Healing Your inner Child with Yoga

~ We can acquire strength in our adult life by attending to our inner child and uncovering forgotten parts of ourselves. ~

Your inner child is a subconscious part of you, the shadow of who you were as a child before you got bogged down with the worries of adult life. There are many ways to connect with your inner child and invite more joy into your everyday life. Regain a sense of playfulness, creativity, optimism and the joy of simple things.

I am connecting to my inner child, stretching with yoga Barbie.

Self-expression makes me stronger and more energized. It helps me discover hidden power and resources.

Finding More Self-compassion

Who you are today is largely based on your childhood and how you were raised, the care you received, what you learned to love and fear. you carry this conditioning with you, as an adult, and it pervades your everyday decisions. By reconnecting with your inner child can you start to heal those old wounds and rewire your mindset.

Connecting with your inner child can help you develop self-awareness. It can also “put you in touch with a wider range of emotions, boost your creativity, enhance your desire to have fun, and help you feel more light-hearted.” – Dr. V. Leonidaki 

Cultivating compassion within can help diminish the strength of the inner critic, which could easily turn negative, humiliating your inner child in an internal dialogue. Helping your inner child get his/her needs met, will form part of the healing process and make you more aware of suppressed negative emotions, which could have made you more prone to mental health difficulties.

“If there are any wounds from your childhood that need healing, reconnecting with your inner child could give you the opportunity to work through them. Finally, you could end up with a more complete sense of who you are by connecting different parts of yourself together,” says Dr Venetia Leonidaki. 

Healing Your Inner Child and Your Fitness

If you were pushed by your parents to be the best, the star of the team or the show, you might now struggle with staying fit for your own health’s sake. Instead, you might be doing it because you’re feeling an internal pressure to excel and please those around you. By reconnecting with your inner child, you can learn to enjoy exercise for what it is now: not a show of strength, but as a form of self care that you can actually enjoy.

As a whole, inner child work can help you enjoy yourself more and shed the anxieties you’ve carried into adulthood. When you understand yourself better, it’s easier to follow your joy and passion in everyday life and create a more compassionate and understanding relationship with yourself.

Practicing Self Awareness and Self Care 

When you get upset, frustrated, or feel emotional pain, what kinds of things are happening around you? Who are you talking to? Paying attention to these triggers can help you connect them to childhood wounds. 

Part of developing self-awareness is practicing self-care. Sometimes, when our needs weren’t met as a child, we hold onto those patterns as an adult. Taking care of your own needs can be a powerful act of self-love. Exploring yourself through yoga can be a tool to healing and emotional release. It can also be a creative expression of your playful side.

Here’s to seeing more of your playful side.

In health, Linda

Westlake Village Living – Meet the Eichberg Family

My family and I were very honored to be the cover story in this months Westlake Village Living magazine. Steven and I chose Westlake Village to raise our family. It’s a special place. Today is also the 43rd anniversary of our meeting. Here is the story.

Meet the Eichberg Family

Linda and Steven Eichberg are an active and socially engaged couple who have called Westlake Village home for the past 34 years. Along with their daughter Lindsay, son in law Ben and grandson Caleb, the Eichbergs have built a beautiful life out of hard work and dedication to their talents and their community.

Linda and Steven met on the 4th of July in 1980. They were both attending a party thrown by a mutual acquaintance, and the connection between them quickly became apparent.

“Right away my eyes were drawn to him. I knew he was a quality guy because he asked my brother in law’s permission to ask me out,” Linda recalled. “I also knew he was down to earth because he had a glass of wine in his hand and as he walked over to me, he spilled his wine on me (not on purpose) and we had a good laugh.”

This good humor led to a date a few days later at a Doobie Brothers and Huey Lewis and the News concert.

Linda asked Steven to join her, and their concert date was followed by coffee and hours of conversation. Knowing they had found something special, the couple continued their relationship and have now been married for 39 years.

Steven was born in New York and moved to California as a child with his parents and two brothers. After graduating from California State University in Los Angeles, he attended law school at Southwestern University School of Law. Beginning his career in 1974, Steven first focused on business litigation in Encino. He eventually moved into negotiating commercial leases for major franchises such as the UPS stores, California Closets and Taco Bell. Steven was recently awarded “Nation’s Top One Percent” and “Marquis Who’s Who in America” for excellence in practicing law as well as his work in ethics and philanthropy.

