Return to Holiday Letter Hard to start writing (began in Nov.) because it forces me to acknowledge the holidays always catch me napping. As you see, though, once I dig up the year, I can't stop!
Already I forget I spent the first half of '95 in SPOKANE! JANUARY calendar note: "sour cream lid flew off while sitting out". Reflects the excitement level of January 1995? Another note reminds me I smiled to find "Jingle Bells" meowed into the answering machine one day.
Re ongoing Spokane WALKING GROUP led by white-haired gnome Beth. I drifted away from the group after Beth [Moore?] dispatched my whining that Spokane landlords wouldn't show apartments (causing me one of the most difficult searches of my renter's life) with "Why should they?", a point of view I hadn't considered. Mentally began packing my Spokane bags. Not before witnessing Beth model dressing in layers for the cold. Under an ancient shorty mink coat: wool sweater from 7th grade; baggy navy and white striped cotton pants under culotte-like navy print cotton shorts; cotton shirt; tennis shoes (of course) with white cotton socks; hand knit stripped stocking cap pulled over ears; mitts. Trust me, she was absolutely outrageous. (Like me!) Even better, she'd worn it all day to her real estate office, jolting the youthful staff. I miss walking adventures, but not Spokane politics.
After a wonderful (cold and snowy) visit to Missoula, Helena and Butte in early MARCH, verifying the refreshing friendliness of those dance communities, all signs pointed to a compelling need to MOVE (though not where). Fell in love with Montana. Again.
About the same time, the minister who kept me on the edge of my unitarian choir folding chair in the brand new church, announced her resignation with piercing candor, explaining her exhaustion, which I'd observed keenly, being so nearby. She truly came into her own--shudda known she was on the home stretch. Her model helped me let go and move on, which I never enjoy (though I keep doing it). Change after change after change seems like the song of the year.
Spring (APRIL) brought my annual, eagerly anticipated visit to the Southwest. After I hiked with the old gang, mom and I took an excursion and nippy campout to Georgia OKeeffe country, northern New Mexico. Love that red and gold rock! Drove down to the Chama River and a remote monastery.
WHERE TO MOVE was answered on the drive back. Spent a magic moment at an Idaho Hot Springs then visited co-mediator/friend Curt Brettin, recently relocated in Moscow. Liked the University flavor, food co-op, 60s coffee shop, farmers' market, unitarian church and compact downtown so much...
Early MAY, I hustled over to LaConner [WA] to meet Kodiak Elinor at the Alaska-style wedding of our old oil spill co-worker, Don. The bride's folks hosted at their beach home on a glorious sunny afternoon. Kodiak bride (in long, print skirt) and groom (in new carhart's) assembled one of the finest events of my year. Fish, guests/cooks and wares, had flown down from Alaska, CA, etc. for the event. That balmy evening we lounged in the sand around a fire, as the tide moved in. Spent the night next door. Naturally, I opted for listening to waves from a porch.
Chatting w Alaskans at Susan and Don's beach weddingThat weekend, in Bellingham I selected a tiny Compaq notebook computer, to take to the woods, ending several years of yearning. She quickly became Amateratsu after the Japanese sun goddess I met in my Spokane Rise Up and Call Her Name class, which became my support group for the move. Funny how moving makes friends. Thought it couldn't happen in Spokane.
MEMORIAL WEEKEND I was back in Seattle at my 10th Folklife, recharging my batteries with ethnic/traditional dance/music and old friends. This year Seattle Center also hosted the GRATEFUL DEAD, making a most memorable opening evening. No problem hearing the concert in the stadium!-2- The last night in my beloved Spokane apartment I packed my trusty desktop IBM into storage. Sometime the following day it was stolen--a 286. I was in too much turmoil moving to mourn long, though much of my fall 1994 writing was on the hard drive (now I know how to copy files).
Somehow I moved. In the spring musical apartments game, I ended up sharing rent with Curt, who was still living part-time in Spokane with his fiancé.
Having missed spring while moving, I dedicated what remained of summer to investigating and pursuing the wilds. The kayak was on the Toyota for months as I explored and returned to favorite Washington, Montana and Canadian lakes. It was a good summer for encountering moose. lakes appear to be scarce in N. Central Idaho. My local delight is nearby Nature Conservancy gem, Idler's Rest, an island amid wheat fields. Amateratsu and I spent cool hours under the old cedars by a trickle of a stream. Fine place for qigong practice.
