Merry Christmas!

I open today with in effect is a “new discovery” and wish to share it with you.

A person. His name is Andre Rieu.

Rieu came to my attention two weeks ago by accident and yesterday in a Christmas telephone call from my dear friend Theos Markis in Greece. Rieu is a musician. Actually a conductor of a large symphony/band.

Lets begin with my first encounter with Rieu. Accidently came upon him on YouTube. Gave him all of five minutes. He disappointed me and I moved on. I found his music and presentation to be disjointed. Unconventional.

Yesterday, Theos telephoned to wish me a Merry Christmas. We have been friends for a number of years. He lives in Greece. Loves Key West. Visits 2-3 times a year. Reads my blog everyday. He has a business, children and a lady friend. I have only met Dina his lady friend. A typical Greek woman. I have spent enough time in Greece to recognize the type. Takes care of her man! Even to the point of periodically feeding food to him via fork and spoon.

Theos got into Rieu in our telephone conversation. I interrupted and told him I had watched the guy briefly a couple of weeks earlier and did not enjoy him. Theos pushed. Go back and watch one of his shows again. Especially the one he did in Sydney two weeks ago. Catch the last 40-50 minutes. You will enjoy! You will like!

He kept pushing. I agreed. Returned to YouTube and found Rieu’s Sydney show. Watched it all! Glad I did! The man and his show were FANTASTIC! So much so, I will watch him the rest of my life as I do my favorite American performers.

Some background.

Rieu is 75 years old. Married 49 years. Born and raised in Maastricht in the Netherlands. Plays the violin. He began with a 12 person band in 1988. Today, 50-60. Performs world wide. He refers to his band as the Johann Strauss Orchestra. Based on his love for Strauss’ music. He plays everything, however.

He draws a full crowd with his performances. In Sydney, he was in a large auditorium. Seated a large number. I watched a second performance yesterday, also. One he did four years ago in his home town Maastricht. An outdoor concert. At least 3,000-4,000 in attendance. If I err re the number, it was more. That huge a crowd!

He provides all sorts of musical entertainment. His audience sings with his performers throughout. Even dance in the aisles. Frequently and many.

He covers all type music. Instruments, singers, dancers, etc. He provides everything!

The best however is that which follows his normal show. Most musicians will sing 1-3 songs following a show’s ending. He just keeps going. Went 40-50 minutes in Sydney. The crowd demands it. He provides it.

I do not know how to best describe what I saw. Please, watch his show. Start with the Sydney one. Keep a box of tissues nearby. Guaranteed you will need it!

Theos, we have a problem. You call me. I cannot call you as I do not have long distance ability outside the U.S. We have never emailed. Please email me at [email protected] so I will have your email address.

From a goodie Andre Rieu to a baddie (?) Donald Trump. What the hell is going on?

The Versailles Treaty left Germany in bad shape economically. The Treaty a mistake re many of its conditions. Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Churchill and most of the other Allied leaders recognized the error of the Versailles ways and treated Germany and Japan differently which is a major reason the two nations have not presented us with another Hitler or Tojo.

Now comes Trump. He is a bully and troublemaker. Cannot leave well enough alone. He has not yet even taken office and he has pissed off Mexico and Canada. Two of our best friends. And closest ones. Hitler had the same habit. Threatened and eventually went after Czechoslovakia and Poland. Then the rest of Europe.

Is Trump attempting the same thing?

This past week he went after Panama and Greenland. Both in our hemispheres. He wants “to take back” the Panama Canal and says it is “absolutely necessary to own Greenland.” Panama is a country unto itself. Greenland is owned by Denmark. Panama and Denmark have indicated no way! These nations are our friends. No question about it. Why alienate them? If Trump believes Panama should charge the U.S. less for use of the canal, negotiate! Not threaten!

There are enough problems facing the U.S. in the world. Trump should neither seek nor make more.

The esteemed actor Harrison Ford died on December 19. He had a stroke one year ago and all kinds of problems followed.

May he rest in peace!

Enjoy your Holiday!

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