Happy Thoughts 365 ~ #21 ~ It's Only a Paper Moon

I shared in the last post about my video experiments via Animoto. Today I'm sharing another montage featuring "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys. I have a great love of vintage photos, and the funny paper moon pictures are no exception. I first learned about them through a video I watched with my Dad called Paper Moon (1973) starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neal. The quirky photo postcards were popular souvenirs at carnivals, fairs, and picnics around the early 1900's. Some scholars speculate that this motif became popular due to the popular silent French film, A Trip to the Moon (1902). The memorable ending shows the man in the moon with a rocket landing in his eye.

Bullseye!

Putting this together put me in such a good mood. I don't know if it was Ella Fitzgerald's catchy tune, or just the whimsical images themselves, but I proudly present Happy Thought #21. On a side note, I discovered that paper moons may be making a comeback. I hope so! I'd much rather see people posing with the paper moon than those awful mustaches that somehow still infest weddings and parties of every kind. It was cute for a minute, but pul-lease stop the insanity. (I think my breaking point was when I saw mustache invitations for a 1 year old's birthday party). OK, rant over.

Happy Thoughts 365 ~ #20 ~ Growing Old Gracefully

It's been a while since I've updated my Happy Thoughts project. I've still been behind-the-scenes creating and learning some new skills.

Since I love to dabble in different media, once in a while I try to create little films or video montages. I don't yet possess the editing skills to start from scratch, but I recently fell in love with the templates provided by Animoto. I have several projects in the works including short portfolio videos and memory montages of family, travel, etc.

I'm also having fun pairing the Animoto templates with my other great love, Pinterest.  I have tons of boards on, well, everything. Lately I'm obsessed with organizing by colors which evoke certain moods and emotions. 

So....as part of my Happy Thoughts project, I will share some of the videos here. Today's happy thought is a montage of beautiful souls from around the world. It celebrates the wisdom of the aged and elderly, and the stories written in every line of their faces.


Since it's close to Valentine's Day, I've also added a few photos of older couples who are growing old together, and still enjoying life and each other. The song I selected is You Are so Beautiful by the legendary Joe Cocker. I also added this to my YouTube Channel, which I also hope to update with fresh content soon.