Living in wheat country, I'm not sure just when the real mouse moved into the Toyota. Oh, to have known I had company sooner. Nothing could tempt him[?] to leave his fragrant new home. Bought traps, baited with peanut butter nanaimo bar. He had no chance--they're devastatingly delicious. Actually, he got the peanut butter, I got the chocolate. It was a dark and stormy night plus I was sick. Every few hours, between lighting and rain, I crawled out of the tent to recycle and rebait. By morning, I was a relieved murderess. All I wanted for my birthday was a mouse-free mobile. Need I mention I kept the windows down the next few months?? Not fun.
This fall, inspired by hints from visiting Spokane yoga/interior decorated teacher Kate (Moscow has one of the few accredited Iyengar yoga teachers in the west--more about that torturous pastime later), like a bear preparing for winter, I became obsessed with an instinct to arrange the apt for winter, using oriental feng shui. Night after night I shoved, rearranged, pondered. Kate suggested opening arch top trunk and setting a plant in it. Eureka! Move the book case. Wind chime over cook station; mirror behind stove. Am really pleased.
To my delight, the Moscow unitarian church merely handed me a key when I announced I wanted to teach yoga in the basement. Unitarians are unflappable. No waiting list yet; however I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn and share. I bring tapes and candle, unitarian yoga. No threat to the Iyengar Center where "highly rigorous" yoga is the practice. (Survived their beginning series--phew!!) Plan to make the fall yoga retreat at Indralaya on Orcas Island an annual source of affirmation that yoga can be relaxing and gentle.
Connected with an informal herb study group this summer. Finally have the confidence to pick and choose herbs, fill capsules, compose teas. Kelp, lemon balm, alfalfa and red clover are some of my new friends.
Fall and winter work: first in the wheat fields, collecting seeds. Now temping at the U of Idaho, entering prospective student addresses in their new computer system--wince--with one of the best teams I've ever worked. (I'm the one with the walkman while the office radio is on Rush Limbaugh.) Yes, folks, I'm in Eye-dah-hoh! That, plus occasional mediation/facilitation hones me in on True North. I now refer to our [ed. Curt and I] our Boise debut as alternative dispute resolution trainers as an NDE (Near Death Experience). Ha ha. Had the flu where you lose your voice... an epic best left behind. Mediation leads me to...
BOOK OF THE YEAR. Gerry Spence's How to Argue and Win Every Time. Never forgot how much I enjoyed reading Spence's Of Murder and Madness and Gunning for Justice years ago. With Curt's encouragement and support, I've continued my interest and training in mediation, in directions other than small claims mediation (no longer available). It's taken decades to mold my frustration and passion for environmental issues and fascination for the legal field into mediation. Curt's absolutely on the cutting edge of mediation. I'm fortunate to have met him in the small claim's trenches.
Listened to dozens of delightful books on tape as I moved loads south: Caravan by Dorothy Gilman; West with the Night by remarkable Beryl Markham; Jill Kerr Conway's Road to Cooraine, followed by True North (book, not tape). How Green was My Valley. Travels with My Elephant. Yum, yum. Whine as I have about Spokane Public Library, I miss it greatly, especially the tapes.
Since Moscow has a cozy budget micro theater, I'm back at the movies. Roger Ebert was my classmate at Illinois, so I don't know why I too can't nominate favorites (after all I also saw every-3-
foreign film that came to the U of Illinois, which was beau coups.) I pronounce "Secret of Roan Innish" and "Latcho Drom" to be stupendous. Not sure Rog reviewed those. "Dangerous Minds" was a gift.
Feel a bit like Garrison Keillor reporting on the Lake Wobegon Whippets as I talk about my Christmas Cactus, for the third year. I have a second CC now. The original, which produced one stunning solo bloom the past two Thanksgivings, is, like me, clearly pleased with the move, producing an unprecedented 14 blooms. With luck, I'll have a month of color. Once again I have only east and north light.
And Cats. No local connections yet. Bobby (the Mitten Snatcher) and I visit when I'm up in Spokane. I can report he's just dandy in his fine winter coat. Sunday afternoon he was deeply engrossed in rubbing his ears on wet winter shrubs, while other cats were inside. What a cat!
Life is good, good, good and very good. but what a year! My head spins! Can't express how much I appreciate your support, calls, letters, thoughts, visits. Life would be less without each of you. In class I say, "Breathe in the new, breathe out the old! Let go of the day, the weekend, the month, the year!" And so it is, sigh!Love,
Jeannie
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