I am recharged and slightly brimming
Oh, we had such a weekend. I am recharged and slightly brimming.
I have attempted to talk about the Burton retreat. The Spinnies and the Fluties have been sharing this weekend retreat facility for many years. We didn't start off sharing, they were there, we were there. In the early days, we Spinnies went about our business, but flute music wafted in the breeze and occasionally there was a thump of a great drum. Kind of hard to ignore, I suppose. I think we were drawn to each other, truth be told. Over the years, we have mingled.
Today, many Spinnies are learning to play flute and didgeridoo, and many Fluties are spinning, knitting and weaving. When we reunite, there are hugs, sharing of photos, some tears as we catch up, laughter. All in all, such a good time.
Gypsy picked me up Saturday morning around 11:00. The retreat started Friday but we abbreviated the weekend because money is short and Gypsy has Elder-Cat (Michelle) she doesn't want to leave too long.
The picture is a view of Mt. Rainier from the Point Defiance ferry terminal. Beautiful, beautiful day.
Off we go across the sea, on a ferry. We sit out the trip in the car because it is a short run. Coming into the dock at Vashon, Loudspeaker Man booms, loudly garbled, overhead: There is police activity at the Vashon terminal dock, we are not docking. Repeat, we are not docking and turning to return to Pt. Defiance.
"What?" we say as the ferry starts turning hard right, hard right, hard right. Everyone is asking questions, kids are running back to cars, doors are slamming. Somewhere, someone's car alarm starts going off.
"What?"
The car alarm was turned off, but kept going off and on during the 15 minute trip back to the terminal. It was enough to damage anyone's calm.
I couldn't get off that boat fast enough. Good thing Gypsy drove, she is much more sensible. (I might have yelled 'floor it!' at one point in time.)
When we unloaded, we received a voucher for another trip. The information we got (until we accessed our spinnie friends with smart phones) was:
Ferry service could not promise a re-opening time...
We could drive to Seattle to catch the Fauntleroy ferry...
Anthony's Restaurant is right at Pt. Defiance. We found it a very nice place to seek refuge. Over an excellent dinner Gypsy and I contemplated options.
I think that is Mt. Baker in the far distance...and the ferry that had just kicked us off in the foreground. It had taken off for Vashon right after we unloaded. This is it's return trip.
In the end, Gypsy and I drove to Fauntleroy. It was a fun excursion, but we missed dinner at the retreat.
When we got there, everyone was at dinner. We found the dining hall filled with a high school orchestra, the Spinnies and the Fluties. It was very loud and chaotic.
Gypsy and I stepped outside for a few minutes.
I like this fence.
Very quickly after we arrived, we were shocked to learn native amerian flute artist, Anthony Natividad, passed away.
http://anthonynatividad.com/
The rest of the weekend was pretty subdued, but very good.
Picture: Pamela Mortensen stands waiting her turn at the Saturday night concert. She made the very tall didgeridoo she is holding, from eucalyptus. I don't know much about the smaller instrument she is holding in her other hand. Pamela is a didgeridoo artist worth looking into.
http://www.pamelamortensen.com/
The alter on the piano bench in the picture, is for Anthony. I am so sad he is no longer with us.
Anthony was always curious, never knew a stranger, bounced here, bounced there. From Hawaii, he attended this retreat for many years. He saw the possibilities in people.
This is a concert picture from a previous year and the lighting is horribly poor.
Nose flute.
I have no more words.
This was very interesting Saturday night. A didgeridoo concert.
But, I was exhausted. I confess, I left the concert early and was in my thrice cursed crappy bed before 10:00 pm.
I did sleep, but my hip and back are complaining.
This picture is tagged 'waiting for the ferry to return to real life'. It is an old picture from 2007-ish. After going through pictures I see I have a couple that belong under that tag.
Rest in Peace Anthony. Thank you.
I have attempted to talk about the Burton retreat. The Spinnies and the Fluties have been sharing this weekend retreat facility for many years. We didn't start off sharing, they were there, we were there. In the early days, we Spinnies went about our business, but flute music wafted in the breeze and occasionally there was a thump of a great drum. Kind of hard to ignore, I suppose. I think we were drawn to each other, truth be told. Over the years, we have mingled.
Today, many Spinnies are learning to play flute and didgeridoo, and many Fluties are spinning, knitting and weaving. When we reunite, there are hugs, sharing of photos, some tears as we catch up, laughter. All in all, such a good time.
Gypsy picked me up Saturday morning around 11:00. The retreat started Friday but we abbreviated the weekend because money is short and Gypsy has Elder-Cat (Michelle) she doesn't want to leave too long.
The picture is a view of Mt. Rainier from the Point Defiance ferry terminal. Beautiful, beautiful day.
Off we go across the sea, on a ferry. We sit out the trip in the car because it is a short run. Coming into the dock at Vashon, Loudspeaker Man booms, loudly garbled, overhead: There is police activity at the Vashon terminal dock, we are not docking. Repeat, we are not docking and turning to return to Pt. Defiance.
"What?" we say as the ferry starts turning hard right, hard right, hard right. Everyone is asking questions, kids are running back to cars, doors are slamming. Somewhere, someone's car alarm starts going off.
"What?"
The car alarm was turned off, but kept going off and on during the 15 minute trip back to the terminal. It was enough to damage anyone's calm.
I couldn't get off that boat fast enough. Good thing Gypsy drove, she is much more sensible. (I might have yelled 'floor it!' at one point in time.)
When we unloaded, we received a voucher for another trip. The information we got (until we accessed our spinnie friends with smart phones) was:
Ferry service could not promise a re-opening time...
We could drive to Seattle to catch the Fauntleroy ferry...
Anthony's Restaurant is right at Pt. Defiance. We found it a very nice place to seek refuge. Over an excellent dinner Gypsy and I contemplated options.
I think that is Mt. Baker in the far distance...and the ferry that had just kicked us off in the foreground. It had taken off for Vashon right after we unloaded. This is it's return trip.
In the end, Gypsy and I drove to Fauntleroy. It was a fun excursion, but we missed dinner at the retreat.
When we got there, everyone was at dinner. We found the dining hall filled with a high school orchestra, the Spinnies and the Fluties. It was very loud and chaotic.
Gypsy and I stepped outside for a few minutes.
I like this fence.
Very quickly after we arrived, we were shocked to learn native amerian flute artist, Anthony Natividad, passed away.
http://anthonynatividad.com/
The rest of the weekend was pretty subdued, but very good.
Picture: Pamela Mortensen stands waiting her turn at the Saturday night concert. She made the very tall didgeridoo she is holding, from eucalyptus. I don't know much about the smaller instrument she is holding in her other hand. Pamela is a didgeridoo artist worth looking into.
http://www.pamelamortensen.com/
The alter on the piano bench in the picture, is for Anthony. I am so sad he is no longer with us.
Anthony was always curious, never knew a stranger, bounced here, bounced there. From Hawaii, he attended this retreat for many years. He saw the possibilities in people.
This is a concert picture from a previous year and the lighting is horribly poor.
Nose flute.
I have no more words.
This was very interesting Saturday night. A didgeridoo concert.
But, I was exhausted. I confess, I left the concert early and was in my thrice cursed crappy bed before 10:00 pm.
I did sleep, but my hip and back are complaining.
This picture is tagged 'waiting for the ferry to return to real life'. It is an old picture from 2007-ish. After going through pictures I see I have a couple that belong under that tag.
Rest in Peace Anthony. Thank you.