19 September, 2019

“4 Beautiful Butterflies….4 Beautiful Friendships!”

Hi Jodie….so-o-o-o, only 8 days ago you headed back home after spending a week with me.  It’d been 2 ½ years since we’d seen each other, and I simply couldn’t have asked for a more phenomenal way to celebrate reaching my 70^th Birthday than to have been able to spend it with you!! (smile)  It was indeed very special to me to have you be able to meet so many of the wonderful friends that you’ve heard me speak of over the years and who all have heard of you.

It’s also certainly about time I got back into working on another ”Chronicle”, as you’re aware that I received the assignment from Maya and Marta to get working on Volume Two of the amazing Coffee Table Book they presented me with on Sept. 6^th!!

I thought I’d do that by writing this particular installment which talks about three lovely women you did not meet while you were here, who I had the pleasure of meeting, via a very nice e-mail introduction made by Tanuja, in the beginning of August.  Jenny is a friend of Tanuja’s (in California) and Jenny’s sister Julie, and Julie’s daughter Brina (both of whom live in Wisconsin) had set up a Vegas visit to celebrate Julie’s Birthday. 

Tanuja told them about the Mob Museum and suggested that if they had the time, they might enjoy placing it on their itinerary.  She (Tanuja) touched base with me and I introduced myself to Jenny, and invited then to visit as my guests, indicating that I’m only there on Fridays but would be pleased to be their host if they decided to visit while they were in town. 

Jenny graciously accepted my invitation and indicated that she, Julie and Brina would love to have me join them for dinner (at a place of my choosing mind you) after their visit.  Needless to say, there was no arm twisting needed to have me agree to that arrangement!! (ha,ha,ha,ha,ha) 

We met on Monday afternoon, and from the very moment our paths crossed in the Museum Lobby, you would’ve thought we were old friends from back in the day!! “Jen”….“Jule”….“Brin” (I hope they won’t mind me shortening their names) and I had an absolute blast cruising through the Museum.  I was so pleased as all of the staff and management I introduced them to, greeted them with such warmth and made them believe that I was a bit of a “rock star” in that place.  I don’t mind saying that I think they enjoyed my little Courtroom Presentation too!! (smile)

A brief stop in the Gift Shop had to be in order because they simply had to have some sort of memento of visiting the Museum….of course!!  Just like you, Jen opted for a Coffee Mug, while Julie and Brina chose “T”-Shirts.  Then it was down to “The Underground.” 

Jodie….we had no idea we’d really spend so-o-o-o much cool time down in the Speakeasy.  They met my main man James the “Bouncer”, and while I told them he also was the lead singer with his band, “James Allen & the Hitsmen,” they weren’t performing that night. (sigh) 

In addition to enjoying the purchased drinks they had ordered, we also due to the gracious hospitality (if you get my drift) of both of the on-duty bartenders, (Rick & Derek who we learned were from Jen’s part of Cali) we sampled significant amounts of the various flavored Moonshine(s) made in our own distillery. (WHOO, WHOO!!)

Well, we decided that we’d better head to dinner and you won’t be surprised where I suggested we go….YEP….I’ll speak for myself and declare I was feeling pretty damn nice as we walked right over the Main Street Station!!  They liked my choice….and a good meal was had by all. (smile)

The evening ended as I gave them the “ten-cent slow drive tour” all the way up the Strip to the Las Vegas sign where Brina was able to get a shot of that icon.  I dropped them back at Caesars (where they were staying) and I knew that in my mind I had established three more memorable, long lasting friendships, and could only hope that each of them perhaps felt the same.

JoJo, I was blown away when I opened my e-mail after they’d returned home and found a very nice Thank You note accompanied by an Amazon Gift Card from all three of them!!  I determined that I’d use the card to try to find some glass that would represent the four of these women in some fashion.  Well….this Butterfly set is what I found!! 

There’s no specific color I assigned to them individually, and I have no idea if each of them has chosen a favorite themselves, but if so then that’s what it will mean to them.  I looked at a few resources to see what Butterflies symbolize, and I liked this particular reference…“French philosopher Diderot’s entry in Encyclopédie cites butterflies as a symbol for the soul.” 

As these four glass Butterflies will now always be seen together in my collection, I’ll look at them and fondly remember the four Beautiful Women, whose four Beautiful Souls crossed my path, and enabled me to form four Beautiful Friendships, that I hope will last each of their four Beautiful Lifetimes!!