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Hollywood

#BrokenRelationships; Because Our Feelings Are Important!

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img_6061We didn’t plan it; it just was the day we could all get together. It just so happened to be my late grandfather’s birthday. So it was ironic for my aunt and me to take my grandmother to The Museum of Broken Relationships on a day that would indefinitely remind us all of him.  My grandmother and grandfather got divorced after 30 years of marriage. She could arguably be the patron saint of broken relationships.  It was not a mutual decision.  I am sure that they both loved each other in their own flawed way up until the day he died. We recently found letters that my grandfather sent her. She wrote in-between his declaration of love; words that reminded her of why their relationship did not work. These are now destroyed.

Every relationship that ends leaves pieces that are difficult for many to let go of and some that are downright impossible to keep while starting a new relationship (I’m talking to you; women who keep stuffed teddy bears from exes).  People flock to Burning Man to burn things in effigy but if that is not your style, the Museum of Broken Relationships may be the answer.

The Museum is located in Los Angeles on Hollywood Boulevard. Not only do they display these past trophies of sentimental value, but they take donations and display the collection anonymously. Each display holds its own story. There were collections of mixed tapes, bras, and even an engagement ring.  One display (silicone breast implants) is a good reminder to never alter one’s body for someone else. Another of old cologne bottles, a painful reminder that some relationships are broken by death and not a mutual parting. A stuffed Betty Boop doll from a same-sex co-worker who received the gift from a crush. She knew that her crush was heterosexual and an intimate relationship would never work. 20160823_155315

So, if you have been holding on to the past and do not know where to start to let go, you can donate your memories to the museum. I have not had any bad breakups. The only thing I consider is a small stuffed dragon that I took when I moved from my mother’s home. My mom and I have never been close. I took the dragon in hopes that one day we could mend and have a meaningful mother and daughter relationships that are the scripts for movies. Alas, I have found that there are so many other relationships that mean more to me because of those willing to work together. My aunts, cousins, friends and anyone who invests time in a relationship. I still have that stuffed dragon, and know I should let it go.

One of the most  powerful donations is a tiny piece of paper with the words “Pay attention to me” written on it. It was donated by an artist who’s former girlfriend slipped him the piece of paper but he was too busy to look. It took him two years to find it. In a world of #Selfies, let us strive to love more often, forgive more often, and “pay attention” to those who matter the most.20160823_153551

Click The Museum of Broken Relationships for more information.

Thank you for reading,

-La Vida Verde

Leftie is out of here!

By | Baby Jade, Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments

Far too often we get stuck in our daily lives/routine and time just passes us by. Why do we allow for such things? Having diagnosed myself a nomad (shout out to my Kunama clan) I’ve started to feel this itch. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what it could be. I certainly didn’t think it was my living in LA because LA is the land of opportunity and whatever was going to happen to me was going to happen here. Clearly I’ve watched too many movies. So I got to thinking (uh oh) and my thoughts led me to the decision I so happily made about a month ago: to start somewhere new.

What does this have to do with my photo you ask? Well, I had to blame SOMEONE, and my brain seemed to be where the culprit lay. SO, I’m turning off the left side. It somehow got turned on in the past few years (silly little brain gnomes) and I’ve been gliding through life thinking logically instead of creatively. My #creative side is what brought me to #LA to begin with!! I think as we get older, leftie starts to take over because it’s the side that makes “sense”. *eye roll* If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that it doesn’t make sense. So why should I? If you wanna seek adventure then you have to SEEK ADVENTURE. Duh! So in 6 weeks it’s bye bye tinsel town, hello adventure, by way of London (with a stop in MN to be with family) I’ve seen how lucky and blessed I am to be able to experience life; the last thing I’m going to do is waste that ability because of someone’s idea that it may not be logical.

