Highlights Of 2023!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         This will be a short one, darlings, as I will record what floated MY boat, during the year.

                                                                             

                         1.  Book Of The Year--"Wellness," by Nathan Hill.  You simply MUST read it!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                

                          2.  Person Of The Year--Sister Camille D'Arienzo--As always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                             

                                   3.  Movie Of The Year--"Godzilla Minus One''-- Really, girls I am not kidding.  This movie had substance, beauty and artistry, plus a star turn by our number one reptile, Gojira, unseen since his 1954 debut.  His performance was truly Shakespearean.  This was Gojira's opportunity to play King Lear, and he makes the most of every given moment.  Oscar talk is floating about, regarding this film, including a Best Actor Nomination for Gojira!  Let us hope for the best!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yea, Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   And that brings us to--

                                                                               

                                         4.  Star Of The Year--Gojira, Who Else?  He enlivened the film he was in, bringing film back to a state of art instead of some phony computer-generated universe, where feelings do not exist.   Here he poses with his young fans, sending love to everyone!   We love you. Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                            

                       5.  Theatrical Event Of The Year--Without question, the 2023 revival of "Merrily We Roll Along."  How gratifying, for one having seen the original 1981 production, to have lived long enough to have my feelings of love for this show vindicated by director Maria Friedman, and her extraordinary cast of Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe, not to mention the most perfect ensemble working on Broadway today.  Go to have your emotions soar, then get torn to pieces!  One of the top theatergoing experiences in my life!

                                                                         

                                                                           

                                  6.  Broadway Stars Of The Year--Josh Groban and Ruthie Ann Miles--You have only two weeks to catch Groban's magnificent performance in "Sweeney Todd," the best since Len Cariou's, and the most tragically tormented interpretation that arouses audience sympathy.  Same for Ruthie Ann Miles.  Often played for comic effect, her Beggar Woman is as heartrendingly tragic as Fantine.  Ruthie could easily morph from here into that role.  Would I love to hear her sing "I Dreamed A Dream."  Ruthie does not depart after January 14, so she can still be seen.  But catch both for a demonstration of vocal and orchestral magnificence.

                                                                                 

7.  My 50th High School Reunion--I was so nervous about attending this, darlings.  We stayed in my hometown of Highland Park, New Jersey, where we took pictures of things related strongly to my past.  The event started Friday afternoon with a tour of the high school, a time to see many long-distance classmates, and enter a building many of us had not been in for 50 years.  I barely recognized the place, and the changes made almost had me wishing I could go back to those times.  But then, changes or not adolescence is adolescence, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!   Still, it was unquestionably the social highlight of the year for me!  As my beloved David said, I was "the belle of the ball."

                                                                             

                         8. Crime Highlight Of The Year--The Capture Of Rex Heurmann--Make no mistake about it, girls, he is NOT The Gilgo Beach Killer.   He is only one of MANY.  And some may not be alive anymore.  It seems that area of Gilgo Beach was a common dumping ground for Metropolitan Serial Killers!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Glad Rex is apprehended, but believe me, dolls, this is just the tip of the iceberg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                               

                       9.     Political Highlight Of The Year--The Expulsion Of George Santos-- The only time I like George Santos is when Bowen Yang plays him, revealing all his venality and corruption.  If Charles Dickens were alive today, he would have had a field day with him.  His expulsion from Congress was a glimmer of hope on the horizon for those of us more progressive and forward thinking.  Speaking of which--

                                                                               

                       10.  The Gradual Decline Of Marjorie Taylor Greene--I know this shot looks like an outtake from Altman's 1975 "Nashville," but let me tell you, neither Greene nor Altman, if he were here would be caught in sight of each other.  Also, today, Altman would not be allowed to make a film like "Nashville;" how times have changed, if not for the better. Girls, I am not sure if this woman is a fag hag, or a man in drag.  Whatever, get your MAGA cronies and Moms Of Liberty and all your right-wing rhetoric the hell out of this nation.  And, girls, don't assume it is only the blue collared masses, as many high profile and educated execs and such are just as MAGA as their compatriots.  May the reognition of this phoniness point to a more hopeful political outcome for 2024.  Otherwise, you might be reading "The Edwardian Queen," coming to you from London!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                     Really, dears, thank God for culture, which the above are trying to eliminate.  In many ways 2023 was a shit show, but I did manage to find elements of enjoyment in it, with my beloved David by my side.  A pleasure I get to share with you, readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          We are almost at the end, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!