He has recently retired from his law practice, but still works as a mediator with Southern California Mediation Partners, LLC.

Linda was born in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia and attended West Chester University majoring in vocal music. It was during this time that Linda’s life would take an exciting turn. During her second year of college, Linda read about auditions for singers and dancers to perform in the group The Golddiggers for The Dean Martin Show. Linda and her sister Maria auditioned in New York and were two of ten young women chosen for a second audition in California.

“After a second, weeklong audition process, only eight of the ten were chosen to be on The Dean Martin Show. My sister and I were two of them,” Linda explained.

As members of the group, Linda and Maria performed on The Dean Martin Show as well as other television programs such as The Tonight Show. They also traveled around the world performing with legends such as Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope.

Their time with The Golddiggers lasted about 17 years, and as Linda described it, “It was a thrill, but also hard work.”

Linda and Maria stayed in southern California after their time with The Golddiggers and dabbled in acting, even landing a few roles on primetime television. After 25 years in the entertainment business, Linda settled down in Westlake Village to raise her family.

Linda was a stay at home mother during daughter Lindsay’s younger years, and got involved in any way she could while Lindsay was going through grade school. A classroom volunteer,

Linda was also involved with Lindsay in the Westlake Agora Girls Softball League for many seasons. When Lindsay became a bit older, Linda became certified as a Group Fitness Instructor.

Specializing in Pilates and yoga, Linda spent years working part time teaching classes privately as well as in gyms and studios.

Lindsay, now 34, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. She now works as a marketing director for CBS Lindsay works on advertising reality television shows and live music specials such as The Amazing Race and The Grammys, acting as a liaison between production and talent and overseeing the entire commercial process. Lindsay is married to Ben Issler, who also graduated from UC Berkeley. Ben works as an oncology nurse at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, taking care of patients as they undergo treatments such as stem cell transplants and research chemotherapy. When Lindsay and Ben aren’t busy with their one year old son, Caleb, they enjoy spending time with family, enjoying quality time in the park, writing music and cheering on LA sports teams.

The Eichberg family is rounded out by two sweet rescue dogs.

Steven and Linda have a 14 year old Maltese and a two and half year old Shih Tzu that love taking hikes with Linda on cool days.

Linda recently got the chance to revisit her years as a member of The Golddiggers when she and Maria were contacted about writing a book on their experiences. Their book, Beyond our Wildest Dreams by the Alberici sisters, recounts their exciting time as members of The Golddiggers and includes over 300 rare photos. The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. To promote the book, Linda and Maria undertook a singing and book signing tour.

“It was a blast doing shows again with my sister!” Linda emphasized.

This busy family somehow finds the time to volunteer and give back to the communit as well. Linda and Steven started a local nonprofit called Lily of the Valley Endeavor (LoVE) with a local church. LoVE’s directive is to serve orphans with HIV/ AIDS in South Africa. The couple put on many fundraisers for the organization, including LoVEFest, which Steven co-directed at the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks. Linda and Steven also served on the board of directors of Cornerstone Ministries in Westlake Village, and are currently supporting the St. Jude Children’s Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Proiect.

When they do find time for a vacation, the Eichberg family loves to spend time in Kauai, Hawaii. Steven and Linda have been taking Lindsay there since she was a young girl, and they were so happy to share their special place with Ben. The family is looking forward to introducing Caleb to Kauai when he is older.

Back at home, Linda and Steven love living in Westlake Village. They enjoy their neighborhood, and they appreciate the proximity to open spaces and parks.

“Nature is my happy place. Being close to the mountains and beaches is wonderful,” Linda said.

When asked what they would like to pass along to their Westlake Village neighbors, they emphasized an appreciation for what makes this place so special, “Westlake Village is a beautiful city with lovely people. We are very grateful to live here.

Practicing gratitude and kindness is a powerful thing that will bring joy and satisfaction to your life and those around you. The effect will help keep Westlake Village a positive and lovely city.”

By Brittany O’Reilly

Photos by Chris Clinton and provided by the Eichberg family 

I hope you enjoyed our story.

In gratitude, Linda

Our Heart Brain

“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape”!

My years as a dancer have kept me flexible in body and mind. The brain too is flexible, even more than previously thought. It is no longer considered to be “hard wired,” as neuroscientists believed in the past.

