Yesterday, that is.

Although I am expecting today to be a really great day, too.

Regarding yesterday, though —

I had another great afternoon with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man. And we did indeed finally get to go out for sashimi and sake. And his clarity, focus, appetite (!!), stamina, were still doing great.

And while at the Peony Bistro, having our sashimi, the son of one of my favorite client’s was there having lunch with two of his own sons. The client was the woman that I adored, who lived in that beautiful split-level home that was filled with so much love, it was palpable. Just the most amazing experience I had ever had with a client.

She passed away unexpectedly a couple of months ago and I was heartbroken. The son and his wife are the owners of that love-filled home my client lived in.

When they saw me in the restaurant, the son and his two sons all came over to me at my table, and the son shook my hand. In his thick German accent, he said, quietly: “It is so nice to see you. I hope you have a very good New Year.”

There was so much emotion in his face, you know? My heart just sort of melted. I tried my best to introduce him to my Japanese client, but my client is easily confused by strangers.

Still, as I was leaving the restaurant, I was really sort of amazed by the world I have over there in Granville. Especially since I don’t — and never have — lived there. But my life intersects with so many people in such a meaningful way (after being in and around it for 8 years now), that it is getting a little breathtaking.

It was Gus Van Sant Sr who convinced me to move permanently to this area of Ohio and not move back to NYC. (He had very fond memories of Granville from his boyhood.) What a blessing that turned out to be for me.

Anyway.

After my shift, I came home and had a really great chat with Sandra about the TV project we’re developing (she had just had a really productive chat with the producer who is waiting on our completed proposal).

This recent photo of Sandra is just a small hint, gang. I can’t go into any details yet on the blog!

But it was exciting.

And during my dinner, my accountant in NYC called me and we also had a great chat.

It was the first time he was able to touch base with me after all that stuff happened regarding my dad’s Estate during the holidays. But, since my accountant specializes in the entertainment industry (he is also a theatrical producer, and a lawyer), we focused instead on the 3 projects I have going on right now with Sandra.

And that ended up also being a very, very good chat.

And today, I am still planning to pitch the “Tell My Bones” screenplay to that director who doesn’t direct TV-streamer movies, but I’m going to pitch it anyway and see if maybe he will at least read the script! I will keep you posted… (I will have to go through the usual gatekeepers out in Los Angeles, but I’m hoping they will at the very least say, “Okay, send the script.”)

Also, yesterday, before we left for sashimi & sake, the Minister from my new church called me!

He and I are having a brief meeting at the church later this morning. I met him briefly on Sunday, but since I want to join the church, he wants to find out more about me.

I am really looking forward to the meeting — but I am hoping I don’t leave that meeting having agreed to teach a Sunday School class or something like that. (Fingers crossed, gang…)

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Okay!

Today is this guy’s heavenly birthday!!

And in honor of his birthday, I am wearing those really cool Elvis earrings that Kara bought me for Christmas!!

Oh, and that means that I will be wearing “Elvis” earrings during my meeting with my new Minister!! Perhaps that will be auspicious? Yay!

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All right!

Here’s this:

In an interesting connection to James Tabor’s recent video about John the Baptist, Ross K. Nichols Sunday School class from this past Sunday–

“This class examines ancient sources on El Elyon’s enigmatic priest and his ‘eternal’ priesthood, from the Hebrew Bible and Josephus to Hebrews and the Dead Sea Scrolls, to ask what can responsibly be said about Melchizedek based on the surviving sources.”

Melchizedek: El Elyon’s Eternal Priest (1 hr 21 mins):

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And, wow, here’s this!

From Instagram yesterday, just gorgeous, right? I don’t know if it’s AI or not but I still love it:

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And here’s this!

Another gorgeous photo — this photo was used as the back cover for Keith’s autobiography, Life.

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And I liked this photo, too!

From Robert Earl Keen’s Instagram page yesterday:

And here’s this: “The Road Goes On Forever”, 1993:

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And last but absolutely not least!!

From Nick Cave’s Official page — 9 more days, gang!!

Buy tickets here!

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And on the home front today–

It is payday here, and when I checked my bank account at 4AM this morning, it turned out that even though I worked in the afternoons on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, I still got holiday pay!! Yay!!

I was totally not expecting that, so that was nice.

