I've been calling this Kum Ba Yah Day tongue-in-cheek, but it has proved to be an emotional, kind of gut wrenching experience to be here until the last service. But first things first.
I spent the day thinking that with the reduced population on the grounds, and the fact that many places are closed: the Refectory (where you get stuff to eat), the coffee kiosk (proudly serving Starbucks Coffee), the shops - that it would be fairly easy to get the message that the season is over and it's time to go home.
The last Sunday service was very touching. The choir was larger than you would expect. . . . It was pretty cold and rainy. Compared to last week when we were dying of the humidity and heat, this was a blessing. After the service the choir had a potluck picnic, under cover because of the rain. That was fun. I ate alot. What can I say. . . the desert table alone was phenominal.
I came back to the room and took a nap after that big lunch. A military jazz band played at 2:30, but I went to my last movie. It was called Gotta Dance and was a delightful documentary about the New Jersey Nets basketball team that hired a senior citizen hip hop dance troup. They picked 10 women and one man and had them perform at 6 games. It was all about the people who auditioned, and then showed them learning their dances and performing. Really a great movie for this crowd. In true Chautauqua style, at the end of the movie the woman who had figured most predominantly in the movie was in the house, and is a life-long Chautauquan. It was fun to hear her experiences and ask questions.
I ate the rest of the turkey chili and headed to the practice preceding the last Sacred Song Service and closing ceremony. The music was beautiful, the service meaningful. They read many passages from early services at Chautauqua. I never cease to be amazed at the rich history of this place. After the service and the final performance of Handel's Largo on the Massey organ, the president of Chautauqua spoke briefly, wrapping up the season, and then had the final three taps of the gavel to close the season. I had been here week 1 to hear the three taps to open the season, so this was full-circle for me. I truly believe that within a couple of years I will be someone who is up here for the entire 9 week season. There just doesn't seem to be any other place on earth that is better for me to be. The end of the season proved to be pretty emotional. I looked out on the audience and saw so many people I knew. I spent the next 45 minutes to an hour walking around the grounds and finding the people I had met to say goodbye.
So tomorrow I leave to go home. I got an email from doggy camp, and Chester has been sort of getting along with others. Even managed to swim in the lake with other male dogs without fighting. That's an improvement.
So that's about it for Chautauqua 2009. Thanks for following. I'm planning to keep blogging as the spirit moves me, probably not anywhere near every day. But I have received emails from people I don't even know, so somehow people can find blogs. I learned that in Julie and Julia yesterday! Love and peace to you all. RP
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
August 29
This day of respite was pretty terrific. With almost nothing scheduled except to allow most people to check out, there was a relaxation of the sometimes frantic movement from one activity to another as everyone tries to cram in as many enriching experiences as possible.
This morning I awoke and went to buy my paper, and to go to the Farmer's Market for the last time. I talked to the soup guy about his recipe for the outstanding beans and greens soup that I have had a couple of times. Today he had turkey chili, and since it is cool and rainy for the next two days, I decided a large container of that would see me through to the end.
I left around 8:45 to go over to the Disciples house where Phyllis and Bill were staying. I knew they were leaving this morning and I figured I could help them load their car in the steady rain. As I turned the corner I saw Phyllis getting into the car where Bill was already in the driver's seat. I had to literally run to make it to say goodbye to them before they pulled away. Again. . . .I'm chasing after a 91 year old, and and 87 year old. I told them I would see them next summer!!!
I jumped on the tram bus and went out to the north end of the grounds where I joined a Peace Pole walk. The concept of Peace Poles was developed by the Japanese after WWII. There are well over a dozen or so poles on the Chautauqua grounds. They are made in Michigan, and people put them in their yards as a testament to the desire for world peace. Most of them are 4-sided, about 6+ feet tall. When you order your Peace Pole you tell what 4 languages you want. The message on each side of the pole is one of peace in the world, or peace in the community. We visited all the poles in the grounds (took about 2 hours). When we got to the house with the pole, the owners came out and told us about their language selections and about the significance of their poles. Some people selected languages of their heritage, and many chose languages from countries where there is no peace. There is also the choice of putting sign language, braille, paw prints to represent animals, and also Native American languages. There are hundreds of languages to choose from. It was a really interesting way to see the grounds, talk to owners, and learn more history of Chautauqua. You can Google Peace Poles for more info. I'm thinking about getting one for my lawn at home. There are Peace Poles all over the world.
I had to leave the walk for about 20 minutes in order to move my kitchen food stuffs from the house where I'm staying to a neighboring house. So I'm in the same room for the next two nights, but I have a new kitchen.
