the life of Helga Weissova

Helga was a mere eleven years old when she and her family were taken to Terezin in 1941 by the Nazi's. She was a young prodigy, drawing being her gift, and in the Muzeum Ghetta her artwork is on display for all to see. Drawings that she completed while in Terezin and later Auschwitz.

While there, I must have slowly walked up and down the staircase at least ten times, focused on Helga's drawings of her time in the concentration camps. As the time came near to leave, I went into the bookstore, and motioned to the elderly woman for a copy of  "Draw What You See", the story of Helga Weissova.

The book is a valuable treasure, and one I open often as I reminisce about my time at Terezin, the atrocities of World War Two, and the struggles of people such as Helga. Her words describing her drawings are just as powerful.....

The L 410 Dormitory
"L 410 was the girls' dormitory where I lived. We slept on three-tier bunks, always about 35 girls in one room."
-drawn with crayons 1943

The Last Farewell
"Many people died every day. After a short ceremony the coffins were loaded onto carts and taken to the crematorium beyond the Ghetto. the ashes of the deceased were placed in paper urns. Shortly before the end of the War all the ashes were emptied into the nearby river Ohre..."
-Pen and ink drawing and water colours 1944

Suicide in Barbed Wire
"The wires were live. There were times when the prisoners ended their suffering on these wires."
-Pen and washed Indian ink drawing 1945/46

How Helga survived is a miracle, although she denies it. Her story and artwork motivate to never give up on your dream, your circumstance, your lot in life.

the magnetism of Jim James

Sometimes one's lack of the details can lead to unexpected rewards. A case in point was the random buying of ticket to see the band, My Morning Jacket, in Hollywood at the Fonda Theatre.

Not until I was underneath the marquee did i realize that I wasn't seeing My Morning Jacket, but instead the charismatic front man and lead singer, Jim James.
He just released his solo effort, Regions of Light and Sound of God. Rumor is that he has found religion, started on a spiritual journey, connected with God.

His voice is so pure, that it sounds like an angel upon the stage ( if one can imagine what an angel would sounds like).

As a songwriter, his lyrics are mesmerizing. When he jams, you become transported to a different era. Part James Taylor, part Jim Morrison, all Jim James.

LA Woman

A city with equal parts angels and devils, good and evil. A sprawling landscape of endless human emotions. I plunge from the clouds into the LA woman.

This place is where one can go to blend into oblivion. Midnight strolls up and down dark alleys, the call beckons to enter the strip clubs and bars. I wrap my hoodie around my face and focus intently on the ground.
Strangers share their darkest thoughts, no care as to who listens, they only wish to be heard.

In the City of Angels.

Finding Sugar Man

I didn't know what to expect when I rented the documentary Searching for Sugar Man, and I most certainly was surprised, humbled and inspired by the movie. I won't give away the story here ( I couldn't do justice to it anyway).

But when I found out that the now nearly seventy year old was touring again, and coming to little old SLC, there was little doubt about going to see the artist. On a perfect spring evening in downtown, I found a small sushi spot, enjoyed a meal in the warm sun whilst waiting for the doors to open.

The line to get into the show wrapped around the block, and it was the first time I'd ever see such an electic mix of people for a concert. Rodriguez's mellow, folksy style, and humble nature was truly a site to behold.

Give it a listen, see the documentary, and become moved by one amazing story.

lasting memories

My oldest niece turns eleven this weekend, and I can't shake the feeling that I'll be losing her soon to the teenage years, boys, popularity and all the other painful nonsense that comes with growing up.

She is currently into Cheer and gymnastics, and so for her birthday this year I wanted to do something extra special, just me and her. So we flew to Las Vegas last weekend.

It was a place where she could feel a little bit like a grownup, and myself a little bit like a kid. From our complimentary suite at The Palazzo to ordering room service milkshakes at midnight, we bonded and became even closer.

We did all the things she wanted, like visit the Coca Cola store and M&M world. We laughed at the strange characters on the Strip, and taxied around like rockstars to avoid the heat.

The big surprise though were tickets to see the Cirque de Soleil show "O". From the costumes to the gymnastics, the comedy to the music, she was in heaven. ( The clowns also included me in part of their act, which had her giggling all night....)

In the end, my hope was to create some lasting memories as she is on the brink of a new chapter in her life, and to let her know that I'll always love her, no matter.

*****