Dear Elisa,

Happy Halloween! I'm driving to Paso Robles for the weekend so I'm putting this newsletter out a little earlier than usual.

I was given some great Van Gogh images recently and while they are not stamps, they are large images of his paintings that are cut to look like stamps. I had not seen the above painting before but thought I would share it because it seems to convey what many of us are feeling - trying to stay positive and hopeful while our minds conjure up worry and dread over next week's election – as things continue to get crazier by the day. Keep the Faith!

For a distraction, (and for those of us in California who are Dodger Fans), last night's World Series game was electrifying. As I mentioned last week, my late husband Ken was a major fan and if it was legal, I would have sprinkled some of his ashes over Dodger Stadium! Ken often looked like the above image when the Dodgers would be in the lead and then screw something up in the 9th inning to make them lose a game they had been on track to win!

And so, in honor of the Witchy Woman that I am, last night I took his ashes out of the closet and put them near my internet radio during Game 5's 7th inning so he could listen to the game. Despite the NY Yankees winning game #4 (and looking like they were going to win game #5), I told Ken they were going to win the World Series - and they did! I know that made him very, very happy!

This was often a game we would play whenever they were poised to win a game. As Ken shouted at the TV, I would often tell him that they were not going to win unless he turned the television off as his negative energy was going through the TV. If he turned off the TV, I told him they would win and they usually did. I used this tactic last night...and after 14 years of being out of practice, the "Old Devil Moon" Magic was in the air – and, Voila! Go Dodger Blue!

I voted in person on Wednesday and that process was easy and the mood at the polling place was friendly and positive. To soothe any anxiety, here is a beautiful clip of men in Rural Bangladesh picking gorgeous Water Lilies from their boat. If you need a calm and soothing image, I know you will love this!

Waterlilies are symbolic of rebirth because they close at night and come back in the morning and are also seen as a sign of enlightenment by Buddhists because the beautiful flowers are rising out of the dirty mud. This metaphor meets the moment and hopefully, is not lost on us.

I found another inspirational clip on Instagram

from the 1950s that was so touching...

This B & W Clip is from a Hollywood Awards dinner hosted by Ed Sullivan in 1954 where Desi Arnaz, husband of Lucille Ball, is being honored. He expresses his humble and moving appreciation about how he came to our country from Cuba with nothing – and his first job in the United States was cleaning bird cages. He said he was so grateful to the United States who made it possible for an immigrant to achieve his dreams and success.

In case you didn't know this, the network didn't want to hire Desi to be Lucille Ball's husband for "I Love Lucy" - because he didn't "fit the part" (meaning he wasn't Caucasian). Back in the 1950s, interracial marriages were not the norm - nor was having a television husband or wife who was not White. It was Lucile Ball's star power and persuasion that convinced the networks to hire him. And because they had already been married for 13 years, they finally acquiesced. I'm sure the network executives had no idea that this power couple would give them an enormous hit. Desi's speech is very special. Don't miss watching it!

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On Staying in the Game of Marriage...

Despite the ups and downs of a long relationship, at the end

of the day, is this the person you want to go the distance with?

Mel Robbins recently aired a very revealing Podcast episode with her husband, Christopher Robbins about the lessons they've learned over 30 years of marriage. I listened to it last night and it was a great episode - You can watch them here together on YOUTUBE or go to The Mel Robbins Podcast on Apple Podcasts to listen.

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IT'S SHOW TIME...November will be very busy!

UPCOMING THIS WEEKEND:

I will be headed up North for the Paso Robles Art in the Park,

this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2nd and 3rd

Hours: 10-5 pm (Sat) & 10-4 pm (Sun)

Booth Space #130 (Corner)

Here's the link to learn more about the show!

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MY NEXT SHOW IS IN PASADENA THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND!

ARTAZAN

Where: Pasadena Convention Center

Hall B, 300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101

When: Sat. & Sun. Nov. 9th & 10th

Hours: 10-6 pm (Sat) and 10-5 pm (Sun.)

Use this Code ARTA09 to get Free Admission Passes

You do have to register online here.

 https://www.artsandcraftsshow.com/tickets.php?show=pas

•••••

As always, I hope you have a great weekend. Please stay safe, and keep the faith. I hope the country ultimately VOTES for Decency, Integrity, Kindness, Bodily Autonomy, and Sanity. I do believe that "Happy Souls Inspire Others to Shine!"

Thank you for listening and thank you for enjoying my work.

Elisa

Coupon Code:

Feel free to use the coupon, Kindness2024 at checkout, to receive 20% off of your purchase. NOTE: Special requests, custom orders, or items currently on sale are exempt from loyalty coupon discounts. Thank you for your understanding.