spazzing

so saturday was my aunty Barb's memorial service on Venice beach. It could not have been a more beautiful day. The weather report said it was gonna be like 62 but it was more like 70-75 degrees out, clear skies, and vivid blue ocean. We stopped at Neptune's Net on our way to my cousins and had a delightful early lunch...im really bummed i never took mick there. My family had been going crazy planning ahead of time and surprisingly there was nothing left to do when we got to the house. Tons of people showed up and i got to visit with relatives i hadn't seen in at least 6 years. We all marched to the beach were 4 different alters were being set up and our friends were tuning their guitars. More and more people kept showing up till there were at least 50, maybe 80 people on the beach. There was a bowl of holy water at the main alter, people were told to take a white rose petal, say a prayer for Barb, and then place it in the bowl. It was pretty neat when a monk (in training) showed up and some of our group had him come over and share a prayer. He was like "wow what a coincidence, i was just at the store and people were asking me if i knew this woman and now here i am!" Friends and relatives shared poems and stories about Barb. It was so very sweet and sad. The sun was starting to set after everyone finished up and birds were flying overhead. I was then caught a little off guard when our friend then said that the females of Barb's bloodline (me, my sis, my mom, and two cousins) were to then carry the bowl down to the water. it was an honor and we all shouted our thanks to my aunt as we walked down there.......but silly old me still had my shoes on and before i could do anything about it, i was walking into the ocean ankle deep....hahaha so much for keeping new shoes clean. as we were doing this, more birds flew over us and dolphins appeared in the waves. it was downright magical! i got tons of pics and i discovered something pretty awesome in a few of them as well as the video i took as were poured the water and petals. you know orbs? those spots of lights that show up unexplainably in pics that people believe to be spirits? well in the vid, one shows up and floats around near the end and then a few pics following it shows up again when i faced the ocean where we spilt the water. pretty neat i think even if you aren't a firm believer in those types of things. after the service at the beach, we all headed back to the house for a big party filled with good food and drinks, merriment and memories


barbara was always complaining that she was cold so carly put her mom's favorite scarf around her urn

the house was filled with gorgeous flowers

her friends from albertsons brought tons of food and this giant, and ever so yummy, cake

everyone was out and the sidewalks were jumpin!







this is one of the pics with the ord. and btw thats my sister

my aunt was an amazing artist who really inspired me. she won numerous awards and sold a few pieces. she loved to paint in vibrant, thick strokes of paint capturing scenes of Venice, her family, food, and her latest residence, Thailand.
i found a couple old pictures showcasing a few of her paintings


it also happens that she was a prolific actress in 1970's porn which is how her and her husband met and how so much of our friends and family is in the movie business. Her and her husband used to be great friends with John Holmes before the...uh...incidences. check her out on IMDb, Barbara Mills (Caron)