"Catch me if you Can"

This piece is so special to me. It was done just three days after I was diagnosed with brain cancer. From the shock of everything and my dear friend Andy Stamford who stayed by my side got me through the first trauma of it all.

First, he put in a call to the office stating money verses flowers in which everyone adhered to and I got the best round of fresh produce, which was the beginning of my Alkaline diet.

We went out into the desert and I found this piece of rock art and was excited over it. I went home and painted immediately “Catch me if you Can.” I knew I wasn’t wasting time but it was a challenge.

I knew it was a matter of putting a square peg in a round hole and I just needed to figure it out and I did.

I love this little painting and it sits prominently in my home.

Thoughts to hold onto

Thoughts to hold onto

"I need to reach out to you

and tell you what I have seen

since you began this latest journey.

You are such a bright light and you glow at this time,

and there is so much life in you. You glow,

look softer and seem to radiate LOVE..."  ANI LYNE -  

"Why am I still here?" bears great meaning to me because I am in the present and absorbing life to the fullest I possibly can with being "here" and not over "there" somewhere listening to the shuffle of life passing me by.

My life is full because I am open for it to be full of wonderful people, thoughts and sharing the new found spring into life. It hard to describe but shall share some stories with you that may bring it to life.

The other day, I was leaving the gym, a little late for me after big in the pool and went into the locker room. I took my changing room and hence began to change my clothes. The acoustics in that room have a soft echo and I heard this voice emerge from no where. I put my head out the door and looked down the hallway to see one shower room was being used with their items of possession, normal things like a towel, workout bag and a pair of shoes on the ground. 

I remember only seeing a petite young Asian woman quietly moving about earlier and wondered if if was her.

With a slow start, this woman behind the shower curtain began to sing an Italian aria with a slow start. I quietly backed into the changing room to sit down to see what would transpired.

The words rolled off her tongue as if the sun was raising up in the morning sky, slow steady, but perfect in every way.  It was like the parting of night into a bright new day.

As she proceeded I received goose flesh on my arms. She didn't miss a note and the music rolled out of her mouth like she was preparing for a lifetime experience. Each note strong, each note sincere, expressing a story I didn't understand but touched my heart.

I sat still and closed my eyes to listen, not only my head but my heart. Tears began to roll down my face as I listened as her voice resonated through-out my heart.

It felt like I was there for hours and when I was preparing to leave she was still singing. I wanted to only be a fly on the wall, which I was, and left discretely. 

That was the most multi-level experience I have had filled with love, sorrow and peace. I shall never forget this very special moment in time.

That night, I slept like an angel in the depths of her gift.

In contrast to this story, that seems to have some sort of morality to it, is the day before when I was at Starbucks, a couple, who evidently was over "there" was causing an inter-personal discord in the store. I got my water and moved outside to be away from it, just raising my shield a bit to blend into the background.

About five minutes later, the wife come storming out the store ranting and raving gibberish about how she never buys anything until she knows if she "likes it" and it was up to her husband to "buy one" to see if indeed she would" like it. She did like it, but it would have taken too long for her timeframe to have it made to her specifications.

Anyway, she stood next to their brand new hybrid vehicle and proceeded to kick the side door panels ranting, "Let me in the car, let me in the car now!"

That night I slept like an angel too, but in a different realm of, not really feeling sorry for her but I knew when to place my shield up to forget the negativity she displayed.

I knew why I was "here" and she was over "there" and it is a choice one makes that can not impede on my soul. The gift is at one's hands if you pay attention.

"There is something magical happening with you. Your vibration is raising , which is very important as you know in letting go of any dis-ease in one's body." Ani Lyne

Ani Lyne, Sedona Arizona

A New Beginning

Finding my way through Pt 2

A Conversation Point

“Why am I still here today?”

My Enchanted Tea Cottage

214 W.Ridgecrest Blvd.

An evening with Deborah Mills, Artist, Writer & Survivor

Buy your tickets on line here

$15 per person

includes: a fresh, healthy desert along with select ice tea

Pre-paid Reservations 

Doors open at 6 p.m.

With the book, “Murder on 520 Bassett Street” one would think the conclusion to a three year battle to take one man down out of 29 men leaving 28 unsolved murders in the little town of City of King City with population rate of over 13 thousand would be a resolution; but it was not, it is the beginning of Pt 2.

Mills will tell the story how, when it was all over, a serious brain tumor left her debilitated from expressing herself and left her locked inside her own brain. Through strength, she is finding her way back knowing she is going to get through this. Be sure to cheer her on at this year’s Relay for life Survivor lap at Cerro Coso College on Oct.1  at 9 a.m. where she will be wearing a t-shirt bearing the motto of “Warrior Woman, a cry from with-in.”