Neuroplasticity was once thought to manifest only during childhood, but recent research showed that many aspects of the brain can be altered (or are “plastic”) even through adulthood. I’ve learned when something goes wrong, Incredibly enough the brain can rewrite itself in order to develop new skills and to heal itself.

 The human brain is amazing! Have you ever heard of something called the ‘heart brain’?

The Heart Brain

For the most part, we have largely been conditioned to lead from our heads and to focus on logical reasoning. But newer research on the ability and effects of the heart on our overall functioning and well-being is now suggesting, it may be beneficial to listen to your heart.

The heart contains an intrinsic nervous system that exhibits both short and long-term memory functions. The intrinsic nervous system of the heart consists of approximately 40,000 neurons called sensory neurites which relay information to the brain. It is possible that these neurons play a pivotal part in transferring memories.

Research in the new discipline of neurocardiology has confirmed that the heart acts as a sophisticated information encoding and processing center that enables it to learn, remember, and make functional decisions independently of the brain.

“Additionally, numerous studies have demonstrated that cardiac signals to the brain affect autonomic regulatory centers and higher brain centers involved in cognition and mood regulation.”

The Heart-Brain Connections Influence on Health

Scientists, are increasingly uncovering a close connection between the heart and brain. Clinical evidence is mounting that cardiovascular health affects cognitive health, suggesting that preventive efforts for one translate to the other. 

“Whatever you do for your heart is likely going to be good for your brain as well,” says Zaldy Tan MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Memory and Aging Program and medical director of the and the Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology.

What’s Good for One is Good for the Other

“Growing awareness of the relationship between brain and heart means that suggestions for cardiac health and cognitive health increasingly overlap. Medical providers recommend exercise, a key cardiovascular intervention, as a shared starting point.”

“If you could take everything that exercise does for your body and put it in a single pill, each one would be worth a million dollars, and every pharmaceutical company would be fighting tooth and nail for the formula to that pill,” Susan Cheng MD, says. “The irony is exercise is free.”

The renowned Framingham Heart Study, which has been tracking the cardiac health of thousands of participants since 1948, found that the least physically active people were more likely to develop dementia. On the positive side, a separate study of older adults in Finland suggested that, exercise and a healthy diet could strengthen cognitive function in patients at risk of dementia.

Diet and exercise are key factors in influencing both heart and brain health.

Blood pressure is also a significant factor in heart and brain health, according to Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, MMSc, director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging in the Smidt Heart Institute, and the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Health and Population Science. “Every organ system depends not only on the supply of blood but also the health of the blood vessels that supply that blood—the extent to which they can expand or contract when an organ needs more or less blood flow,” she says.

The health of your brain and your heart are connected. By keeping your heart healthy, you also lower your risk for brain problems such as stroke and dementia.

Steps to a Healthy Brain and Heart

1. Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Over time, high blood pressure puts too much stress on blood vessels. Scientists now know that having uncontrolled high blood, raises your risk for dementia later in life. Get your blood pressure checked regularly. 
2. Choose healthy foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, to help protect your heart. Limit alcohol and eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and include seafood, such as salmon and mackerel, high in omega-3 fatty acids. 
3. Limit foods with added sugars and saturated fats, and get diabetes under control. Diabetes causes high blood sugar, which can damage blood vessels and nerves. This damage raises the risk for heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
4. Don’t smoke. Smoking damages blood vessels and makes blood more likely to clot, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
5. Stay active. Lack of physical activity can lead to high blood pressure and obesity. The guidelines recommend150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Find ways to get your heart pumping. Take the stairs, schedule a walk at lunch, or do jumping jacks during commercial breaks. 

Talk to your doctor about a specific health plan that best suits your needs and lifestyle.

Best in Health, Linda

Our Sinatra Surprise!

Have you ever had a dream that an iconic movie star or music legend was standing at your door? I wasn’t dreaming the day, ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ came knocking on our dressing room door. I was one of the two who opened the door for him that night. The other gals in the singing group were getting ready for the show, some still in robes and curlers. 

The first thing I saw were those familiar deep blue eyes, but now they had a more playful twinkle in them. (Our group, “The Golddiggers”, Dean Martin’s opening act, toured with Mr. Sinatra a decade earlier.) Immediately Frank said, “Hide me, quick, I want to surprise Dean.” After I closed my mouth, I ushered Frank into our dressing room. 

