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'ello Folks!
It's a dark, damp early November night on the Palouse. Moscow Mountain and Paradise Ridge have new snow on their shoulders. Time to gather up '96.
The year began with a pleasant new part-time job. Between semesters at WSU I slid into a "student" position at Holland, the big, new humanities library, directed by Nancy Baker, wife of Sierra Club rep Jim, both of whom I met in early Seattle days. So agreeable are the hours, staff/student assistants (mostly foreign), work, view and snacks, I've stayed put, ignoring the wisp of a wage. At last a(n) humane workplace!! The only thorn is punching a time clock, four floors away--I often forget.
Last January, in the heart of winter, dear Spokane friend Anne tipped me off about Annette Goodheart's (her honest to goodness birth name) Laughter Workshop. Response was overwhelming--the Inland Empire denies the utter bleakness of its winters (like the emperor's new clothes). The community college arranged the largest space it could, then packed in hundreds of us desperate, humorless folks. What a great time we had, laughing and learning. After holding one of Annette's spendy models from Monterey CA, I became unabashed about wanting a large stuffed bear in my life. (Her clients are Hollywood stars.) Viola! Found one in mom's collection when I visited in March. Source?
Also in March we had the first real snow I'd see in years, a deep, cold blanket of Colorado style down settled over the region. The first evening I slipped into long unused skis and scuffled across the street to the Forest Service Research Station grounds to watch assemblies of snow flakes drift silent through street lights. Students were outside in their wide array of ill prepared rigs, sliding sideways through the sloped parking areas in the apt complex. Rumors of school cancellation danced in their heads.
A few zero nights later, energized by familiar weather, I donned the raccoon coat I survived Gunnison Colorado in and stuffed the housemate into the Toyota. Drove the "perilous" snowy highway to the logging village of Potlatch, to see the one man show about Pat McManus, Idaho's claim to humor. When I moved up to the front row to hear better I warned the folks I might be kinda loud. Not to worry: I had company. Lesson: I'll go a long ways for laughs. (Plus homemade cookies.)
Laughter is also the only way I survived my first experience with reflexology. Again Anne shared, 83 year old Elma, a Finnish wonder. Only Elma could get away with inflicting so much pain. I try to see her when I'm in Spokane. Would like to learn.
A few weeks later, all that snow plus rains, fulfilled my longing for a river in Moscow. You probably saw the headlines about NW flooding. Housemate Curt scooted out to sand bag downtown Pullman, enthusing "Looks good on my resume." It was exciting. Moscow potholes rivaled the craters of Kodiak AK: railroad crossings became a dread event.
March. Annual Colorado/Utah excursion. Brief good bye with the Wolmuths, old Boulder friends and hikers, before they moved their lives to Vermont. Oh, the times are changing. When snow began, the gang fled for lower ground. I stayed a day, weary of driving, to watch the wonder of clouds and sun crossing the San Rafael Swell, before driving on to Durango. Couple of days with mom, rooting through old treasures, stored in her shed, probably our last Colo visit before she moves to Minneapolis. Always enjoy stopping en route: Moab, Dolores, Salt Lake and this year, scouting out Boise.
May. Exciting, frustrating month, when students move and throw everything out. Has to be seen to be believed. Got territorial when outsiders came to check MY dumpster. Folklife Festival, Seattle, fabulous as always. Recharged soul with friendships, music, dance, crafts, ethnic food. Charmed to pieces by a very young Hawaiian dancer. Curiously, Moscow/Lewiston has a Hawaiian band with enchanting dancers. Lewiston, on the Snake River I'll add, has orchards with pie cherries. "Christmas in July", I think, reaching sunlit cherries overhead.
Re Hawaii, per longtime volunteer/friend Ina's suggestion, every few wks I "lead" exercises in the Alzheimer's unit at the nearby nursing home. Our favorite music is Hawaiian. New experience. My interest in yoga/qigong hasn't vanished, just submerged. Come the new year I'm on the docket to teach very gentle yoga through adult ed. Yeah! Try it, folks! I need company!
Summer Reunions. Thanks to email, I've caught up with a number of old friends, including Jacksonville, Illinois kindergarten friend Pat and husband at RIT, NY. Learned they'd be a deaf ed conference in Portland over 4th of July, an overdue opportunity not to be missed--hadn't seen each other in decades. Forgot our year book but brought kindergarten class photo.
Patsy (back ctr); Jeannie (front ctr). w Bruce, Warren, Janet and Diane (ccw), kindergarten! ~1950 Jeannie and Pat 1996 Wonderful to tie the years together. Can't get over how unchanged you are Pat, still full of wonder and delight. Twinge of melancholy at our good bye, what a wonderful visit.