POLICY

72 hours cancellation for credit only by email marcelaenchanted@gmail.com

Sorry there is no credit or refunds for "No Shows" or less then 72 hours notice.

https://squareup.com/store/my-enchanted-cottage

Reflecting on 'Murder on 520 Bassett Street' By Monica Lorenz

By Monica Lorenz

 About the Musing of a Social Butterfly Blog April 25, 2016

It may sound like an ordinary address, but 520 Bassett Street in King City, Ca is the location of where Deborah Mills' world was turned upside down on the early morning of December 4th, 2012. Prior to that fateful day, she and her husband, Rodger "Anthony" Esquivel, lived, laughed and most importantly one another very deeply. That being said, my heart scented and my eyes welled with tears while reading the book she painstakingly wrote about his senseless murder. Not only was truth stranger than fiction, but it also seemed to have the capacity to be much more wretched. 

I didn't know Deborah then, but Aaron Crutchfield did.   In fact, he was the editor of the South County Newspapers where she worked at the time of Anthony's untimely death.   Interestingly, Aaron later moved to Ridgecrest, CA to become the editor of The Daily Independent from 2013 until December 2015.   Thanks to him, Deborah eventually relocated to Ridgecrest as well for a new lease on life.   She became the Community Editor for The Daily Independent and as part of her lengthy healing process, began writing her book.   Not only did Aaron help her edit it, but he also wrote a gripping foreword that set the stage for this heartbreaking story.

Over dinner and drinks with Deborah one Friday night, just as her book was published, I told her that I planned to read her book from cover to cover that coming Sunday.   Sadly, once I sat down to read it, I encountered so much raw emotion that I couldn't immerse myself in it for too long.   Her feelings were matter of fact, in your face, and far from sugar coated.   There was so much to emotionally digest that my senses literally became overwhelmed and my arms became covered with goose bumps.   I had to make it a point to read only one chapter at a time and get myself a bigger box of tissues.

On the bright side, the end of each chapter contained pictures of her artwork which, for the most part, were inspired by the petroglyphs of the Coso Range.   The various pieces, with names such as The Protector, Mother and Child and my favorite, Stop, Not in My World, have significant meaning to her.   Having the opportunity to see Deborah's artistic side was definitely an added bonus and reading about how painting helped her immensely in her healing process was very heartwarming.

Now that I've finished her book, I can say that I have a much deeper admiration for Deborah as a woman, a wife and an overall human being.   Although she could have easily allowed for Anthony's death to transform her into a monster hell bent on revenge, nothing could have been further from the truth.   Even throughout the trials and tribulations that she needlessly endured, she diligently sought justice for her man and didn't rest until she got it.

The fact that Deborah can smile and laugh as wholeheartedly as she does says a lot about her tenacity to live her life to the fullest in spite of the hole that was left in her heart.   In the last year that I have come to know her and have been able to call her my friend, I've come to realize quickly that she is the epitome of a true survivor and one helluva tough broad.   Kudos to my dear friend who persevered through her emotional journey and was so courageous to write it all down.

'You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.   You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror.   I can take the next thing that comes along.'' " Eleanor Roosevelt

There is no place like home

Over the last few weeks it has been a whirl wind with the release of the book, "Murder on 520 Bassett Street" as I finally got it on line to be purchased and have ordered copies of the book for local sales.

Yesterday, I participated in the local "Author's Showcase" that went well and now I am preparing for my next venue to be held on April 23, held at the Retro Record Shop on Ridgecrest Boulevard starting at noon.

This will be a one woman show starting at noon were the first 15 minutes will be donated to people settling in along with my brothers cd playing welcoming everyone.

What is special about the event, there will be my painting of my work that correspond with the one's used in the book. You may not know but I used art as therapy to help me get to the other side.

Pictured are the paintings that my brother recently brought back that where they were on display in Sedona.

I didn't open the box until last night and thought, "My friends are home." With a dear friend in my life whose all the painting together he was other-welmed with the beauty and magical power they brought into the home.

I was told when they were on display in Sedona that people would stare and study them but not one sale. I thought hmmm, I wonder why.

Andy said, "It makes sense Deborah, they are home now. These painting are from this area. You can feel it. Those were not Sedona painted skies but skies from the area where these were born."

I got it. I looked at them around the room and had to smile. My friends are here and didn't want to get separated. They are here for my upcoming event so everyone will be able to see collectively the power they have.

Welcome home my friends.

Early Bird Special...The release of Murder on 520 Bassett Street

I did the final proofing and I have print copies coming soon. It is already available on Creativespace and next week on Amazon.

I am part of the upcoming Author Showcase and the book will make it's debut on April 9 at the Ridgecrest Branch Library.

It came to me in the middle of the night...

It was about three weeks ago and it hit me like a bolt of lighting where my painting have simple lines with trying to create action at the same time. I guess it laid deep in my psyche that back in the 80's I use to sell Keith Haring's work. 

The appeal was his simple figures that would dance across the canvas, always with an underlying meaning. His of course were more of a social standing and often times making a political statement. 

My work is soft at heart and doesn't need to make a point in life because I do that everyday as a reporter. 

The contrast of the written word and my paintings are miles apart but still close. I am not sure how to describe it best.

To best describe my work I say it is organic, primitive with everlasting meaning.