Sinatra’s Backstage Caper

The ‘Chairman of the Board’ said with a chuckle, “I’m going to walk out on stage during Dean’s show.” How fun, I thought as I cleared off a chair for “The Voice”. As Sinatra sat down, the other members of “The Golddiggers” scrambled to finish getting ready for the show. 

I started some small talk with Frank and made him comfortable. He was so excited about surprising Dean, and grinning from ear to ear as he visualized the look on Dean’s face. Gone were the usual goombah’s and body guards that accompanied Sinatra everywhere he went. He was relaxed, more himself.

I couldn’t help but notice that Frank was wearing what obviously looked like a toupee; a new cut and style, more whiteish grey with a very short fringe of bangs. I never detected that he wore a hairpiece before but now I couldn’t unsee it. Despite that, I was really diggin’ this mellow and playful side of the ‘Man With the Golden Voice’. He still had that famous charisma and magnetism. No wonder he was sometimes called ’Swoonatra’!

It was getting close to showtime, I had to cut our conversation short. We left ‘Frankie Boy’ in our dressing room which was now his hideout. We headed back stage to say our customary hello to Dean and give him a kiss. We were greeted with his warm smile. I discreetly adjusted his bow tie, which was a little crooked. A look of appreciation registered in his brown eyes. It was during one of these pre-show greetings, that Dean told us, he and Jeanne were seeing each other again. Dean looked so happy when he was talking about her.

Dean and I backstage

We took our places behind the curtain. I could hear the excitement of the crowd. The orchestra played a short overture and then our entrance music. The ’Sultan with the Silky Voice’ would be listening and so would Dean. I was so pumped! 

Chicago Theatre

The historic Chicago Theatre has hosted some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world for decades. The elegance and grandeur of the theater defied description. It was built in a lavish French Baroque style. The Grand Lobby was modeled after the Royal Chapel at Versailles.

The theater had been newly remolded in 1986, preserving most of its old world charm. Frank Sinatra christened the refurbished theater with his sold out show. He then started a tradition of signing the backstage wall which continues to this day! And now, a year later, we’re here with Dean. Dean rarely traveled outside of Las Vegas to perform, so this was a treat for all of us, even without the big Sinatra surprise.

The 3,553 seat Chicago Theatre was sold out. The crowd was electrifying! The surprise was a hit! It was an explosive moment when Frank hit the stage. The audience was elated! 

Frank and Dean did their usual joking and then Sinatra wowed the audience with, “The Lady Is a Tramp”. Still, ’The Greatest’! Even Sammy made an appearance on stage that night but he didn’t sing.

https://www.msg.com/the-chicago-theatre

Coolness Is Timeless

November 13, 1987, Chicago Tribune by Larry Kart – “ (In good vocal shape, Sinatra did sing one tune, “The Lady Is a Tramp,” and after joshing with Martin, in the old “rat pack” manner, he left a bottle of bourbon atop the piano.) But the show, such as it was, belonged to it’s 70-year-old headliner.“

The King of Cool

The review went on to describe how Dean’s relaxed style work so well for him. It was one of the reasons why Dean Martin could still perform these big shows at 70 years old. His coolness gave his act longevity.

Our relationship with Dean was very sweet and dear. We were a reassuring, familiar presence when he performed. He loved “his girls’, of course, we loved him too. As his opening act, we got to know him better than we did during our busy television tapings.

From left to right; Peggy Gohl Stucker, Marie Halton Peck, Dean Martin,
Linda Alberici Eichberg and Maria Elena Alberici

The four of us worked with ‘the King of Cool’ for almost two decades. We were very comfortable with each other. On rare occasions, if he had a blemish, Dean would even let us apply make up on it. He didn’t have a personal make up artist for his live shows like he did on his TV shows.   

To this day, when I hear Dean or his rat pack ‘pallies’ singing, I get nostalgic and the memories come flooding back. My sister, Maria and I, along with TV historian, Billy Ingram, wrote a marvelous book about our early years performing with Dean Martin and his famous friends but this particular story wasn’t in it. There were too many other good ones!

The Alberici Sisters with Dean Martin

Our book, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams, focuses more on the 1970’s but our professional association with Dean Martin continued well beyond that. Maybe this story will be part of book 2. 

I know you’ll enjoy the read!

Stay cool, Linda

Have a Safe Holiday Celebration and Wash the Melons

Most of us know, improper handling of raw animal products can cause serve illness but fruit and vegetables can also be dangerous, even deadly. Recent nationwide food recalls of romaine lettuce, spinach, melons, cucumbers and salad mix have all been tied to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses caused by E.coli, Salmonella or Listeria.

POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION

Do you wash the outside of your melons before you cut into them? You should. Cutting into and handling un-washed melon can transfer pathogens to the fruit.

Thirty three people died in a 2011 Listeria outbreak from eating cantaloupe. Many food-borne pathogens are found in soil. “Cantaloupe rinds are full of nooks and crannies, each perfect for harboring bacteria and allowing it to flourish.” – Phil Tocco, (Agrifood safety educator)

Various pathogens, including listeria, are commonly found in manure or human waste. Both are commonly used as fertilizers, but they must not be applied within 120 days of harvest of the fruits or vegetables grown in the field — so they should not present a problem if growers know about and obey that regulation. But do they?

Another transmission culprit can be a field worker’s dirty hands. Bacteria can easily travel from workers’ hands to the fruit they are picking. I once had someone tell me they didn’t need to wash fruit that was organic. You definitely do! Organic only protects you from harmful pesticides.

Washing and Preparing your Fruits and Vegetables

Before eating any produce, the FDA recommends these cleaning tips:

• washing the hands both before and after food preparation
• cutting away any damaged areas before preparing or eating
• rinsing produce that has a skin before peeling it to prevent dirt and bacteria from transferring into the edible parts
• rubbing produce under running water
• using a clean vegetable brush to scrub hard produce, such as melons and cucumbers
• drying fruits and vegetables with a clean cloth or paper towel
• removing the outermost leaves of lettuce and cabbage

People should store fresh, perishable produce in the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C). It’s not necessary to wash produce labeled as prewashed.

Symptoms of foodborne illness can include:

• stomach cramps
• diarrhea, which may be bloody
• vomiting
• a fever
• headaches
• muscle aches

Severe Listeria infections may also cause:

• stiff neck
• confusion
• loss of balance
• convulsions

Fruits and vegetables are delicious, and an essential part of the human diet. They are nutrient dense, low in calories, and high in fiber. Take the necessary steps to ensure they’re safe and enjoy them this Labor Day!

Happy celebrating. ~ Linda

Longevity and the Spine

“You are as young and healthy as your spine is strong and supple.”

– Ancient yogi saying

Part of back care is developing strength and flexibility. I created a short yoga flow that will help advance that process. Before we get started, let’s perfect one of the moves in the vinyasa: lightning bolt into half camel pose.

Linda Eichberg, Half Camel Pose variations

Backbends can seem intimidating because they go against the natural way we hold and move our bodies. We slouch forward and move forward. Backbends take us the opposite direction, correcting weakness and poor posture.

Lightning Bolt into Half Camel

Instructions

1. Come up onto both knees, placing them hip width apart. 

2. Inhale, support your core and lengthen the spine, press the hips forward, squeezing the buttocks and thighs. 

3. Exhale and lift one arm for a long stretch to the sky as you carefully reach for your heel with the opposite arm. If you cannot reach the heel, keep the hand on the sacrum.

4. Next, reach your extended hand back behind you as you continue to push the hips forward. If it feels safe, drop the head all the way back.

5. Breathe and hold for 2-6 breaths.

6. Release the pose with both hands on the sacrum, slowly inhale up, releasing the head and neck last.

7. Repeat on other side.

Benefits: Half camel opens and stretches the shoulders and arms, and opens the chest. Half camel stimulates the respiratory, digestive and endocrine systems.

Modifications: Tuck the toes under or use a yoga block if the hands cannot reach the heels.

Variations: Have the upper arm reaching up towards the ceiling rather than towards the back wall or simply keep both hands on your sacrum.

Contraindications: If you have knee, shoulder, neck or back injury or pain, consult your doctor. 

Now, let’s incorporate this pose into a vinyasa.

Wishing you all the best in health, Linda

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. – Hebrews 12:11-13 ESV

Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor before practicing any new fitness routine.

© Copyright: All materials contained within this blog may not be used without written permission.

Savoring the Moments

Nine years ago, I became interested in practicing gratitude and what neuroscience had to say about it. Neuroscience tells us that negativity and gloomy thoughts stick to the nerves like Velcro, while positivity and gratitude slide away from those same nerves until we choose them and savor them for at least 15 seconds. It is only then that they imprint and stick. It was this knowledge that encouraged me to start this gratitude blog in 2013. What better way to savor the things I am grateful for.

