"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it 
If you can dream it, you can become it."   WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD


"we cannot afford to lose a voice like that…”    July 14 2006


An email just arrived.. with a simple note: "This is a nice story... maybe it should be in "The Spirit" and I agree, so here is the story:

This is a story that perhaps few people have heard…

It’s about two of three tenors – Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras who stirred the world through their singing together.

Even those who’ve never visited Spain, know of the rivalry between Catalanes and Madrileños, since the Catalanes are fighting for their autonomy from a Madrid dominated Spain. It so happens that, Placido Domingo is Madrileño and José Carreras is Catalán.

For political reasons, in 1984, Carreras and Domingo became enemies.

Being that they were very popular and much sought after around the world, both stated in their contracts that they would perform only if the other was not invited.

In 1987, Carreras met up with an enemy more implacable than his rival Placido Domingo. He was taken by surprise with a terrible diagnosis: Leukemia!!

His fight against cancer was a painful one. He was subjected to numerous treatments, besides having a bone marrow transplant and blood transfusions that forced him to travel to the United States once a month. Unable to work under these conditions, though he possessed a considerable fortune, the high cost of these trips and medical treatments depleted his finances.

When at the end of his financial ability, he discovered a foundation in Madrid, the sole purpose of which was the support of treatment for the sufferers of Leukemia. Thanks to the support from the “Hermosa” Foundation, Carreras conquered the disease and returned to singing.

Once again he attained to an elevated and deserved status and attempted to join the foundation. Reading their by-laws, he discovered that the founder, leading contributor and President of the Foundation, was Placido Domingo.

He later found out that Placido had originally formed this organization to help him with his treatment, but had chosen to remain anonymous in order to not humiliate him in accepting help from his “enemy”. But the most moving part of this story is their encounter…

Surprising Placido at one of his performances in Madrid, Carreras interrupted the event and humbly, knelt at his feet, asked him forgiveness and publicly thanked him.

Placido helped him up and with a big hug they sealed the beginning of a great friendship.

In an interview with Placido Domingo, a reporter asked him why he had created the “Hermosa Foundation” at a time when, besides benefiting an “enemy”, he had helped the only other artist that was his competition.

His answer was short and definite:


“we cannot afford to lose a voice like that…”

 


Enjoy this issue of The Maverick Spirit...  That's it for today, until next time, continue to enjoy being a free spirit in a complicated world... 

Wayne Mansfield

P.S. Do you know where the following verse is from:

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore

Well for those really true blue Aussies... it's from the complete words of Advance Australia Fair.

P.P.S. Aussies are renowned for giving people nicknames and here are a few given to famous Australians. Can you match the nickname to the famous person??
The Don, The Lithgow Flash, The Singing Budgie, Weary, and Bomber.
You get to choose from Kim Beasley, Majorie Jackson, Sir Edward Dunlop, Don Bradman, Kylie Minogue.

And for something really different:

Visit my daily thoughts blog at    www.waynemansfield.com  
where you can leave comments and ideas
on stuff that doesn't make it to The Rare Spirit
have a read of some great stuff about  The Desert Mums
four remarkable mums who conquered the Simpson Desert.

 
Life's Little Instruction Book

Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.

Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.

Source:          H. Jackson Brown, Jr  Life's Little Instruction Book
MAVERICK QUOTE OF THE DAY
 

"You gain strength, courage and confidence
by every experience in which you really
stop to look fear in the face.
You must do the thing
you think you cannot do."

Eleanor Roosevelt
 

Samuel Maverick (1803-70) Texan rancher who, when branding of stock was introduced chose "Not to Brand." Every unbranded horse or cow he then claimed as a Maverick!

Feedback:   I have selected a couple of words for today... and I hope to hear from you soon with your words of encouragement, wisdom and resolve.

 
Wayne

I tried to find your address so I could send you two bob (20 cents - that is for your two bob's worth) for my annual subscription to the Maverick Spirit. Unfortunately I couldn't find it.

It is my understanding that you have copped a fair bit of stick over your supposed spamming of this newsletter - well, I have to disagree with those powers that be. It is not spam but supply of a newsletter that I subscribe financially to, or would if I could find your address.

Cheers Mate

Keep the info coming and don't forget the tax invoice


Oleg & Ellen Anne Milosavljevic
Pingrup Roadhouse


Hi Wayne

Thanks for your emails. I always find them interesting and often send them on to friends.

Many thanks
Marilyn Prestage
Edith Cowan University

Wayne

In a past life and the good old days of Sales tax I was selling packaging materials and food containers to restaurants and take away food outlets. The sales tax, like today's GST , had to be shown separately on the sales docket. Unlike GST it was calculated on the cost price of the article ie our buying price. On a typical order there would be no tax on some items (white paper for wrapping fish and chips), 5% on some items (plastic takeaway containers) and 15% on some items (hot chip cups).

On writing a sales docket (yep writing) one had to have the selling price, the cost price and the tax rate for each product. Just to make life interesting, the sales tax on milkshake containers was 15% on 60% of the wholesale cost.

Why?? Because chocolate was exempt and someone had decreed that 40% of
all milkshakes made were chocolate.

Keep up The Spirit

Paul Tibbitts

Hi Wayne,

Good stuff as always and in keeping with the Aussie spirit (pardon the pun) of this newsletter I thought you might like to know that we have won 2nd place in the Childrens’ section of the Unisong International songwriting contest (held in the USA) with one of our true blue songs ‘Dinky Di Aussie’. Have a look at www.unisong.com .

Apparently, this was out of 600 entries! In fact you can vote for our song as part of a separate competition if you would like to!!

There are quite a few Aussies in the mix actually which is great - who needs the Socceroos??

Phil Splitter
 



Sell! 2006
The Ultimate Sales Day
Brisbane 25th September 2006
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Until next time then... enjoy being a free spirit in a complicated world.

Wayne Mansfield Editor
The Rare Spirit Newsletter

http://www.www.therarespirit.com
eMail: thespirit@maverickspirit.biz


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