Like so many little girls, Barbara Haines dreamed of becoming a ballerina. At the age of 6, after seeing a ballet performance on TV at home in Budapest, Hungary, she asked her mother for ballet lessons. The ballet master at the Kálmán Nádasdy Conservatory, Adél Orosz, gave her a one-month trial, and with a natural gift, she excelled. A fun fact I learned while having coffee with Barbara: Budapest is divided into two sides, which are connected by seven bridges. She was born on the ‘Buda’ side, which she described as scenic and natural, while the ‘Pest’ side, on the other hand, is more urban and industrial. The Conservatory was on the ‘Buda’ side.

Inspiration comes from many places. We are often inspired by people’s stories, places we visit, or experiences we have. Inspiration provides the drive to take action. Passion, on the other hand, is a different level of inspiration. It grows in our heart into something unstoppable. Passion is a strong and often uncontrollable emotion. 

Music is a universal language. It brings people together in mysterious ways. Linda and I watched the documentary on Ed Sullivan the other night. It was excellent! In our youth, we gathered around the television on Sunday nights, knowing we would be entertained and introduced to new musicians and bands that would soon take the world by storm.

My esteemed co-conspirator, Tony Atchison, is celebrating a big birthday (they are all big these days…). He’s left an indelible mark on Downtown Mobile’s historic buildings and landscape. Many years ago, he renovated an old four-story warehouse off Dauphin Street into a stunning antique gallery and home. 

Kudos to Karen Poth, the Executive Director of Mobile’s National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. She is setting a new course, overseeing the museum's transformation to include two new, extraordinary, groundbreaking educational exhibits. Linda and I recently visited with Karen to see what’s in store.‍

Mardi Gras traditions are meaningful to many of us, but they gave Gary Brady an epiphany that put him on his path as a full-time visual artist.