This month we celebrated my daughter, who is soon the give birth, with a baby shower.

We had Lindsay play some fun games like diapering a baby doll while wearing mittens.

Lindsay’s mother in law, Sue was a wonderful hostess! She did an incredible job decorating.

I made food and designed this adorable cake. Lindsay is using a bear theme for her baby boy.

The future father, Ben, joined Lindsay for opening the gifts.

Lindsay was funny as she squealed with delight when she saw the gifts for her and baby Caleb.

Steve and I are very excited to become grandparents!

Lindsay and Ben are always so appreciative. Their gratitude always makes for very joyful occasion.

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I’m glad I took the time out this month to do a sundown hike and watch the sunset. It was spectacular, like God took a bucket of paint and threw it across the sky!

The reflection of the lights across the sky was beautiful in all directions in Westlake Village.

Lake Eleanor open space trail in Westlake Village

This was the view to the north-west.

Keep reflecting gratitude for overall health and well-being.

Best in health, Linda

The Charm of Marseille and Provence

After our stop in Gibraltar, we spent a day at sea enjoying the ship’s entertainment and recreation areas. The following day we reached the second largest port on the Mediterranean, Marseille. As the Royal Princess settled in its home for the day, we continued our adventure on land. First stop on our motorcoach tour was Provence, France.

AIX, PROVENCE

Aix en Provence is know as the City of a Thousand Fountains. The real number might be closer to 107. That’s still a lot of fountains. The first beautiful fountain we encountered was the Fontaine de la Rotonde. This two-tiered fountain is the most famous and covered with impressive sculptures. The three figures at the top represent: justice, agriculture and fine arts.

Fontaine de la Rotonde

We walked towards Old Town with our guides. On Le Cours Mirabeau, the most prestigious avenue of Aix en Provence, we saw our second fountain. Fontaine des Neuf-Canons (nine cannons) was built around 1691, it served as a watering hole for livestock.

Fontaine des Neuf-Canons

My nephew, David, stands in front of the facade of Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce or Registry of the Commercial Court on the Cours Mirabeau.

Greffe du Tribunal de Commerce

René of Anjou, also known as Good King René, was a very important man in his day. A fountain was unveiled in his honor in 1923. He played a major role in France and Europe in the fifteenth century. The fountain du Roi René is the work of David d’Angers (1819). The stone statue depicts King René holding a scepter in the right hand and a bunch of Muscat grapes in the left, all enthroned on a fountain.

Monument au Roi René

A figure of the Blessed Mother and Baby Jesus on the corner of Place Richelme and Rue Maréchal Foch.

More street corners adorned by a statuettes of the Virgin Mary. There are dozens of street corner statues of Mother Mary around Old Town. They were placed there, starting in the 17th century, when the influence of Catholicism was very strong.

Navigating the small alley ways of Provence was delightful. There were colorful produce and flower markets, shops and cafes.

I was enticed by some of the smells coming out of the stores that featured soaps and lotions made from the Herbs de Provence. Herbs from the Provence region of France includes a combination of thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and oregano. Other herbs can also be added.

I saw some interesting and well preserved doors.

Before we entered the Place d”Albertas, we passed the Museum of Natural History. Love the iron work on the gate.

Museum d’Historie Naturalle

Place d”Albertas is a small cobblestone square in Aix (pronounced X). In the 18th century the Albertas were one of the city’s leading families. We marveled at the Baroque architecture of the buildings and saw yet another interesting fountain.

At the Fountaine de la Place d’Albertas

Check out the decorative cast iron around the fountain.

The Aix Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church, built on the site of the 1st-century Roman forum of Aix.

Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d’Aix-en-Provence

The Aix Cathedral combines three different styles of architecture: Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque.

Aix Cathedral

My traveling companions and I loved Aix, Provence. It was so charming and held a wealth of culture. Now on to Marseille!

MARSEILLE

The remainder of the afternoon was spent exploring Marseille, a bustling port city.

Marseille – with Cathedral Major and harbor in the background

The cathedral of Saint Mary Major was a fascinating sight. It is one of the largest cathedrals in France. This Neo-Byzantine-style church was built during the reign of Napoleon III.

Marseille’s Cathedral – Cathedral of Saint Mary Major

Our motor coach passed Plage des Catalans Beach was an overcast but warm summer day by the sea. I captured this quick snap from the moving motor coach.

