Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly in One of My Favorite Films, An American in Paris

On this, my Old Hollywood Blog, on my cat blog, food blog, and tea blog…. as well as on the Hollywood Yesterday Twitter…. I have fallen behind. Behind in my daily pictures, behind in my updates, behind in my daily tweets.

Just behind.

Given that I work entirely from home as a web publisher, falling behind isn’t something that happens very often. I mean, even when I had the flu with a side of bronchitis last year, I stayed on top of things. I didn’t look too lovely sitting at my computer in a bathrobe, uncombed hair, no makeup, and holding tissues up to my nose… but I was here!

This is just somehow different. I find myself so preoccupied thinking and praying for all those who have been affected by the Coronavirus – which is, of course, all of us. I’ll be honest, it’s tough to think, “Okay, which Leslie Caron picture will I tweet today” or “Which recipe will I add to the food blog,” or EVEN “What cat toy do I want to spotlight on my cat blog…” when so many people are suffering around the world in one form or another.

But then I remembered a time a while back when I was going through a very, very low point in my life. One of my daughters had a very high risk pregnancy and she wasn’t doing very well. The precious baby boy was born very early and had to be in the NICU for days that felt like months.

Each night I would come home from the hospital, completely wrung out from worry about my daughter and grandbaby and the first thing I would do….. okay, third, feeding the cats and putting on my pajamas came first. In that order – anyone with cats understands…. the THIRD thing I would do would be to fall into my favorite chair in the den and check Old Hollywood Twitter. I had a best friend who was on Old Hollywood Twitter at that time (Bonnie) and I would go to her Twitter page as fast as my fingers would take me and lose myself in the beauty of the photos and the happiness and comfort of the memories they brought back.

Then I’d venture into other Twitter accounts with the same type of tweets.

They brought me comfort, happiness, peace, and momentary deliverance from worry and feelings of helplessness.

When I remembered that time, I realized I have to fight through this wall of numbness and do my part… just in case there is someone out there who I can help the way Bonnie and others helped me.

Some may say, “Pictures and things like that are certainly SMALL things!” and they may be right. But, as someone who leaned on these “small things,” I can tell you this… sometimes it’s the small things that will break your fall.

So, with all of that said, I will not miss a “daily picture” on the blog from here on out and will tweet my favorites as well as your favorites on Hollywood Yesterday Twitter like my life depends on it!

The only things that may slow me down are awfully, awfully adorable things.. they’re the grandbaby I talked about above (he’s a very healthy, happy, and ridiculously adorable and busy two year old now!) and his baby brother (a very healthy, happy, and ridiculously adorable and busy six month old!).

God bless you and your loved ones, do everything you have to do to stay safe and healthy. Please stay well and know that we will all get through this.

~ Love, Joi (“Joy“)

P.S. If you’re looking for a “feel good” movie, check out An American in Paris with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. Love him, love her, love them, love the movie!

Shortest review ever, but there you have it.