, we are doing it in segments, for each of the times we’ll be meeting up in NYC before the staged reading happens in mid-October.
Much more manageable!! Yay!! (And we’re almost done with those 12 pages, actually.)
And since I have 4 days off next week (I am trying hard to focus on getting writing done and cleaning the house, etc., rather than freaking out about the loss of $$$), this means she and I will have no problem being ready by July 7th.
It’s really happening, gang!! Yay!!
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From Ronnie Wood‘s newsletter today:
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And from my desktop stash!!
And you have FIVE days to buys those 3 remaining tickets to Nick Cave’s Solo Tour of Europe (with bass player)!! Most of the tour is sold out.
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Also — if you follow Phil, his livestream last night was very interesting!
Kayfabe – June 5th, 2025 (1 hr):
And I think that’s it for now, gang. I gotta scoot.
Enjoy your glorious Friday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Our new Daily Feature continues!
Gifts Keith Richards gave me when I was a wee bonny girl!!
Wherein I regale you with “songs Keith loved, that he would talk about in an interview in some magazine, and then I’d go out and try to find the record and then buy it with my babysitting money, and then I’d listen to it alone in my intense little room, playing it on the portable record player that my dad bought me, and the song would change my life. “
Today’s selection!!
Gram Parsons. A dear friend and inspiration of Keith’s. (2 mins):
I knew of the Flying Burrito Brothers, but did not know anything about Gram Parsons util he died (1973) and Keith spoke about it.
This is a photo that is forever on my wall — Keith, Anita, Gram Parsons (and I think Gram’s girlfriend?) at Keith’s home, Villa Nellcote, in the South of France, during the making of the legendary Exile on Main St double-album. Photo by Dominique Tarle. 1971.
Below is a beautiful cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses”.
Gram Parsons & The Flying Burrito Brothers – “Wild Horses”, 1970. Enjoy, gang.
Marilyn's Room 