Touch of light.

Late to pick up my mother at the airport! I felt guilty. Surely this was not what a proper person would do. Then I couldn't see her at the terminal and had to drive around all of the terminals again. Finally she was spotted. I explained to my mother that locating her was difficult due to her small stature. She probably wasn't happy about that as she is convinced that she is 5ft 2" when everyone knows she's actually only 5ft 1". My mother was convinced that when we moved to Hong Kong in her late 30's, she grew an extra inch. People have explained to her that it is physically impossible but what can I say- the woman is convinced! It reminds me of the time I had a going away party back in Australia. My mother left just as we were serving the food and said she would pick up a couple more bottles of wine from the corner shop. This should have taken 15 minutes. Instead, she was nowhere to be seen for an hour and a half! When she finally returned she had gone from being Caucasian to full blood Aboriginal.
"Where have you been?" I demanded.
"Just to the corner shop," she said.
"You've gone to have a fake tan in the middle of the party!" I said.
"No I haven't"
"Then how come you are a COMPLETELY different color???" I asked.
My mother stared at me and answered with total defiance:
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She then turned and busied herself with the guests, confident in her skin color.

I had a voice over audition in Beverly Hills today. I took my mother along with me. I was in and out in under 10 minutes. I had driven all that way to say two lines for a vodka commercial, in my very best British accent. Hopefully I nailed it. I have no idea though. Then my mother and I wondered over to Barney's. We had a wonderful conversation with the make-up guys. There are so many guys working at make-up counters nowadays! We drank water and they made us up. To be honest, I think I may have looked better before I got to their counter. They always go to heavy with their products and shimmering blue-gray eyeshadow doesn't really work in the daytime. Nevertheless, we were convinced into a purchase. We each got a new YSL touche eclat concealer. Brilliant product. Watch out for me as I swan past you with nary a blemish and shimmering glow!

We then hit the rooftop restaurant I have so often mentioned. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch with Drew Barrymore. Well, not really. She was sitting at the table next to us-but it was still pretty exciting. We saw her drive in and she was full of life and energy and was super friendly to all the staff. She was actually hugging the valet guys! What a cool lady. Definitely a very proper person and super nice.
For lunch, we had a delicious striped bass chopped salad and sat under the olive trees, looking out over this beautiful city. I tried to push visa issues from my mind and be totally present in the luxury of that moment. I was 85% successful. I think that proper people are very present and it is my chief aim to live in the moment. My boyfriend is vigilant with me about focusing on the present. He can sense that my mind has wondered off within seconds of its journey. I stop my mind, let the thought pass, breath and focus on what is right in front of me. It is always so beautiful and I wonder why I had wanted to go anywhere else. It is a joy to be in the present.