*Musical Pause*

This past January we had a trade show and I went to a vendor party a Russian restaurant in the low 50's where we sampled flavored vodkas - garlic, pepper, cherry, tarragon, lemon, et al. I was with work friends , one a Ukrainian, and he and I got fairly wasted. Maybe ten double shots of vodka each in the upstairs open bar.

We ended downstairs at the restaurant and my friend ordered a huge meal - I remember crepes and caviar and warm borscht and Chicken Kiev, and a pork dish. We kept drinking vodka and two Ukrainian women, married, ended up at our table. One was a photojournalist and the other a stunning blond in the fur trade. Cousins. Well, we drank more vodka and talked and discussed photography, animal rights, music, marriage, love, the Ukraine.

We finally left around midnight and I began to walk towards Penn Station. Suddenly there was a brief snow storm as I walked briskly down Seventh Avenue and the lights, snow and buzz were amazing. The snow swirled and glowed in the night and I felt light and young and so so so happy. I had my iPod on load and kept listening to one song over and over again, "You're Beautiful."

"My life is brilliant

*Musical Pause*

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

(chorus)
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause Ill never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As I walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
fucking high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

(chorus)
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful it's true
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
I will never be with you.

(La-la-la-la, La-la-la-la, La-la-la-la, Laaah)

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,

I will never be with you."

The moment was memorable and its effects momentarily stunning. I think I sang along, with conviction, aware of the truth in every word. And it was not just the alcohol singing. Maybe the vodka was humming, but I believed what I sang and to the core of my soul.

It was the only time that I have enjoyed snow this long strange winter......