Lost him at 46!

It was over 10 years ago that I was exposed to the pure and raw talent of a young actor I did not know at the time, and that was just by watching the preview of a movie to come; "Love, Liza". Later, watching him portray a devastated widower in that movie convinced me that I was witnessing the birth of a GREAT STAR, a force to be reckoned with; Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

He quickly blossomed and made life-lasting impressions by the way he crawled under the skin of each character he introduced to us. It did not matter whether he pretended to be Truman Capote in "Capote" which he won an Oscar for, or his brilliant appearances in the three other movies, "The Master", "Doubt" and "Charlie Wilson's War" which he was nominated for Oscar, or his many other scene-stealing supporting roles. He would walk into the frame and capture your full attention. It seems he just gave his all to the scene.

I do not know what it takes to be like a chameleon but I know we have now been robbed of one of the greatest talents of his generation.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead of a drug overdose, with a syringe still in his left forearm. He was 46 years old.

A Daily Joy

This is one of the DAILY joys of my life.

During the year, as I receive different cards and pictures, I place them on my kitchen counter. This way, I don't get to enjoy them only once, but for at least a year, and on daily basis at that.

Sometimes one brings a smile to my face and the other times tears to my eyes. Sometimes tears of joy and other times tears of sorrow, loss or regret. Nevertheless, I get several chances to go through a journey with each and every one of them.

A few are so special that I have not had the heart to replace them yet. Some are funny, and some, silly. A few are thought provoking, and others just entertaining. But they all have one thing in common; A dear one has invested the time and energy to select and send it to me and THAT is what makes it unique, PRICELESS and special.

I have ALL the cards and letters I have ever received since the day I moved to America 38 years ago and there have been occasions that I have gone through the old ones as well, and just like watching a movie, my life has played before my mind's eye. So, yet again, I get a chance to review the memories.

Not everyone may appreciate this habit of mine. Some may think it to be a psychological disorder and some may wish they had all of their cards and letters. But since I am not doing this to please (or displease) anyone, I have it from a reliable source that the person I AM DOING THIS FOR is extremely pleased and appreciative; Me!