Latest blog post –Not! Yes!

Debra at Pescadero Tree Farm
Dear friends, I don’t know how your month has gone but I know for me it’s been a mixture of moments of feeling super overwhelmed with not having enough time to do all that I’d like to do for the holidays and also many moments of happiness and joyful connection. When I practice the lyrics to the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, I sometimes jokingly exclaim to myself, “Not!” and at other times say, “Yes! It certainly is!
What are the true gifts of the season? For me they are spending time with some of the sweet people I have in my life, they are spending time with friends and loved ones and enjoying the sights, tastes and sounds of a magical time of year in a myriad of ways:

  • Enjoying an afternoon holiday party where there is laughter and good humor over a cup of eggnog, cookies and savory treats.
  • Lighting a candle and taking a few moments to sit and quietly reflect on the all the wonderful performances I’ve been a part of this year.
  • Sitting around the dining room table with good friends sharing dreams and stories with hot soup, bread and cheese on a rainy evening.
  • Spending an afternoon at a tree farm in Pescadero with old friends making holiday wreathes, picnicking, roasting marshmallows, and getting on a wooden swing hung from giant Eucalyptus trees and swinging up to see the view of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Enjoying a festive night at the Sausalito Cruising Club with many of my dear friends in the audience. Feeling the barge brim with holiday cheer.

(marshmallows roasting on an open fire…)

roasting marshmallows

 

What, to you, are the true gifts of this season? As I consider this question, I realize that for me, the season’s gifts are not about the striving for perfection in baking or decorations, it is mostly about time connecting with new or old friends and family. So as I go into the final stretch of 2012, I think I’m going to just lighten up on my unrealistic expectations for what I think I need to do, or would like to do and focus on enjoying the times I have with the people I care about and the rest will fall into place on its own, it always does.
This entry was written by debramugnani, posted on January 2, 2013 at 3:04 am, filed under life. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

2 Responses to “Latest blog post –Not! Yes!”

  1. Ana Bencomo Cape says:
    October 30, 2023 at 3:04 pm

    Hi Debra,

    I think you are the person my sister Becky and I communicated with maybe a couple of years ago. We share our great grandparents?

    I do have a picture to forward to you but I don’t know how. This would be your mom, Herlinda’s, parents.

    My sister’s cancer was relentless and she passed on December 20, 2022.

    Lovely post by the way. Words to live by.

    Ana

  2. debramugnani says:
    June 23, 2024 at 11:35 am

    Ana, I’m so sorry to hear this news about your sister. I don’t know when you sent me this message. Please find me on Facebook and I can send you my email address from there. Thank you, Debra

Leave a Reply

  • About Me

    Debra Mugnani sings in a style that is both sophisticated and emotionally direct. Her interpretations of the Great American Songbook show a deep love and respect for the material while adding a delightful spark of personality. Debra’s influences are Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McCrae and Morgana King. A native of San Francisco, Debra has also been greatly influenced and inspired by vocalists and vocal instructors she has been fortunate enough to study with; Kitty Margolis, Faith Winthrop, Jesse Foster, Madeline Eastman and Dena De Rose.

    "There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open."

  • Testimonials

    "Debra, an enchanting chanteuse, delights audiences with playful and seductive performances of her charming repertoire." -- Bonita and Bill

    "Savor the sultry fashionings of Debra's jazzy renditions of classic confections."-- Linda

    "Debra is an amazing vocalist who has a special ability to connect with her audience. She brings passion and a bit of flair to every performance." -- Leslie and Michael.

    "We enjoyed dinner at the Villa D'Este in San Francisco last night accompanied by a great show. They have a diverse troop with varied talent styles, each a treat. The best way to describe Debra's performance is a true reincarnation of one of my favorite singers, Clara Bow, the IT Girl, characterized as Betty Boop. She hit every note and stayed in perfect character. If you haven't yet, you have to experience this event, held every first Monday of the month at the Villa D'Este, a classic Italian family restaurant."

    "Debra made Bob Sarlatte's surprise birthday party so wonderful! We all enjoyed her choice of music and songs. She really made the party a special occasion!" --Catherine Sarlatte

  • Facebook

    Debra Mugnani

  • instagram

  • Twitter

  • Pinterest

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter
For Email Marketing you can trust