60 Comments
Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Funny how things can sometimes line up so clearly and simultaneously. Thank you for the mention, and for sharing such great memories of getting to meet both of these legendary figures!

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The Magic of S-E-R-E-N-D-I-P-I-T-Y

Thank you so much for your inspiration this last week! Everything came together so neatly! Have a magical day!🪄✨✨💖✨

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The timing of this article was so particular for me. Thank you for this piece!

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Me too Mack! Earlier this week wondering what topic to post about I was inspired by the posts I mentioned in my article. Everything was just brought together so neatly suddenly in my head. I went from that moment of not knowing what to post to knowing exactly what to post. I love it when the universe treats us so kindly! Thank you for reading and commenting! Have a beautiful day!💖💫

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Poetry in motion,

Bodies built with a devotion

to a craft, a skill, a notion -

In a Dance of Art and Fire💖🔥

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R. H. I’m so grateful for your wonderful gift of poetic words! Thank you so much. Beautiful! ✨💞✨💞✨💞✨

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Eee I'm so happy you like them, my beautiful Friend💖

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Yes I do! You have a way of bringing words to “life”, thank you! 💖💞💖

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Great piece Charlotte, I really enjoyed this one. Years ago I had an up-close experience with a professional boxer. Nothing on the level with yours but it brought back the memory nonetheless. I was at a very nice restaurant in Buckhead an area just north of downtown Atlanta, GA. Two tables away was a party of three, including the one and only Evander Holyfield who lived in the greater Atlanta area. He was undoubtedly the most ominous individual I've ever been around. Not just physically intimidating, which he definitely was, but in the aura he gave off and the demeanor of the man. If you made eye contact with him, you broke it off quickly because the look he gave back was deadly. I understand, appreciate and respect the wishes of celebrities and stars to be left alone. In his case, I was more than happy to oblige, haha.

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I relate! I remember how intimidating I was when I Muhammad Ali stood up in front of me after sitting on the stool. But he had that glint of happiness in his eye because he so gratified after successfully impressing me with a magic trick! Speaking of magic, have a magical day Nim! 🪄✨✨✨

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Thank you for showing me a world I know mostly nothing about. Your piece inspired my morning quote on Notes.

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Thank you Klaus! I am so happy you were inspired by my work this morning. I was serendipitously inspired myself earlier this week to come up with this piece. I will check out your note and thank you! Have a beautiful day Klaus! 💫💞💫

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I would never imagine you as a boxer, Charlotte.

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Lol, me either. I'm not a boxer. I've never boxed. 👊🥰

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But you do know how to successfully perform on the world stage.

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Boy, that feels like a lifetime ago! I am I say I’ve been joyed being a couch potato for a few years. I finally and cooking shows again. My first one March 2025. I’m looking forward to it, it's been a long time! 🤗

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Loved it

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I'm sorry glad Niccolo! 🤗 Thank you, that means a lot to me! 🥰♥️

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Fun ☺️ I loved that about Reno too. Skiing at Mt Rose and all over Tahoe. Epic snow that winter I remember slides at Alpine Meadows and at Mt Rose not sure if it was that Winter.

We called if biggest little shitty cuz it always felt like the ugly stepson of Vegas. And a play on their marketing of course 😂

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And now it’s even a Bigger Little Shitty because you can’t compete with modern Vegas on any level! 🤣

A little sidenote and I will talk about it in another Substack but my ex-husband and partner on stage at that time was Jonathan Pendragon who was attacked by a tiger on stage during our opening press night. Those were the days before video, so there were no photos or videos of the incident but the next day the story was all over northern Nevada and Northern California and nationally on USA today etc. I remember Rush Limbaugh mentioning it but I never saved any of the news because at the time it’s just depressed me and made me sad.

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Apr 28Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Oh boy I hadn’t heard about that so I guess I was gone by that time 🥲

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Yeah, that happened around 92-94 or so until Barron Hilton shut it down. It was called Earthwinds

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Your essay brings so much to mind. Reno 🙄 I was the Special Events Director for the Biggest Little Shitty for several years in the early 90s. Our paths may have crossed 😉

At the time our entire Reno Convention and Visitors Association was funded by the bed taxes—meaning we were essentially the bitches of the Carano family and their buddies. Several conversations I had with the group about cycling or triathlon TV packages were ended by Carano—sucking on his unlit stogie—“those folks are too healthy. Fuck ‘em. Gimme Grandmas from Sacramento and drunks.”

But fights—ahh fights—I member seeing a Leon Spinks fight from Row 1. It changed everything I thought about boxing—having only previously watched it on TV. Blood and spit and sweat flying all over me—made the reality of boxing so much more visceral.

