Blue Sky Media/Photography (and life in Gotham)
For more information, email me (Leslie Gittess) at LGittess@gmail.com
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Eileen Breier
What a woman. Eileen Breier passed away on Saturday after a 3 month illness. I spoke with Eileen last week and she was optimistic, enthusiastic and ready to get on with her life and hold her daughter’s first born - Jake, born last week. She was my mother’s dear friend and she stepped in to fill a void in my life. She promised my mother that she would always be there for me. And she exceeded this promise in every way. She never missed a birthday or anniversry. She would add an extra day to her trips to NYC to spend some quality time with me. She took such joy in seeing my kids. So today I head to Miami for the funeral of this incrdible woman, who left us far too soon. I grieve for a dear friend, a surrogate mother.
Sarah’s Key
I am haunted by the story in the book I just finished, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. The story of a small girl woken up in the middle of the night in occupied Paris in July 1942 - the French (not German) police took her family away. Her story is intertwined with that of a 45 year old American/French journalist who is writing a story of the 60th anniversary of this fateful night in Paris. It isn’t just a holocaust book, it is the story of a modern woman on a quest for the truth, the truth that she knows involves her family, and ultimately helps her resolve her own demons. I recommend it to everyone that reads this blog. Please email me or add comments with your thoughts as you read it.
Another Anniversary
I had an “Anniversary” post last year on January 6th. Today, as all January 6ths, I feel nostalgic and removed. My mother’s memory is a shadow that is always with me. Why is my feeling this day different? Perhaps it is the jarring reality of losing a mother, a best friend, too soon, and three days before my first child was born. My 9 year old son woke me this morning by telling me that his birth gave me hope and happiness when I was at my darkest point (well, he didn’t really use those words, but that is what he meant). My 7 year old daughter then came in and asked me to help her get dressed. Perhaps this is a metaphor — yes, we remember and see the good even at dark moments, yet we must get on with our lives and go about our daily business. Actually, I have to go — off to work….
The snow, the sand, the horizon…I see a connection. This was taken off the PayDay lift in Park City, Utah, December 2009.
Social Media - what’s next
As you can see, I haven’t posted in awhile. Is anyone else getting a little bored with social media - facebook, twitter… Connect with your friends from junior high and camp…it’s all good, but then what else — I am definitely not buying manure on Farmville (although about 35 million people are). A few quick twitterlike-updates: ran right into Kramer (yes that one) at Chelsea Market today — I commented on the great reunion show on Curb Your Enthusiasm; he looked right thru me and asked me why people are throwing pennies into the fountain; I hired an AV expert to install my Apple Time Capsule and he told me that he can get it running but the connection with my AppleTVs and laptops would be my responsibility; I just found out that an old college/law school buddy (thank you Facebook — ok, I guess it is alright) is a part owner of the hottest new restaurant in NYC …gotta go send him an email so I can get a table at 8 pm on Saturday night….
A song about a revitalized New York after 9/11. Wanted to re-post today on 9.11.09.
In keeping with my Dark and Stomy phase, Hurricane Bill created havoc along Eastern Long Island this past weekend and I ended up with over 1,000 photos of crashing waves, stormy skies and dune and beach chaos - just breathtaking imagery. This particular photo was taken around 6:30 am at The Cut, an area down the beach from Flying Point, in Southampton, NY — the sun broke through the clouds and fog for just an instant to create this surreal calm before the storm. You can click through this link to see some of the better ones…
Two Finds - Thank me later
This post falls into the category of “I have experienced something great and I want to share it with my friends”. My summer has been transformed by — not tweeting, blogging or surfing (the web that is), but reading. So 1980, yes, but if you want to surge each day, look forward to spare waking moments, be transported to another world, then thank me later — after you have read Vince Flynn’s spy novel, the first in his series — Term Limits. After Term Limits, you will crave more, so there nine more in the series. I am on my fourth one and I can’t stop. Like an addict, so 1980 and I love it. The next find is an exercise class that I love, no crave, and I have been doing it once a week since May. Many know about it but for those that don’t — check out Physique 57 if you are in the city or Bridgehampton. Your body will be twisted, stretched and brought to the brink for 57 minutes of sweet revenge, then you will emerge an enlightened soul.
