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Christmas 1993 Greetings!!!
Since I've MOVED since last Christmas I'd better start gathering up 1993--even tho it's "only" November. Last December ('92) I found myself writing a Christmas card back to Colorado saying much as I love salt water, islands and 12 months of emerald green, I also deeply missed the Rockies, sage brush and wide open spaces. (Not snow tho, never.) The card was returned, unforwardable, but the idea of moving inland grew.
In short, in May I rented a big old apt on Spokane's historic South Hill and began hauling stuff 300 miles east. Luckily it was a beautiful month to do the long overdue deed (moving, sorting, packing). If it hadn't been spring I might have backed out. But lovely gardens, parks and mansions in my new neighborhood lured me to fill another U-haul. Slowly I began to like the idea of living on a river that comes from Idaho and heads north to Canada. I even love the drive between Seattle and Spokane (I'm one of the few who do): going from green Seattle, over the Cascades, into dry land farms, basalt scab lands and sagebrush, then into ponderosa pines. The unusually wet spring kept fields green, full of flowers and ponds nearly all summer.
One of the first changes moving brought was buying a computer. How could I possibly write resumes without my housemate's computer...? Major crow for this computer bad-mouther to swallow. Bought a used IBM PS2 from The Very Reverend Coombs (dean emeritus of Spokane's beautiful Episcopal cathedral), who wrote two books on it before upgrading for his third. (Figured the dean wouldn't give a total computer rookey a bum steer; equally important he was the only person who was able to set up their computer to use my few existing files. Only took me 4 or 5 days to find them; just as well my desperate call to a fellow who cleverly advertises "New computer got you stumped?" was never returned.
The computer sits on a fine antique, 3 mirror dressing table, part of the furnishings that came in my wonderful apartment. Too bad the landlord keeps threatening to raise the rent, forbidding flower pots on the porch and it's been so difficult to find roommates! When my nice Chinese student roommate moves, I'll look for a less expensive home where the landlord appreciates me! Housemates are not a way of life in Spokane as they were in Seattle. Nor did I work for minimum wage as I do here. The joys of starting over!
Another adventure not long after I moved to Spokane was the disappearance of my kayak from the backyard, the week I'd planned my first and only Spokane outing. After weeping and wailing it occurred to me to advertise in the Spokane Spokesman. The kayak was returned. I guess I had to prove gangs have come to Spokane. It had been sold.
Adventures from last winter in Seattle include:
*** Getting my first glasses, from a Chicago eye doctor who visits Seattle. Have wanted glasses for years and years! A non-traditional prescription, naturally, which changes my vision to see less clearly in the distance, but more clearly up close to read. I love 'em.
*** Taking a terrific pruning class that helped make me comfortable pruning shrubs.-2-
*** Seeing Ram Das, the first time I've heard a famous spiritual guru. Indeed he's quite a wise teacher.
*** Last winter I wrote up grandfather Mann's (mom's father) notes about logging in Canada after WWI. After wishing I still had the glass slides that went with the notes, I wrote the Univ. of Ill. to learn the whereabouts of my former folklore studies Professor, Archie Green, to whom I'd given the slides in 1966(?) in hopes of getting them to a museum. Shortly afterwards Prof. Green phoned from San Francisco to tell how the slides got to be in Iowa with his daughter! Years melted. I was stunned and delighted. This fall I picked up the slides in Portland (hand delivered during a business trip.) How's that for a story! Do I have a winter project!
Slide No 71The support of numerous Seattle area and Colorado folks, who wonder why I moved, but accept that I did, has been invaluable. Moving always polishes friendships, without which I don't know how I could have moved.
I'm lucky I can visit Seattle easily. Which I do, every month or so. Spent nearly a week at Folklife over Memorial weekend, fabulous as ever. Made fall and summer trips to Orcas Island, to work in the Theosophical Society's garden and orchard and relax in little woodsy cabins. While in Seattle Marli and I swam in Green Lake, just like old times.
Folklife Friends 1993 Balkan musicians jamming Folklife 1993 Managed one summer hike, Tonga Ridge in the Cascades. My birthday treat was a drive down to Goldendale on the Columbia River to see Mary Hill Museum, and the Stonehenge replica, set above the windy gorge. I've wanted to see the museum for years and years and years.
Several Seattlites came thru Spokane this summer; some, like (now) Texan Robyn, came before I knew the first thing about Spokane! Most folks camped on my large living room floor. Unfortunately, altho I've often been without a roommate in the 2nd bedroom, it was never when visitors were here. My place could almost be an 1890s B&B, full of antiques, lovely woodwork and stone fire place.
Marcy visited in August and showed me around Ione (near the border) and Spokane, her old stomping grounds. Camping on Pend d'Orielle River was so magical I got in the habit of spending a night camped out nearly every weekend afterwards. Usually on my own, tho another weekend Katy and Carl (old Bellingham buddies) and our kayaks met in the Okanogan. Ahh! I have so missed being in the wilds.
Katy and Carl were responsible for one of the social highlights of the summer, if not the decade! Katy and Leslie's graduation party was perfectly timed. After a wet summer, at long last came the perfect summer evening for a huge, wonderful outdoor party. The yard was exquisitely set up with tables and barbecues. Even an untimely power outage didn't dull our (nearly 70) spirits. Just before midnight while we dredges were sitting 'round campfire embers under the starry night, the twinkle lights strung thru the trees came on, announcing hot water and a flush toilet again.
Tho I hardly know anyone in Spokane, I've invited myself to several potlucks announced thru the Spokane Folklore Society newsletter. A particularly nice one, a good bye for a family I'd met a few yrs ago, was held outside, about 15 miles north of Spokane. A puny little rain moved the party in (wouldn't have phased a Seattle or Bellingham gathering I humpfed!) Played a little live music and met a lotta folks. Came home feeling I'd-3-
made the right move (just because I met someone else who had to sit in the car and listen to Car Talk?)
I don't always feel that way! Folk music and dance, which have been such a huge part of my life the past 8 years in Seattle, are not much of a part of my new life. However, I now pick cherries and make applesauce (with rhubarb!), like I used to in Colorado. Reluctantly left shape note singing in Seattle; have substituted singing with the Unitarian Church choir. For Halloween we sang "The Cat Came Back".
Left Volksmarching behind too. Volksmarches (bazaars, book sales, many classes and nearly everything else) are primarily held Saturdays, when I work. Instead I take walks through Parks and Rec several evenings a wk, a wonderful way to learn Spokane neighborhoods and history. Our fearless leader is a white haired realtor who knows every scandal and everyone in Spokane. It's great. My outspokenness pales beside hers (I think).
This fall I found excellent classes: acupressure and Tai Chi, rather than yoga. (Next year I hope to tell you I'm teaching yoga to seniors, sharing Margaret's wisdom.)
In August I got a part-time job at the nearby library, (alas, economically akin to volunteering). Good staff; close enuf to bike. My karma for not appreciating kids is to spend hours crawling on the floor, under coughing, sniffling kids, shelving picture books, which they pull off faster than I reshelve! Have taken to bringing home and enjoying stacks of children's books. Especially cat stories, meow!
The short wet summer was good for reintroducing a mildewed Puget Sounder to the hot, dry inland. Fall made up for summer, gold and glorious, making it OK to bring on winter. I nestle deeper into Stu and Gail's featherbed as the nights get colder and colder. My stack of story books is close, my head full of writing ideas. Sewing projects are around the corner. My first Spokane winter. Dare not think how much I look forward to the return of garage sales and flowers!
My scattered family is well; mom in Durango keeps me posted. Baby announcements arrive periodically from the brothers. I'm looking forward to a spring visit to Colorado; I missed last spring's--all my energy went into moving. Moving this pack rat was quite something; she still hasn't learned to travel light (except to Europe).
Happy, happy holidays to everyone. Good to have had the AIDS quilt come thru Spokane two weeks ago and remind us of all the love amidst the chaos, always a powerful experience. Ain't the 90s something else? Quite a shake down; feel I'm better able to find my bearings here, without the traffic and overloads of Seattle. Next year I hope to report I even have friends plus loser shoulders and knees and everythings and that I've learned the beginning form of Tai Chi.
Send stories and photos my way anytime. Thanks for listening to mine. Hope you're all well and warm and '94 is good for all of us.Love,
Jeannie
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