*Thank you for continuously reading my blogs. For more content check out my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethlehemawate*

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Xo, B

Ajaa Nachle

By | Baby Jade, Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments

Rain pours down while a beautiful woman sings and searches. Searching for what you ask? For answers, her lover, her voice, the truth….the answers are endless, but the scene is priceless. It’s a scene you’re almost always guaranteed to find in a Bollywood film.
Growing up in an Eritrean household there are two movies guaranteed to be in your possession. The first of these films is “The Gods Must Be Crazy” and the second is “Mother India” Without knowing, we grew up on Bollywood. Of course the love I have for it now is one that had to be discovered. When one first sees a Bollywood film, and isn’t necessarily aware of what goes on in one of these films, their response is usually one of “huh?” but like anything, it gets better and better every time you watch it. I rediscovered a love for Bollywood, one I didn’t even know I had, when I saw “Bride and Prejudice” a remake on the Jane Austen classic, “Pride and Prejudice”. If I’m honest, I was taken aback by all the colors and the random outburst of song. The first time I saw the film I actually thought I’d wasted money in purchasing the film. A few days passed and I decided to watch it again, this time I found myself involuntarily tapping my foot, working my hands as they did in the film, and singing along. And by the third time I was ready to pack my bags, move to Mumbai and audition for a Bollywood film. Obviously, that didn’t happen but I did want more! Much more of what it was I just watched.
As if by fate, a cousin of mine told me of a Bollywood film showing on Netflix. Duh! Netflix was bound to have a Bollywood section and it did! I watched movie after movie until I ran out of films to watch. I became familiar with names like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, the list goes on.
One becomes seduced by the colors, song and dance, the overly dramatic love stories, and the heartfelt ways lovers find their way to one another against all odds. Definitely a much different take on films than that of Hollywood and that’s okay. It works. One needs to understand that Bollywood is not a reflection of what happens in India but more a way for the citizens to escape into a world of make believe, while still keeping with the tradition of the people. It’s absolutely beautiful!
My only problem? I now find it difficult to watch Hollywood cinema. Not a bad problem to have.

*Thank you for continuously reading my blogs. For more content check out my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethlehemawate*

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Xo, B

And the Oscar goes to…..

By | Baby Jade, Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments

My favorite season has come and gone but like always, it has left me with excitement and renewed my sense of purpose. In a night where the best of the best are chosen by their peers, this night is the biggest in cinematic history. I’m talking about the Oscars!
The Oscars have always held a special place in my heart. From the time I can remember Oscar Sunday was the most important day in my life. I’d make snacks, dress up in a fancy gown, invite everyone over (and even have a faux red carpet). It was great!! My parents indulged me because they understood how important this night was to me.
The Academy Awards are about more than just a celebration of the year’s biggest films. They were the wave of the future. In a time where African American’s weren’t even allowed to sit with white people the Academy not only recognized their first African American with an award but allowed for that star to be present. I’m talking of course of Hattie McDaniel.
While it’s true that Ms. McDaniel still sat in the segregated section at the 1940’s award show, she still made history that night by winning. She faced backlash, unfortunately, for the role in which she won. But I believe she responded to her critics best when she said, “Why should I complain about making $700 a week playing a maid? If I didn’t, I’d be making $7 a week being one.”
Another Oscar year that I cherish was the 1999 Oscars when Roberto Benigni won for best Foreign Film and went absolutely nuts! He won for the film “Life Is Beautiful”, a film about a father determined to shield his son from the horrors of being in a concentration camp.
Even the Muppets have had many a cameo at these prestigious awards. Miss Piggy!? Ahhhhh!
Even more recently, the number of African’s really making their mark and getting noticed by Hollywood. A new found favorite is the beautiful and flawless Ms. Lupita Nyong’o. I beam extra hard when I think of her win. It shows me that opportunities for me are endless and that I too can accomplish anything and everything I want with dedication, hard work, and a dream.
I could go on and on about the moments that have meant something to me but we’d be here all night. I just want to close out by quoting the gracious Ms. Nyong’o:
“It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s.”

*Thank you for continuously reading my blogs. For more content check out my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethlehemawate*

Let’s connect on social media, I’d love to hear from you:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethlehemawate
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Snapchat: betu_la

Xo, B