January has been a sad month for those of us who reveled in the music of the sixties, seventies and eighties. David Bowie died on January 10th, after a long battle with cancer. He was 69. Truly someone to admire, the Rocket Man never gave up. I was astounded when I saw him dressed to the nines, cocky as always in his last photo shoot...three days before his death.
Just when we were getting over that, Glenn Frey died on January 18th from complications with a long standing bout with rheumatoid arthritis. He was 67. His music inspired me; his talent was undeniable. The Eagles still rank up there as one of my top five go to musicians/musical groups. Like Billy Joel and Simon and Garfunkel, their music spoke to me. Hopefully David and Glenn are soaring somewhere together now, making music with John Lennon.
There was a time when reaching one's sixtieth birthday was nothing short of a miracle. Now, thanks to modern medicine and a better understanding of the human body, a man in his seventies often spends his day on the tennis court or golf course. I read about a couple who celebrated their 82nd wedding anniversary this week, along with the husband's 102nd birthday. All of these stories teach us one important lesson. DON'T GIVE UP. Even when things are looking down, there will always be one more beautiful sunrise to start one more productive day. There will be one more hug from a relative or friend that is too precious to miss. There will be one more child who needs your wisdom who will help you to see your worth.
My father is 91 and enjoys a full and active life. He is fortunate enough to live in a place that offers five restaurants, a movie theater, card rooms, a beautiful pool and a ballroom for the parties that he enjoys thoroughly. He is their resident photographer, and his recent photos have earned him bylines in newspapers throughout the country. Things aren't perfect...he suffers from back pain at times, he misses my mother and his recent decision to give up driving can be a bit claustrophobic at times. He has made up his mind though, to enjoy every moment that he has left, and that is a very important lesson for us all to learn.
I decided that it would be apropos to read a biography on David Bowie this week and to share the review with you. What an interesting (and somewhat messed up) man he was. He was talented, intelligent, and maybe a little bit "out there," and I really liked learning a bit about what made him tick in Bowie: A Biography by Marc Spitz. If you have never read a biography about him, now would be the time.
I must admit, when I started reading cozy mysteries last year, I did so for this blog only. I never read "fluff" before and was sure it would be a waste of time. Surprise! These books have become a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. They are quick reads and are sometimes just what the doctor ordered. In The Stars: A Humorous Romantic Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed Mystery Book 1) by Zanna Mackenzie is definitely one of the better of this genre. The characters are well developed, and they kept my interest. I strongly suggest that if you have never read a cozy mystery before, start with this one. You won't be sorry.
As always, complete reviews follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly