One of the funniest things I saw last fall was a play reading of P.G. Wodehouse's Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch by the Ananda Community players. Minister Selbie, togged in spats, was Perfect as dingy Bertie, as was formidable Aunt Agatha and ever proper Jeeves in black tux. The role I yearned to play was that of one of the cats, played by hissing and yowling behind cat face masks. Right down my alley, eh?
It takes a lot of entertainment to survive a long, gray Seattle winter. Early last year I saw wonderful concerts by my long favorite, Rosalie Sorrels, now living in her family homestead cabin in Grimes Creek near Boise and recovered from a serious brain aneurysm; and Tom Lewis, superb sea shanty man, retired from the Royal Navy, living in Nova Scotia.
Just after Christmas last year my long-standing Seattle friend Christopher died at his family's home. In March we held the Irish wake he wanted, complete with beer, food, Irish music and dance. I will always see him leaning against the wall at the New Melody Tavern, his favorite haunt. He leaves a hole in my life. It was a big year for losing friends.
Although the occasional Volksmarch gets me out and about in the winter, I am always more than ready to visit Colorado come spring. This year, because spring came so many weeks early, I was able to see the the Skagit Valley tulips in full bloom before I left--a fabulous sight I had never taken advantage of since living in the Northwest.
Nevertheless I was keen to soak in the desert again. I met Rick, Nancy, Gary and Pat in the San Rafael area of Utah. Three days of desert hikes and nights under the stars with friends was superfine; followed by brief visits with several more of you and a good visit with Mom in Durango, which included yet another night under Utah stars and a tour of rock art near Moab.
Unaccustomed to the sun and heat as I was, it took two chocolate sodas to cool me down as I headed north to Salt Lake City. Despite the beautiful drive, I was reluctant to return to the Northwest this year.
I was able to put in extra time volunteering at our 21st Northwest Folklife Festival over Memorial weekend. For the first time I helped unload from storage and lay down the plywood dance floor. Also spent time helping Sandy Bradley's instrument auction before, during and after the Festival. This year a violin sold for $17,000! I was ever so sorry to be out of work so much this year because beautiful inlaid banjos and autoharps, a piano and a miniature harpsichord went for a song.
I might as well confess now that I am still a beginner on fiddle and mandolin, due to the fact that I refuse to practice. I still enjoy playing at the occasional jam session, where they let me play anyhow.-2-
I continue to enjoy New England contra dancing as well as Louisiana style Cajun dance and music, which is "in" now. Thanks to Mary Lee I have a very part-time job taking admission at 1 or 2 large Saturday night dances each month. That way I can enjoy the music and people, but not have to deal with finding a partner.
Folklife inspired me to join the local Shape Note Singing group. (I observed that anyone was welcome; no tryouts.) Once a month 10-20 of us gather in a living room to enjoy singing the old traditional hymns of suffering and sin. This fall I attended my first Welsh festival; ever since visiting Wales in 1989 with KJ I've promised myself that experience. As I entered the room I was handed song sheets in Welsh. Didn't realize it was a do it yourself program! I sang LaLaLa to the most beautiful harmonies I recall. Am looking forward to attending Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" this holiday.
Unlike in the Rockies, I feel I need to pack all my favorite outdoor activities into summer. Hardy Marli started swimming in nearby Green Lake the end of May! Joined her in June, paddling for 30-45 minutes at the end of most days, all the way into September this year! Never dreamed I'd do more lake swimming in Washington State than anywhere else I've lived.
Marli and I at Greenlake]Marli is also an organizer of hikes. Joined her group for several day hikes, which usually ended at mountain lakes, where we swam and lolled on logs or tiny beaches. Marli and I even goaded ourselves into Mowich lake below Mt. Rainier one rainy afternoon until I felt little pains like ice crystals shoot through me! (The rest of the group wisely waited under dry trees--whimps!)
Starfish (my purple kayak) and I went on about a half dozen outings, starting early in the summer: Nisqually Delta in the sun; Baker Lake in the rain; an overnighter on Lummi Island where the Sound was so warm I swam for at least a half hour and the following day we watch Lummi Indian canoe races and ate salmon; and 4 days and nights on Nahatchlach Lakes in British Columbia, a peaceful 4th of July escape.
In August I returned to Salt Spring Island to look up the fellow whose truck I'd hit on the ferry in 1986. Dave and his beagle took me out on his sailboat ZaraJane to see the same grounded Club Med barge we'd visited before. Quite a fine birthday, sun and sail. Next visit, 1998?
I spent a lot of time looking for full time work this past summer. Ended up doing part-time gardening, thanks to Janet loaning me her overflow clients. I very much enjoyed that change of pace: plants, soil, physical labor and clients were a pleasure. An extension of my gardening experience was trading gardening for hot tub privileges nearby--proving to be about the best winter gift I could possibly give myself.
This fall I joined the large clerical staff working at King County Elections. I specialized in name and address changes and accounting for thousands of absentee ballots. Very interesting and a fine group of people.-3- I still volunteer at Bastyr Naturopathic College, which helps me afford health care. I now spend more time at the clinic dispensary and less in the library. I like learning about herbal tinctures and homeopathic remedies. I am full of herbs, especially Chinese ones. Guess it was inevitable that I got around to trying acupuncture, since Oriental medicine makes sense to me.
Much of this year I tortured myself with acupuncture by students, convinced that it stabilized my arrhythmic heart, which western medicine cannot. It was an interesting experience, which I'm sure I'll use again sometime. However, ultimately I need to learn to deal with my own health and stress. So I keep on with Margaret's yoga class, the highlight of every week.
In October Helen and Susan was introduced me to the Theosophical Society, via a work weekend at the Society's camp on Orcas Island. We picked huge apples, pressed 100 gallons of cider, and weeded the garden. I have started attending their Thursday night meditations, an island of calm in city life.
Oct 1992 Indralaya apple pressI spend a fair amount of time fantasizing about living again in a small, quieter community. It's in the back of my mind. Until then, I take advantage of city treats, like ushering for the terrific one man show on William O. Douglas; or attending book readings by favorite authors like Ellen Gilcrist, John Nichols, Paul Theroux or new ones like Vladimir Pozner and Wavy Gravy--what an experience!
I hope this rehash of 1992 inspires stories in return and isn't unbearable boring or self-centered, which of course it is! I'm hoping this saves paper and eye strain. Don't think 1992 was all fun and games; I've just sifted out the fun for you; it's the only way to survive the rest, eh? I'll close here and and switch to the old fashioned method of correspondence, the REAL me. I may have a color tv and vcr now but I will not give up handwriting!Love,
Jeannie
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