Author: Manny Kagan

Cheers,

Live In The Moment

During our stay in Desert Hot Springs, that I wrote about last week, I met Mark. He makes a living by collecting metal scraps, taking them apart and reselling the components. He got lost and asked for directions, or perhaps “smelled” the opportunity, since there was plenty of junk in the back yard – an old refrigerator, a broken door, a bench press that hasn’t been used for the last twenty years. I was amazed to see how Mark was able to lift a heavy metal structure and load it on to his already filled truck by himself. While working, he would stop from time to time to tell some of his life stories. In one of them, he got stuck in the desert when his truck ran of gas. He managed to call 911 to inform about his situation, when his phone lost power. In these cases, he said, when there is no GPS connection, police send a rescue search. However, it was evening and getting dark, so Mark slept in the truck.

In the morning, he saw the police car. After finding Mark, the police officer complained that since it was Sunday morning, he would rather be at church with his family in. Mark, who in the past served as a Pastor at various churches in Texas and Arkansas, offered to conduct a Sunday service for two of them in the middle of the desert. An hour later, when the service was over, Mark kicked the ground with his boot to discover a brass plaque with the engraving: “Live in the Moment”. He gave it to the police officer, while both men had tears running down their cheeks. Mark finished his story by saying, “I am the richest man in the world, since I have myself and my God.”

To live in the moment allows us to change ourselves and our surroundings, like transforming the desert into an oasis.

Enjoy and share with a friend!

Cheers,

Spring in Palm Springs

In the past, pre-pandemic, we used to come to Palm Springs every Spring, to participate in the Palm Springs Photo Festival, where I took workshops with many great photographers. Since it was postponed again this year, we had a different excuse for a visit.

Our older daughter’s significant other owns a house in Bubbling Wells Oasis, in Desert Hot Springs, a fifteen-minute drive from Palm Springs airport. Jeff bought his house there 30 years ago, when it was in the middle of a deserted area with underground hot springs. Now there are quite a few homes, a golf course and a hot springs spa. We stayed there for three relaxing days, dined in very good restaurants in Palm Springs, where we saw quite a few tourists.

To avoid almost one-hundred-degree heat, we stayed indoors during the day, where I started to write my next book, Retirement Solutions for Smart People, which I will finish by the Fall. And of course, I came home with over 800 photos. Since cacti are abundant here, I chose three for your enjoyment.

Enjoy and share with a friend.

Cheers,

Mother’s Day

I have a special reason why I’m writing in advance about Mother’s Day, which is celebrated on Sunday, May 8^th. I was blessed to have two mothers. Mama Liza gave me birth, and I lived at home with her until the age of 20. When I got married, I moved in with my wife and Mama Masha, my wife’s mother. For the next 20 years, until her passing in San Francisco, we lived together and traveled from Latvia via Israel to the United States. Both of my mothers died a long time ago, but I still think about both of them. Their love and care helped me to become who I am today – a person who loves and cares about others.

Online, I read about the history of Mother’s Day. In America, Anna Jarvis, started Mother’s Day in 1908, and then later denounced the holiday because of its commercialization of presenting moms with flowers, cards and other gifts.

I think that my photo-book “42 Encounters with Love” can be the best gift you can give to your mother. It can not only can be an expression of your love; but also, unlike flowers, it will not ever fade, nor will my beautiful roses, which I offer to you with love.

Enjoy and Share Love!