And with that, I’m gonna get this day-off underway!!

Have a great Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s leave with this today.

Although I was not listening to Elvis’s version of this hymn this morning, it was the first song I listened to on my retro boombox today.

I’ve always loved this hymn, but I was surprised, this morning, to discover that I relate to this verse these days, now more than ever:

Through many dangers,
Toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought
Me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

But since it’s his birthday, here’s Elvis’s beautiful version of “Amazing Grace.” Enjoy, gang!

I really liked the new church. And all the people in it.

Very friendly, with tons of kids — who had a little prayer circle at the front of the congregation, before going off to Sunday school. They were incredibly adorable.

And I chose a pew that was right next to the big stained glass window, and the sun came through it, right onto my pew, right as we started singing the opening hymn, so I’m guessing I’m always going to sit there in that pew, every Sunday. That alone was sort of cosmic.

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Okay.

Before I forget–

If you don’t follow Simon Parkes in the UK, you can’t access his update from yesterday, but it was a really, really good one. You can follow him, and watch his monthly updates, by joining Connecting Consciousness — it’s free.

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Well, I got a lot done this morning, before church, gang!

I typed up all those notes that Sandra needed by tomorrow morning, and was able to get everything off to her a day early!

All I have left to do before our next phone call is re-read the original screenplay for “Tell My Bones: The Helen LaFrance Story” and then send that over to Sandra, as well.

So we’re sort of off and running, gang.

New year, new everything. Oh, and here’s this from yesterday:

New year, same cats!!

And, last evening, I was also able to do Lesson 2 in James Tabor’s new course, “Christianity Before Paul”. (An in depth look at John the Baptist — historical rather than theological — another incredible lecture.)

And I did wash my hair!! I also did yoga.

And I was even able to watch another episode of one of those shows Sandra wanted me to watch (“I Love LA” on HBO).

So it is sort of remarkable that I can get so much done, even though I’m still working all the caregiving jobs, once I entirely shift my focus.

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All righty.

Here’s this–

Keith and that one cigarette he had in 1979:

And a great shot of Johnny Thunders with a cigarette in Athens, Greece, in 1989:

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And–

13 more days, gang!! Before this:

So here’s this — from the private desktop stash!

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And in a little while here, I head out to see the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat. And I’m sure they will be happy to learn that I’ve finally found a church I like.

They know about my ministerial training and my Degree from Ohio Christian University, etc. (The Minister’s wife studied at a different seminary in Ohio, so we have talked about it a lot.)

I have to say, gang, that it gets frustrating, having to always separate my ministry world from my professional world, keep it all private, since my professional world is so extensively “for adults only”. And just by looking at me, people assume I’m this really nice, harmless white lady. They’re usually very surprised to even find out that I lived most of my life in NYC — unless they have the great good fortune of hearing how often I use the “F” word!! And let’s not mention that FBI record I had that followed me around at international airports. Or when I was looking at possible prison time in a federal penitentiary and a huge fine, for allegedly making it too easy for children to access porn online…)

This new church — since they are “under new management”, as it were — is looking for people to get involved with things like leading group meetings in Bible studies, etc. They need help doing it all, getting it all started.

I am so trained in that stuff. My knowledge, as you can guess, is extensive. And I’m certified/trained in congregational care, and hospital visitations, and grief counseling, and marriage counseling, and home communion for the elderly.

I’m pretty sure that if I showed up at the Minister’s office and told him all that stuff, he’d jump up from his desk and say, “When can you start??” Because they need help.

But all that other stuff in my world — I really, really need my privacy. And I don’t like to intentionally mislead people about who I am. So I’m guessing I will just show up for Sunday services and go back home.

I was thinking during the service this morning that it must be a lot easier to be Nick Cave. He can show up at a church on Sunday but everybody already knows who he is.

(Yes! It is easier to be Nick Cave in church than to be Marilyn Jaye Lewis!! You heard it here first!!)

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Well, anyway.

I’m still really glad I finally found a church I like that is a 3-minute walk from my house!

And on that happy note, I gotta scoot and get ready for my caregiving shift. But then — I have tomorrow off!

Have a beautiful Sunday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this on this sunny winter Sunday!

That huge hit from the Broadway show, “Godspell”, 1971!

“Day by Day”. Enjoy, gang.