Hello, everyone.  I'm feeling a bit pensive today, so I thought I would just sort of ramble without any Chanson de l’Ange theme or subject matter to highlight.  Usually my blogs in some way relate to the Phantom of the Opera or to my book, but today I have other things on my heart, and I hope you don't mind if I share.

Last weekend, my mom had a very small stroke.  She is 81 years old, and this is the 2nd stroke she's had in a year.  The doctors tell us that she will continue to have more of these as time goes on.  They also say that these small strokes are a precursor to a large one.  My husband and I went to see her the day after the stroke, and although there was no real change in her physical appearance, there were definitely subtle changes in her behavior.  She seems more fragile and emotional, and although she's still  doing well enough to live on her own in her own home, I could see a definite downturn.  I think the stroke scared her...I know it scared me.

My mom is a talented quilter who has made some gorgeous wall hangings over the years.  A few Christmases ago, she made me a beautiful Christmas wall hanging in the colors of my living room.  At this very moment, the wall hanging still decorates my entry, because I have nothing else to hang there until the fall.  Last year for my birthday she made a gorgeous fall themed hanging, and a few weeks ago, I mentioned in passing that I  would love to have a Spring/Summer hanging to place there after the Winter months.

During our visit to mom's house last week, I was verbally admiring a particular piece of printed fabric laid out on her sewing table, and with a big smile she informed me that she had chosen that fabric for my new wall hanging, which she said would be her next project.  It was a bittersweet moment, because I couldn't help wondering if she would ever be well enough to finish it.  I thought it an irony of life that just as my mom was to begin work on a Spring/Summer wall hanging for me...the frost of her own Winter is beginning to take hold.

I suppose when you hit middle age as I have, you begin to contemplate where life might take you in your senior years.  Fortunately, my mom owns her home outright, and she does have the financial stability to sustain herself, regardless of what may come next.  That is relief to my siblings and I, because we know that mom will be well taken care of.  Her wish is to remain her home, and we will do all we can to see that wish honored.

Watching my mom age over the years, I am confronted with my own mortality.  At 54 years old, I am still anticipating many wonderful years of life ahead, but I can’t help wondering how it will be for me in the Winter of my life.   When I was 30, I never thought as far ahead as 40.  Even 40 seemed a long way from 50...but now in my 50’s, the 60’s 70’s and 80’s seem all too close.

Today, I listened on the phone as mom told me in tears, that she couldn’t get anyone from The Geek Squad to come and set up her remote so that she can watch movies on the television in her bedroom.  She had apparently been on the phone several times with this organization, trying to explain why she was so desperate to have the problem addressed, but so far, no one has showed up at her home to fix things, and my mom is feeling dismissed and ignored.  Unfortunately, programming a remote is not something just anyone can do, or believe me, I would have my son over there right now helping her out.

As I sit here writing this blog, I feel a deep sadness because my mom’s Winter season is coming to an end.  It may be years from now that she will close her eyes on this life, or it may be a few short weeks... but it is coming.  How does one prepare for the passing of a parent?  How does one prepare to have your heart broken in a million pieces?

I am praying for strength.

I leave you with this beautiful song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, written for his new Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies.

Paisley  

 Hello to all my readers and fans of Phantom of the Opera in all its variations.  I have posted the new video of Ramin Karimloo singing Till I Hear You Sing, the Phantom's aria in Love Never Dies, ALW's sequel to POTO, which is currently in previews at the Adelphi theater in London.  Like many of you I have been very curious about this show ever since it was revealed that the source material for LND was taken from the atrocious Phantom fiction, The Phantom of Manhattan.

Sadly, the early reviews from those who have attended the preview performances for LND range from scathing to simply shocked at how bad the show is.  The most disturbing aspect of the show seems to be that the storyline is inherently weak, with characters who barely resemble their incarnations from the original production.  Apparently Raoul has been given no redeeming qualities, while Meg Giry becomes a force of negativity in the shaky storyline.  The sets and special effects, and Andrew's uneven score are not going over well with many who expected much more from the great Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has given us some true theatrical gems in years past.  As I suspected, it appears that LND is not even close to living up to the original Phantom of the Opera stage production.  

 As a writer who has been working on my own POTO sequel of sorts, I find this to be a very sad state of affairs.  As most of you know, POTO is a story very dear to me, and I am truly disappointed that its sequel, composed by the Andrew Lloyd Webber, seems to be a disaster.  Many show attendees are convinced that if the show does not undergo extensive revisions before heading for Broadway, it will never make it "across the pond."

When I first began writing my book, Chanson de l'Ange, I knew that I MUST remain true the original characters and their motivations.  I was interested in developing their stories beyond either the pages of Leroux's novel or any stage/film version, but I was always concerned that the essence of these characters not undergo such an overhaul as to be unrecognizable to my readers.

Now nearing the completion of The Bleeding Rose, Book One of Chanson, I truly hope that when you read where I have taken these characters, you will not only be satisfied that I have retained their essential natures, but that you will be taken deeper and wider into a story beloved by so many.

Originally,  I had hoped that Book One would be released on the market sometime in early March, but unfortunately, yet another family crisis has delayed my ability to meet those goals.  It is now looking like the earliest Chanson will be made available for purchase is closer to the Summer months, but I won't speculate on a specific date.  I am disappointed with the delays, but sometimes in our lives, troubles just seem to come out of nowhere to bite us in the butt!

Despite these setbacks, we are persevering and have been working very hard on the edits and revisions so that Chanson de l'Ange will be an enaging and emotionally satisfying read, with as few errors as possible.  Thank you for hanging in there with us!

Paisley

I'm happy to announce that on Jan 30, (next Saturday) at 5:00pm Pacific Time, I will be the special guest on BlogTalkRadio's All Thing Phantom of the Opera program.  I hope you will all tune in to hear me discuss the publication of my book as well as answering the interviewer's questions about my personal interest in the Phantom story.  I hope to give my insights into why this story has become so important in my life.  This program has attracted some very interesting personalities, authors and artists related to Phantom of the Opera.  For example, last week the special guests were the actors who play the leads, (Christine and the Phantom) in the current production of the Las Vegas Phantom.  Please visit the All Things Phantom website more more show info:  AllThingsPhantom

Note: you do not have to register on the site to listen!

See you there!

Paisley