Lucky Four Leaf Clover

When I was in elementary school, I went to camp one summer at the YMCA with a neighborhood girl whose sister was my sis' best friend. Their mom had just died and somehow she and I were coerced into attending drama camp together. I don't remember much about the acting portion of the camp but I do remember she found a patch of four-leaf clovers and wouldn't tell me where they were. I spent every lunch break outside scouring the hillside for four-leaf clovers to no avail.

To me, they're elusive. Like elves, leprechauns and fairies, I'm not sure they even exist. (Except for the tooth fairy. I know her pretty well.)

A few weeks ago, one of the little girls across the street, B, was bemoaning the fact that the other kids at school always come back from lunch with four-leaf clovers and she can never find any. She shared with me that she spends her lunch break looking and looking.

A kindred soul.

We agreed to walk over to the school playground this summer and together we would find some. Why not? I've been looking for them for over forty years now all alone. It would be good to have some company.

Just last week, my neighbor/girlfriend Ellie posted on Facebook that they have a patch of four-leaf clovers in their yard. I excitedly told B and she began bringing it up in conversation approximately every two minutes. So yesterday, she and I headed over to Ellie's and, alas, couldn't find them. The directions were clear: to the right of the weeping cherry tree. Maybe it's us? As my kids would say, epic fail.

When Ellie got home, she texted me: did you get some? When I responded, "no," she went outside, found one, took a pic and sent it to me. I headed back and Ellie pointed them out to me. And there they were: mixed right in with the three-leaf clovers, same plant, same branch, different clover.

Now I can't wait for B to get home from her grandmother's this weekend! Oh the joy.

This is my four-leaf clover. Can you see it?

Why don't you come over? I'll show you my four leaf clover.

Photo Per Day #10: Lucky

Last night, the lovely Heather G. and I met after work at black and blue for dirty martinis (mine had Tabasco and an oyster! yum.) and ribeye (rare!) with Gorgonzola sauce. Absolutely delicious. Who else was there you may ask? A client of mine who was having dinner with none other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Fame in our midst! While that would have made for a fabulous Photo Per Day entry, I decided not to be that intrusive. I'm much too composed for that . . .

Afterward, we walked over to see a free, test screening of the movie Lucky which is playing for two nights only. Our friend Chris, the Executive Producer, and Avie Luthra, Director, were on hand to field questions after the film and gather input regarding what worked/what didn't work. For me, the pace of the movie was a bit slow at times and, because the soundtrack hasn't yet been laid, the depth of emotions typically evoked by music were missing. With that said, however, I think it is one of those films that may haunt me for a while. It is based on a short subject film that won 43 international film festival awards in 2007. It follows a ten year old orphan as he makes his way in South Africa and deals with race-related strife, poverty, dishonesty and other issues. Pretty intense subject matter but the approach was not too heavy handed. I honestly cannot wait to see it again after the final edits have been made and the soundtrack has been added. And I hope it does well. It was receiving great feedback last night.

In un-lucky news, one thing this Photo Per Day exercise is highlighting is my complete inability to take a good picture as evidenced by the photo below. With a dose of mild irony, the subject of this dark image, smiling and proudly displaying her buttered popcorn, works at the George Eastman House -- home of one of the greatest collections of photographs in the world. Somehow methinks this photo will never be in that esteemed collection. But note Lucky on the marquee behind her! How much fun would it be to see your name in lights?

I feel lucky, oh oh oh, I feel lucky, yeah
Hey Dwight, hey Lyle, boys, you don't have to fight
Hot dog, I'm feeling lucky tonight