THE ROYAL BALLET, London

"For three years I've been lying flat on my back for you!"
-Murilo Benicio, the Brazilian husband
to Penelope Cruz
in the 2000 film
"WOMAN ON TOP"

Imagine this story:
Ondine was a water nymph in German mythology. She was very beautiful and, like all nymphs, immortal. However, should she fall in love with a mortal man and bear his child - she will lose her "gift" of everlasting life. Ondine fell in love with a dashing knight - Sir Lawrence - and they were married.

When they exchanged vows, Lawrence said, "My every waking breath shall be my pledge of love and faithfulness to you."
A year after their marriage Ondine gave birth to his child. From that moment on she began to age.

As Ondine’s physical attractiveness diminished, Lawrence lost interest in his wife. One afternoon Ondine was walking near the stables when she heard the familiar snoring of her husband. When she entered the stable, however, she saw Lawrence lying in the arms of another woman. Ondine pointed her finger at him, which he felt as a kick, waking up with a start.

Ondine uttered a curse: "You swore faithfulness to me with every waking breath, and I accepted your oath. So be it. As long as you are awake, you shall have your breath, but should you ever fall asleep, then that breath will be taken from you and you will die!"

That was the storyline of the very first 'Royal London' ballet I witnessed on Saturday evening, June, 6, 2009 at The Royal Opera House in London. I am quite honored by this outing as it was a gift to me from Lord John Eatwell and his dear wife, Lady Susan Digby-Eatwell. It is difficult to describe the regal aura of attending The Royal Ballet. Fantastico!

PHOTO: Alan Freiman, Michael J Armijo,
Susan Digby-Eatwell, Lord John Eatwell

Twenty-five years ago today:

Monday
June 18, 1984

I sold a few more tickets for Ashley’s Baby Pageant. I enjoyed lunch at ‘The Roof Garden’ with my brother, Tony, and Helen Wong.

I telephoned Chris Cordellos on my last break.
“I’m still not sure of my assignments at the end of the week because Ed and Jim are AWOL! I am on high demand because I am seen as the ideal conscientious worker now,” Chris explained.
I laughed, “I know you are.”
“Listen. Could you call Barb and pretend that you haven’t heard from me in a while?”
“Why?”
“I gave her a wild fib that I hadn’t seen or talked to you when she asked,” Chris confessed.
I thought it odd that he would do that but ‘whatever’.

I end up staying at work until 5:30PM today. Ugh! I arrived home and crashed on mom’s brass bed in the guest room. When I woke up I ate ravioli. I did not even feel like riding my bike. I was tired, lazy and kind of ‘bummed out’.

At 8PM I telephoned Sherri and ended up helping her transport a load of boxes from Solomon Lane to Cook Lane. I did a little interior decorating at my pad on Solomon Lane at the same time. Suddenly it was 11PM. Yawn. Good night.