Was Spellbound in Reno as late as 1990?

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We certainly must have crossed paths! I was in Reno - I stayed for an extended time and actually lived there was the fall, winter and spring of 92-93! I remember they sold T-shirts which said “I survived the Reno winter of 92 to 93”, because a blizzard blanketed Reno with several feet of snow causing all points of entrants and exits to the city to be closed for two or three during X-Mas. The tourists couldn’t leave and were locked in for those weeks. Many watched our show over and over again. Lol!

I love “Biggest Little Shitty” 🤣🤣🤣

For me, the best thing about Reno was the outdoorsy ness. I love to ski and I spent most of my winter days, and early spring days at Mount Rose.

Rennet when Hilton hired some grifting high air balloonist to go around the world starting in Reno? The whole operation generated out of the Reno Hilton and I ate dinner with those balloons practically every night. And then they brought some cosmonaut in from Russia to make the whole operation relevant. Conrad Hilton funded the whole thing which lasted months and months. I think he finally said enough, when the balloons went up in their hot air balloon and hit the side of the foothills in the sierra Nevada. The Reno Gazette called it the HILTONBERG! 🤣🤣🤣

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Wow. Such an amazing experience, Charlotte! to be presenting for Mr. Ali himself. What were you thinking when you were told "Thats Md. Ali"?

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Thank you Uttam for reading and commenting! Your support is truly appreciated! When I discovered who is was, my reaction was confusing because he was a magician at that moment and acted like a magician in that nothing could break his focus as he sat discussing magic with several magicians and shoppers - all male. I must have broken his spell when we were introduced. Ladies do that all the time to men! 😍

You and Amrita enjoy a beautiful day! 🤗💫💖

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Thanks for sharing your stories, Charlotte. Just learnt an amazing side to Md Ali which I would have never known from maintream media. You have a beautiful day as well!

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Thank you! 💜✨💜

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

I was thrilled to read your poetic essay about two champions of the Sweet Science. Big George and Mohammed Ali were great advocates for a great sport (that has now been replaced with Cage Fights and campus riots).

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Sending you much love and gratitude Charles, thank younger reading my post and commenting! I'm familiar with now now-popular cage fighting. There's people that do it on the backstreets for real blood. Now it's the thing!

I hope you enjoy a beautiful magical weekend!🪄✨✨💖✨

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

I am doing that very thing, Charlotte. Thanks for the good vibrations.

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My pleasure Charles 💖✨

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Apr 27Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Loved this story and the advice you give on fear. Beautiful, informative, inspiring-as always!

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Thank you Elizabeth, if anyone is good at standing up to fear, it’s a boxer! It takes guts to get punched in the face by a big fist! 👊 Have a beautiful day! 🤗💫💖

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Apr 29Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

I love your magic ❤️

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Thank you friend! Sending you lots of love! 💖

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I enjoyed this article immensely, Charlotte. When I think about it, many sports are an "art" combined with athletic ability: skiing, swimming, tennis, golfing... the list goes on. How fascinating that you got to know both Ali and Frazier. Thank you for sharing your experience.

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Louise, I appreciate you so very much for reading the article and taking a little space out of your day to come in! I agree so many sports are just as much of an artist they are a competitive athletic endeavor. Those were exciting moments in my life! Thank you again and I hope you enjoy a fabulous weekend!💞✨💞🤗

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Apr 28Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

I've never thought much about boxing but your story has given some new insight

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Hi Frank! Sending you much love my friend! These were my only two encounters and one of them was through magic! Have a beautiful weekend! 🤗💞

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Apr 28Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Really enjoyed this post. A combo-mix of numerous intriguing topics—boxing, dance, magic, art and the rumble in the jungle. Have you ever read The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver? It's fiction but historical, with in-depth details about that fateful fight. Thanks again, enjoyed reading this!

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Thank you so much Janine! I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. I appreciate your suggestion about the book by Mary Kingsolver. I am intrigued and I will research it! Sending you much love and gratitude! Have a beautiful weekend!💫💖💫

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Apr 29Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Good Charlotte! It's Barbara - think she won Natl Book Award. It's good!!

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Fantastic, thanks again! 💞✨💞

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Apr 29Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

You'll love it. It's mesmerizing, and especially so will be for you w/ your ties to both Ali and Foreman.

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I will give you feedback after I read the book! Thank you so much again Jeanette!

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Apr 29Liked by Charlotte Pendragon

Great. She's an incredible writer. And w/ the premise, well, there are multiple premises, but the thrust at the end is the rumble in the jungle. She weaves an extraordinary tale.

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