Surviving Love and Death – John Bernd; 8 May 1953 – 28 August 1988
Dear John,
Not a day has gone by in all these years (TWENTY FOUR) that i don’t think about you
Some days even more than others, but everyday. YOU taught me so much about so much
Because of your friendship, love, wisdom and desire to share your life and your death with me,
i am who i am
THANK YOU
How wild that you named your show Surviving Love and Death. In 1981. You knew you were sick but it was before ‘they’ even had a name for what it was. YOU, the artist, knew though. You knew that there was many lessons to learn and as many battles to fight. You taught me well dear John.
And the battles continue.
Every year on the day marking your death I think how many more years I have known you dead than alive and how little that actually matters EXCEPT i would give anything to see you grow old and continue dancing and making work and sharing your beautiful soul with the rest of us.
But i do still feel you doing that, looking after us, and making me see things i would never had seen without you in my life.
the custom made road case John had built for his little red chair
Because of you John Bernd, there will forever be an endless supply of love in my heart
Photo of John Bernd dancing by Dona Ann McAdams. John’s little red chair is in the background.
RIP Whitney Houston – May you find the love you have been searching for
The rumors live out there- just google it- the relationship between Whitney and her ‘personal assistant’ Robyn Crawford. The way it was made to end; enter Bobby Brown and the downfall of the greatest singing talent of this generation….
And whatever you believe, I saw with my own eyes, their connection, Whitney and Robyn, and the strength Whitney felt from Robyn’s support.
But at this moment I’d like to wish her soul peace, happiness and solace….
Rest In Eternal Peace Whitney Houston.
And pray that future generations, with or without commercial talent, are allowed to love who they love and be who they are with the support of their families’, religions’, managers’, record companies’, politicians, and whoever else makes a lot of money off them.
Observing The Observer
Legendary street & fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, writes down the names of the people he just photographed.
He is not only one of my heroes, but I dream of following in his footsteps one day.
PARIAH [puh-rahy-uh] noun; A Movie You Must See
Honestly, I knew nothing of this movie- my dear friend bought me a ticket & said;
Leave Your House- You Are Going...!!
Thank You Dear Friend.
Pariah is a beautiful, funny & real coming-out movie, representing AGs’ (look that up yourself if this is something you never heard of before, aka: Aggressives).
Afterwards, outside, this very smiley guy came up to me & my dear friend & said;
There’s the Star – did you like the movie – tell her – that’s her- it would mean so much!!!
We did. We loved her and the movie. She was absolutely fantastic & has a fabulous smile….
Adepero Oduye, star of Pariah outside Sunshine Cinema & that fabulous smile
And Today’s Lesson: Leave Your House Sometimes
Spending Time in Zuccotti Park – OWS#
My ankle 100% healed, I asked Joe to go with me to Zuccotti Park. Joe, like several of my friends, make almost daily trips of support to the park. Cleaning supplies, food for humans & pets, clothes, positive conversation, MIC CHECK, forums, just sitting…it’s about doing whatever you can. And finally feeling that hope, promised by others who had power to gain, but a hope for change just the same. Like maybe we can make change like those believers that came before us. 
Joe shows me the ropes, though it is so well planned and laid out the parks feels very safe and welcoming to join
Do go to Zuccotti Park. Do not just believe what you read. You have to feel the vibe. See the conversations happening. Be part of it. Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport. Our Future is Now.
Hurricane Irene – There’s Got To Be A Morning After; 23 years later John Bernd…
11pm heavy rain, thunder and lightning….nothing unusual…back to tvland
8am Sunday: TIME TO WALK THE POOCHES!
Doberman & his Human in their Hurricane Rain Gear
Squid’s favorite block buddy-Gino & his roomate Carly (and their human friends)
Best thing about Irene: The streets are still abandon in the early morning- just like how the East Village use to be – nobody out before Noon!
CLOSED!? This is the old Roger’s Garden. Roger would have been open by 6am!
Irene Slays Lucky Chengs’ Dragon – the biggest damage we find other than branches
Not the cake but the newspaper is left out in the rain in 1st St Park (not McArthur’s)
9 am Non-dog people finally start to come out to take photos – these 3 guys hi-fived each other moments after this photo having witnessed the sun peaking thru the rain clouds
Prune finally joins the Irene Generation
And Squid wonders and sings ….”is that all there is…?”
Yes,Thankfully, for us anyway. Hope the same for you & yours xxxxx
And on another note:
Today, 28 Aug 2011, is the 23rd anniversary of the day John Bernd died. I still miss him. Every single day.
photo by Dona Ann McAdams
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