I know everyone is chomping at the bit for an update, biting your lips in anticipation, pacing the floor and other cliches I’ll spare you, and indeed I did a full post, went to attach a photo, and when I went back to the post it was all gone. All one can do is sigh. From now on, I will write and save in Google Docs, then paste into my website…
I’m currently in a parking spot in Boston, waiting till I attend my colleague Bårbara Martinez’s graduation from Berklee. We taught music together at Fieldston Lower for 12 years. Check out her band, Alba Musik!
So far all is going to plan. I played my last service last Sunday at the Unitarian church where I'm Music Director, and got quite a sendoff from the congregation; they made me a cake and sang “We wish you luck on your journey” to the tune of He's a Jolly Good Fellow. I will miss this community very much. (The car is on my dashboard)
I left the driveway unceremoniously at 3:00 and met my friend Lee Robin in Woodstock for a concert by Kathleen Edwards. The show was terrific; check her out, too!
Lee and I said our goodbyes, and I drove at 11pm to the Rip Van Winkle campground in Saugerties. Found my site no problem, hooked up electric, but decided against the AC because it’s sort of loud outside the van. It was a hot and sticky night. The next morning I walked up to the pool but it wasn’t open. Sigh.
My next stop was to see Sarah and Tony in East Chatham. Lee Robin had given me some advice; if you pass a cute café and you’re still thinking about it two miles later, TURN AROUND. I can tend to resist any kind of backtracking, so it was a point well taken. I saw a sign for Olana on the highway, and it was my stop anyway, so when I saw the pulloff for Olana and Hudson Skywalk, I pulled off! The weather was still brutally hot, but I was following the signs, and there was a little Olana sign and an arrow pointing to a grassy path. I followed it up a hill to a flat spot with a kiosk missing the sign, and a “This is a carry in, carry out facility” sign. In my mind I created a scenario where Olana was some forgotten Native American historical spot where something important had happened, but now was completely lost to time. I was already writing a poem about it.. I walked back to the van and saw a sign further down the parking lot where I learned what Olana actually is; the sprawling estate and mansion of Hudson Valley School painter Frank Church! Never learned about it, sorry! I went in the vehicle entrance; the skywalk would have been a six mile round trip walk. It was Monday so it was closed, but the views were indeed epic.
While visiting with Sarah and Tony we passed the homestead of Edna St Vincent Millay and Harry Belafonte’s country house. Then it was onward to Northampton to Sharon’s cousin Jeremiah and Emily’s new house. They only moved in a few weeks ago. Had a great visit with them, then next stop, also in Northampton was to Gayle and Jan. Sharon was in a play with Gayle many years ago. She is a writer, and has written the libretto for a new opera! Check it out at https://click-opera.com/the-music
The next day was to the Boston area to visit my friend Emily, who I worked with at Ethical Culture School before moving to Fieldston. We had a great lunch, said goodbye, and then, I took myself to see Life of Chuck, based on a Stephen King short story. Highly recommended.
FInally, I drove to Wompatuck State Park for my second campground. For the first time on the trip, I felt a pang of discomfort being alone. No luck with Musk’s Starlink internet. It was early evening and I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. I almost pulled out my handpan, but ultimately I got in bed and read. I have a bunch of books, actual books, and I am really looking forward to reading. Reading for me connotes the luxury of time, and of doing it for its own sake, without the added overlay of “in order to” accomplish some skill or knowledge. Taking the time to write this blog post is another. If you’ve read this far I congratulate you; you’re not in a hurry, either!