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HAPPY HOLIDAYS 1997
Treasured Friends far and wide (wince, that's me, wider than ever!),
Keep me in Pencil, but trust me, I don't exactly enjoy moving. Hard to turn back once ya start! Promised myself I’d never spend another 8 month long winter in Moscow. So be it. Now that my sage (and cat--that’s another story I’ll spare you) allergies have abated, I'm enjoying exploring a new community. Boise's Greenbelt along the River right through the city is just what my spirit yearned for, gold and magical this fall.
Two goals for 1997: deal with mom's empty Durango house and move self south are largely behind. Do I just tell ya what's happening these days, or do I take on the last 12 months? Ha!
January. Without doubt the highlight of dismal Moscow January was running a humorous help wanted ad in the AdMart. I was at the end of my rope: both Toyota door locks were out of commission. Month after month of gray drizzle; icy, treacherously tilted sidewalks; now this. No sooner was the new AdMart out than the phone rang, giving me the insight that I wasn't the only one enduring winter. Evidently plugging into AdMart connects with some of Moscow's finest information and entertainment. I was pleased that the first call was from maintenance woman Roberta. She clearly understood just what I was talking about—no “Try WD40, honey” as several men later suggested. Done that. R. invited me to come by, where she efficiently flooded the locks with something teflon (I hustled off to acquire). When I offered to reimburse her she said without smiling, she tended not to feel good about people so she needed to do something for others.
Her small gift and honesty was like getting a new car for me! From that small act of kindness, my spirits soared and my whole attitude towards academic Moscow changed, as the calls continued from a whole world of working class people freely offering a variety of (conflicting) solutions. Weeks afterwards I met people who had enjoyed my ad; I couldn't begin to tell them how much I had.
In January I chose to invest what I formerly spent on health insurance (never used, not even once) in rolfing appointments in Spokane, rolfing being the process that I felt would most open and align my tight, asymmetrical body. (Heard about rolfing when I lived in Boulder, end of the 60s!) Ron Rolfer (as I called him) and I began the intense 10 apptmt relationship that develops during rolfing; a fast track education in physiology and self body awareness. Imagine Ron, a young, slight fellow with Neo Nazi leanings, hauling chunky, middle-aged, women up and down a massage table! I loved having this and that pried open! One of the first thing Ron does is point out to women the ridges that build up as a result of tight clothing. Ah ha! I eagerly gave up bras for Lent, as I reported to my relaxation class. Over the next months I began to understand bodies as I never dreamed I would, tho I remain mystified how Ron saw what he did. Often I would float out of an apptmt; in the end I learned I must maintain my new alignment on my own. That’s another story. Bless Ron for encouraging me to go ahead and teach yoga, recommending a rolfing instructor’s yoga book and generally encouraging me to “go for it.”
Feb&Mar, June&July. Debut teaching relaxation and yoga via U of Idaho adult ed. A big, big step for this uncertain spirit. Surrounded by angels, I was.
March. Made rice crispy bars for the first time in my life, after looking at housemate Curt’s marshmallows sitting on the frig for 16 months. Earlier I deeply offended C. when I inquired why they were there and laughed when he said he was going to make the bars.
April. Yoga retreat, Camp Indralaya, Orcas Island. Saturday night’s kitchen band turned into a small group of us dancing to Gabrielle Roth music ‘til our hearts filled. Most fun I’d had in ages; how I adore dancing.
Easter service with Kathianne Lewis (Science of Mind Church) at the Opera House in Seattle. At one point, the sign language interpreter stole the show from Kathianne—no easy feat; she joined most of us with tears as we watched Ted. Powerful experience. We were sent off with Martin Luther King’s message: Love is the assignment.
May. Visited Hemphills in Minneapolis (been decades!) and attended first Ken Cohen qigong workshop, held at a Benedictine Monastery. (Which then led me to discover Kathleen Norris’ writing.) One evening, well, 15 minutes, with Ken and I knew I’d met a teacher I’d be learning from for a while. Qigong may be my thing!!
Karen, Jeannie, Ken and Paula Ken teaching outside monastery, May 1997 Mom and newest family member Bizmen Jamie and Stu in Mpls Brief visits with brothers Stu, Jamie, meeting their homes and families. Mom and I took a wonderful walk around the lake near Jamie and Kathy’s home. She remains a crack birder; however her mind changes channels suddenly, randomly and dramatically. Seeing mom in a nursing home for the first time was difficult for both of us, triggering weeks of turmoil, lightened only by yet another soul reviving Folklife Festival in Seattle (music from Krygistan(sp), Tuva; Klappa workshop, etc).
July. As soon as my last yoga class finished (another story: planned to celebrate by adjourning to the concert in the park; amazing thunder, lightning and hail storm hit; concert canceled; 5 of us huddled under an awning eating popcorn and watermelon; “you really throw a party!”, someone quipped), I headed to Durango for the Yard Sale of the Century, certainly of my lifetime--the clearing out of mom’s house. I’d hoped for a chance to work with one of the brothers; it was not to be.