Sept. Also time to visit Calgary. Laurie and Mike generously hosted houseman Curt and I. L and I have corresponded since Bellingham [ed. the 70s] days! Memorable tour of Calgary Zoo by docent Laurie. Met old Simian Peter Z's Vietnamese wife and their children. P and I go back to hiking and caving days with the Simian Outing Society at the U of Illinois. Great to see everyone. Beautiful drive, highlighted by Banff with fresh snow.
While I never get in enough camping and communing with nature, the kayak got wet a few times. I offer evidence that it was indeed the Chinese year of the Rat. Car camping rainy [fall] solstice weekend in Montana, I left muddy birkenstock style sandals under the toyota for the night. Loud rat sized clatter on the car roof that night. In the a.m. retrieved sandals from the woods, cork neatly trimmed. Invaded somebody's space! Some of you may remember I'm a veteran of mouse sounds and smells. As soon as I hear their tiny patter, I load the traps (kept under front seat) with Reese's pb cups. Confess to one extremely bloody murder on the Gifford Pinchot NF.
Staffing the last two weeks of August at the Theosophical Society's Camp Indralaya on Orcas Island turned out to be a highlight. Sunrise paddles bonded me to nature as I hadn't in years. (See more awesome photos sometime.)
Indralaya - September morningWatched tides, moon and seasons change with new intimacy and meaning; worked on a crew in the garden, talking to vegetables. I'll do it again next year--bathroom, kitchen duty and all. Come visit while I'm there. Send for catalog of classes: Camp Indralaya, Rt 1, box 86, East Sound WA 98245; 360-376-5977. Throughout the year I return for yoga and qigong workshops.
Dec. Adventurous excursion to Colorado to close mom's house (Stu and Jamie moved her east in Nov.), sell vehicles, sort through history of promises to realtors, meet neighbors, fill dumpster after dumpster. The tercel was a champ--some of the most treacherous driving I've experienced in all my years of winter driving in sturdy VW bugs in Colorado! Highways were right at the freezing line. Came up one long grade in southern Idaho knowing that if I stopped, I'd stay. At the top, a line of stopped traffic filled the southbound lanes for miles, while northbound cautiously pressed on. The Force was with me!
Fellow mediator/housemate Curt continues to supply good company, fine entertainment and mediation opportunities. This fall several of us attended an excellent negotiation training program in Boise, by his former MIT professor. Last week I was part of a team of judges at a U of Idaho law school negotiation competition! Ain't that a trip! Thanks to an enthusiastic young lawyer, Latah County Court now has a mediation option for small claims and I have a chance to mediate a case or two each month.
As for entertainment provided by said housemate... to witness Curt's committed cowboy boot habit erode fromt he bottom up (tortured toes) and see him succumb to the comfort of the common birkenstock last June was the most vivid demonstration of the conversion experience (learned from him) I could hope for. As we lightworkers say, Shift Happens. Astonishment at coming home to find the bathroom gleams pales in comparison. We're full of wonder, no?
Jeannie's got a mtn bike now, and surprise, email. Can't lick 'em, join 'em. Inevitable for this letter writer. Fun to revive old acquaintances. Don't give up ... as soon as I figure out...
Without doubt, the book discovery of the year/decade: Jacques Lusseyran's And There Was Light, the amazing story of his life and work with the French Resistance. Where his book has been hiding all these years, I don't know. I'm stunned by Lusseyran's simplicity and clarity. Anyone else know Lusseyran?? Also wonderful, A Year in the Country, Sue Hubbel re Ozarks.
Spiritual path: Delightful elk Gloria Benish from Montana has been my primary "teacher" this year. Her self published book Go within or Go Without is up there in my top ten, always by the bed. Can't recommend her highly enough (to like minded explorers). Reiki in my toolbox now. Top priority: Breath fully and deeply.
Special Mention. October Eclipse from an island of trees midst Palouse wheat fields. Moon didn't rise above layer of clouds until just before total. Marvelous happening. Reminiscent of eary experience stumbling out of Cottonwood Cave (New Mexico, 1966?) after a day underground, into a total eclipse of the moon.
Cat Report. Recent visit with Bobby (Spokane), sporting fine Halloween oat, fine as ever. Proposed project: purr recording. Ideal cat-idates must be loud, friendly, agreeable and willing to purr into a microphone for extended period of time. Submit info to above address.
That's it folks. Seems like only a few minutes ago I was editing last year's letter, ya know? This one gives me a chance to re-live the "good" in '96, change or delete the not so cool stuff. Plan to enjoy 1997 even more, as I learn to let go and let love. Knowing a group of potluckers is going to make this Moscow winter more pleasant than my first. (Wince.) Connecting with the distant Hemphill tribe, online or otherwise, is my vision. Always, always, my deepest thanks to each of you for being in my life another year. Rev. Jeannie's New Year's plum--
I absolutely know in my heart You and I are Whole and One. Remember?
Love,
Jeannie
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