Plage des Catalans

On our way up the hill, we stopped a some stunning spots including Monument Aux Morts Des Orients.

Monument Aux Morts Des Orients

The highlight of our short stay in Marseille was Notre Dame at the apex of the hill above the city.

Notre Dame from the harbor

The Golden Statue of Mary dominating the basilica is 11.20 metres tall and weighs nearly 9,796 kg! It’s made with copper and gilded with gold. The bell tower it stands on is equally incredible in design and detail.

Golden Statue of Mary and Jesus atop the bell tower of Notre Dame de la Garde

Notre Dame de la Garde is translated, Our Lady of the Guard and is know as “The Good Mother”. It is a Catholic basilica.

Basilica interior

The basilica is Romano-Byzantine is style, as amazing inside and it was outside. Many works of art can be found within the large basilica complex.

The Grande Roue de Marseille was impressive from the top of the mountain.

The Ferris wheel is 55-meters tall and has 42 gondola cabins.

The traveling five

We had some free time to explore the markets down by the harbor. Lots of vendors and activity in the area made for a colorful scene. The Fresh seafood market was a feast for the eyes! Lobster anyone?

Marseille is for lovers.

These memories are pre-COVID but I’m looking forward to more traveling adventures soon! Check out my other blogs related to this Mediterranean cruise. It starts in Barcelona.

All the best, Linda

Life Was a Caberet

Wow! I came across this advertisement from this month 48 years ago! For a moment time stood still. I was transported back to a memory of being on stage, performing in Mexico City at the famous Casino Royal. Throngs of fans were throwing flowers onto the stage.

From our book, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams:

Linda: “The Casino Royale in Mexico City was a mind-blowing experience for us. They idolized us there, more so than in the states, it was like we were superstars. We were treated like royalty. They went crazy for us. Every night it was flowers galore, all kinds of gifts. For a small town girl suddenly thrust into that situation there’s a lot you have to take in.

Maria: “The Latin guys are not afraid to tell you how they feel. They were very exuberant. I was on stage singing and a man rushed to the stage calling my name, “Oh, Maria Elena, bonita señorita….” He was carrying so many bouquets of flowers that I could hardly see him.

The Golddiggers in their Cabaret costumes – bottom left to right: Patti, Susan, Maria, Robin, Deborah, Lee, Colleen and Linda

Maria: “[After we finished our Mexico tour,] we boarded a private Lear Jet to Puerto Vallarta where we stayed at Jorge Loera’s mountain top home. This was a side trip, a rare chance to relax. Each girl was given their own room, the enormous house had many maids and butlers with a spectacular pool. For dinner we had our own private fiesta with a Mariachi band.”

Linda: “It was a spectacular mansion high up in the cliffs; up on the roof I could see snipers strategically placed on all corners. Jorge was a high profile guy with bodyguards everywhere. Despite that, we had the time of our lives. Jorge went all out to make us feel pampered; but then again, this was probably all normal to him so he wouldn’t dream of treating guests any other way. He was always the gentleman with impeccable manners.
One morning the cooking staff made us juice from fresh squeezed strawberries for breakfast. It was one of the most heavenly drinks I had ever tasted. We were served outside on a terrace in a beautiful tropical setting.”

Deborah Pratt, Golddigger 1973-1974: “We found out much later that Jorge Loera was the son of basically the Godfather of Mexico. He owned a bull ring and he invited us down for the day to enjoy the arena.”

Maria: “I had no desire to go to a bull ring because it seemed so cruel. I decided to stay up on the balcony at a specially prepared table to munch on chips and salsa and sip Sangria. All of a sudden I heard someone say “Susie and Deborah are in the bull ring!”

“What?!?” I jumped up to see. They must be crazy! One of the body- guards assured us it was safe because this was a baby bull but it still looked big to me! Susie and Deborah definitely liked to live on the wild side.”

Deborah and Susan in the bull ring!