Front yard, last daysThe sale was the labor of love of mom’s Audubon-related friends, who spent hundreds of hrs. sorting and pricing the leftovers after the U-haul went to Minneapolis. Over the winter, numerous of mom’s friends (“benefactors”) had hauled off tons. Several of my old Colorado friends came down to assist and visit during the sale weekend. During the days, a rare wheeler-dealer side of me came out of nowhere—for once I knew what I was talking about, every tool, dish, knickknack—that astonished me and mom’s friends at times. Might as well make this fun, I figured. True to mom’s spirit, the event was potlatch—“mom would want you to have this”.
By the end of the weekend I was praying fervently, “Take it away!” when a van load of hispanic fruit vendors appeared, leaving me glorious tomatoes and nectarines in exchange for goods. By the 4th day, Peggy and I agreed the only words for the experience and pile that remained in the front yard and living room were “A Miracle”. We were all beyond exhaustion. The final blessing, as I lifted my eyes long enough to notice the rainbow that appeared just before yet another awesome thunder, lightning and rain storm hit, was to know one of mom’s former book club members, a lovely woman, would be buying the house “as is”, releasing the complicated realtor situation that developed as mom left town.
I may yet write in depth about this experience, that included everything from meeting and working with mom’s warm, dark-eyed neighbors to selling the family lemonade crockery pot. The number of heart-warming experiences that were jammed into the week was overwhelming.
So it was Nothing to have a couple more sales of my own stuff before moving to Boise. I am a Yard Sale Professional. Yet I moved the kitchen sink!
Sometime over the summer, I showed up at unity church in Lewiston and found practically no one there. Without my being aware, the congregation revolted against the minister I was enjoying! Always out of step, this one! Time to move, more signs.
Picking Anna's cherries with her, Moscow, summer 97August. Somewhat sadly said good bye to my Highly Agreeable but routine library job at WSU, leaving no more excuses to stay in Moscow. Began slowly packing. Took self camping for birthday, one and only real camping. Three blessed nights tenting in old growth cedars in MT; a bit of paddling (downsized to lighter kayak recently). Each year it gets more challenging to find a place to camp. More and more roads and campgrounds close; campgrounds and woods overrun w folks, and of course, more clearcuts, less forest.
In August I committed to an apt in Boise; drove down to apt shop, another intense adventure I’ll spare you; wish I had done so myself!
Enjoyed mediating with Moscow housemate Curt again, a parenting plan referred by attys & judge at wit’s end. Curt is the only mediator I know who believes as strongly as I in letting folks make their own agreement. We agreed we felt good about helping folks write a nontraditional agreement that fit them.
Sept. Feeling like I missed a lot of summer and sensing I might not be getting back so often, I treated myself to 10 days around Seattle, including picking early blueberries on Mt Baker; (trespassing to) paddle kayak and swim in Chuckanut Bay and the Sound; and a terrific Breathing workshop at beautiful Camp Indralaya on Orcas Island.
Orcas Island evening paddle Sept 97Then a load to Boise. As if I didn’t have enough to do, I attended a 2nd Ken Cohen Qigong workshop, this one in my former stomping ground, Colorado, where I camped at 9500’ in the first snow of the season. Ken only gives a couple of workshops a year out West; carpe diem (?). Bonus: fine reunion after 20 yrs with old college friend Lorrie, now in Denver; visits with Boulderites Karen, Ben.
Oct. Boise! Thanks to yoga experience in Moscow, I walked straight into teaching yoga thru their extensive Community Ed program (using Boise Schools evenings), without the pressure of being paid. In exchange I get free classes, one of which is yoga class with a marvelous woman, Char, teacher of teachers, who taught in Denver 20-some years. For the first time since Seattle I have a yoga mentor; I’m thrilled. Next term I’ll offer Qigong and Dance too! No time for “work”!
Boise finds: Grapes in the alleys—thank you!; Joe Albertsons’ first store—1939--down the street. Another day, stumbled onto site of Idaho’s first McDonald’s!
Wild Animals I saw. Spring: 1 bear near in the Umatilla Natl Forest near Lewiston, so close I heard it chomp while I was in the car! Summer: Hanging above adjacent apt, Moscow, tiny bat with lacewing sitting vertically on its forehead for 3 days; Sept: 4 otter kidlets, squeaking and playing on an Indralaya beachlet; Fall: 1 river otter on the Salmon River.
Wild Animals I didn’t see: NO LOONS this year. No mice in Toyota.
However. While jump starting drained Toyota battery I observed large cedar strip nest. Shortly afterwards, while car camping en route to Moscow, I investigated gnawing under hood: Herr Packrack waved!
Food of the year: eggplant. Terrific year for pie cherries, tomatoes.
Books: Hair of the Dog (see my review on the Net at Amazon.com). Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk; Dakota. Continue to enjoy Books On Tape; Gerry Spence’s The Making of a Country Lawyer; Frank McCourt reading his own story, Angela’s Ashes.
Wanted to get greetings to you earlier; I reek havoc on the poor post office! I’ll close saying I'm very much enjoying Boise. I now live close enough to the River to hear and visit the geese! Boise is full of surprises and opportunities, changing faster than the speed of light. Every place I've lived is a part of me; Seattle especially still feeds my soul spiritually with old friends, green and flowery all year long. Pace is slower here. I'm grateful for the array of events, changes, lessons and blessings of 1997, I always try to acknowledge I’d never make it without knowing I have friends like you scattered across the country. Look forward to your news--has it been as challenging a time for others, I wonder?Warmly blessings to you and yours!
Love,
Jeannie
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