Deborah Pratt, Golddigger 1973-1974: They put us in the ring with a baby bull and, you know, a baby bull is still four hundred pounds. They were teaching us how to bullfight, pass the cape—if you commit to the left stay to the left, if you commit to the right stay to the right.
I was standing in the middle of the field and they let this new, young bull out and he was feisty, you could see he was feisty. And I did one pass and Susan was out there and she did a pass. I did another pass and we were being funny, people were shouting, “Toreadoria! Toreadoria!”
At one point the bull was coming at me and I was doing my pass to the right and the bull did like a two step, it went to the right and then to the left. It threw me off because it was so close. And I went to move the cape to match it—which you never do—and the cape ended up in front of me.
I’ve got this bull charging straight at me and I’m in a mini-dress and platform high heels. I somehow managed to throw the cape forward and vault over the bull. It missed me, I literally vaulted over it, legs spread, and all I heard was everybody yelling, “Run!!!”
And I’m running in the high heels and all I hear behind me is bar- ump, barump, barump, and it’s catching up to me! I see this five foot block wall in front of me and I put my hands up to vault over it, I was so grateful I was a dancer.
I heard right beneath my feet as I cleared the top, “Bam!” and this bull slammed into the wall. He would have broken my back. He hit so hard he broke his horn and everybody was upset because this was like a prize baby bull and I said, “A—it didn’t kill me. B—I’m glad its horn is broken because it’ll never fight and never be killed.”

*************

It was a wild ride, being chosen to be part of the TV cast of the Dean Martin Show. As singers and dancers with “The Golddiggers”. We had some amazing adventures! When we weren’t ‘making the scene’ with the Rat Pack or performing with Dean Martin, we were traveling the world, singing and dancing as a group. I was only 19.

It was a dream beyond anything I ever envisioned for myself. My sister, Maria Elena was also part of the group. We were asked to write a book about our times working with music and movie legends and here it is!

In the book, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams, My Sister, Maria, and I recall our adventures and mis-adventures working with icons like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Entertainment historian, Billy Ingram, pulls our stories together with contributions and tales from other entertainers. Billy inserts facts about the pop culture and history of the 1970’s, making this book is a unique, exciting and informative read!

Read more or purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Wildest-Dreams-Alberici-Sisters/dp/1463564570

Reminisce with some original television footage!

Enjoy, Linda

Let’s Look at Plant Diversity and Health

Plants are the only foods that contain fiber. Both soluble and insoluble fiber are key for enjoying good health and digestion. Soluble fiber is especially crucial for our health because it is prebiotic. It feeds the microbes in our gut which promotes gut health and allows the microbes to produce short-chain fatty acids. These acids nourish our colon wall and reduces the risk of disease.

There are many different types of fiber and each kind has different physiological benefits. Each plant food has its own mix of different types of fiber that feeds its own unique set of microbes housed in our gut. This allows our microbes not only to grow, but to thrive. “Each microbe eats a different type of dietary fiber, and each plant contains a different mix of fiber. This means that plant-based food diversity in your diet is vital for a healthy gut.”

When our microbes thrive, our health thrives.

A Diet Dilema

“While we obsess about carbs and protein, we’ve ignored fiber — at our peril.”

Beware of any diet that restricts fiber-filled, plant carbohydrates for an extended period of time. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found in wholesome plant-based foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. This beneficial fiber helps reduce our appetite, by giving us the feeling of being full, and regulates our body’s use of sugars. It may also be important in fighting obesity.

Scientific studies on obesity have shown the importance of eating high fiber foods.

Although there are multiple factors that could contribute to obesity, the primary cause is due to an increase in the energy absorption or energy expenditure ratio. Limiting energy absorption is critical when treating obesity. Increasing dietary fiber consumption may decrease energy absorption by way of diluting a diet’s energy availability while maintaining other important nutrients.

Fiber and Disease

Fiber is the closest thing we have to a true superfood. Eating a fiber-rich diet is amazingly helpful in slowing the absorption of glucose — which evens out our blood sugar levels — and also lowers cholesterol and inflammation. Fiber appears to reduce the risk of developing various conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, diverticular disease, and constipation.

Eat the Rainbow

The American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Heart Association have advocated eating “the rainbow” of healthy food-based colors, especially dark green, red and orange vegetables. These vegetables are packed with essential fiber and nutrients. Dark-green vegetables are cited as good sources of vitamin K, while the red and orange vegetables are recognized for their vitamin A content.

Children and adults need at least 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber per day for good health, but most Americans get only about 15 grams a day. Great sources are whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

Maximize the diversity of plant-based foods in your diet to get the full range of micronutrients needed for good health. Every type of plant has something distinct to offer. Some nutritionists recommend eating 30 different plant sources per week.

Enjoy,

Linda