Once the walk was finished, I ate some lunch (chili and fruit) and decided to drive to Jamestown to see the movie Julie and Julia which was terrific! Then I decided to drive all the way around Chautauqua Lake. The lake is 20+ miles long and 2 1/2 miles wide. It was a beautiful drive, and I admit I stopped for an ice cream cone in Mayville before arriving back on the grounds. I'm listening to Sidney Poitier's book The Measure of a Man, which I started on the trip up. I got to hear a couple of chapters today, and I'm looking forward to finishing that book on the way home. It was pretty wonderful doing my favorite activity. . .driving around. At one time I had a panoramic view of Lake Erie in the distance.
Final choir practice tonight. We sing tomorrow at church, then have our choir picnic, then sing for the final Sacred Song Service tomorrow night, which ends with the three taps of the gavel signifying the end of the season.
One cool story from my walk with the Peace Pole people (say that 10 times fast). . .we got to the home of the man who started Murphy's 5 & 10 cent stores. A beautiful house overlooking the lake. On the shutters of the house there was a cut out V on the left shutter, and an X on the right shutter of every window. It took me a moment to figure that out. . . . . .5 and 10. Get it???? One of many great stories I heard on the walk.
So as the strains of Elvis Costello drift through my window from the concert next door, I'll sign off on this second to the last night of the 2009 season! RP
This morning I awoke and went to buy my paper, and to go to the Farmer's Market for the last time. I talked to the soup guy about his recipe for the outstanding beans and greens soup that I have had a couple of times. Today he had turkey chili, and since it is cool and rainy for the next two days, I decided a large container of that would see me through to the end.
I left around 8:45 to go over to the Disciples house where Phyllis and Bill were staying. I knew they were leaving this morning and I figured I could help them load their car in the steady rain. As I turned the corner I saw Phyllis getting into the car where Bill was already in the driver's seat. I had to literally run to make it to say goodbye to them before they pulled away. Again. . . .I'm chasing after a 91 year old, and and 87 year old. I told them I would see them next summer!!!
I jumped on the tram bus and went out to the north end of the grounds where I joined a Peace Pole walk. The concept of Peace Poles was developed by the Japanese after WWII. There are well over a dozen or so poles on the Chautauqua grounds. They are made in Michigan, and people put them in their yards as a testament to the desire for world peace. Most of them are 4-sided, about 6+ feet tall. When you order your Peace Pole you tell what 4 languages you want. The message on each side of the pole is one of peace in the world, or peace in the community. We visited all the poles in the grounds (took about 2 hours). When we got to the house with the pole, the owners came out and told us about their language selections and about the significance of their poles. Some people selected languages of their heritage, and many chose languages from countries where there is no peace. There is also the choice of putting sign language, braille, paw prints to represent animals, and also Native American languages. There are hundreds of languages to choose from. It was a really interesting way to see the grounds, talk to owners, and learn more history of Chautauqua. You can Google Peace Poles for more info. I'm thinking about getting one for my lawn at home. There are Peace Poles all over the world.
I had to leave the walk for about 20 minutes in order to move my kitchen food stuffs from the house where I'm staying to a neighboring house. So I'm in the same room for the next two nights, but I have a new kitchen.
Once the walk was finished, I ate some lunch (chili and fruit) and decided to drive to Jamestown to see the movie Julie and Julia which was terrific! Then I decided to drive all the way around Chautauqua Lake. The lake is 20+ miles long and 2 1/2 miles wide. It was a beautiful drive, and I admit I stopped for an ice cream cone in Mayville before arriving back on the grounds. I'm listening to Sidney Poitier's book The Measure of a Man, which I started on the trip up. I got to hear a couple of chapters today, and I'm looking forward to finishing that book on the way home. It was pretty wonderful doing my favorite activity. . .driving around. At one time I had a panoramic view of Lake Erie in the distance.
Final choir practice tonight. We sing tomorrow at church, then have our choir picnic, then sing for the final Sacred Song Service tomorrow night, which ends with the three taps of the gavel signifying the end of the season.
One cool story from my walk with the Peace Pole people (say that 10 times fast). . .we got to the home of the man who started Murphy's 5 & 10 cent stores. A beautiful house overlooking the lake. On the shutters of the house there was a cut out V on the left shutter, and an X on the right shutter of every window. It took me a moment to figure that out. . . . . .5 and 10. Get it???? One of many great stories I heard on the walk.
So as the strains of Elvis Costello drift through my window from the concert next door, I'll sign off on this second to the last night of the 2009 season! RP
Friday, August 28, 2009
August 28
CRANKING DOWN, BUT STILL RICH AND FULL
This was a great day, in spite of the noticeable lessening of activities and people.
Our last weekday church service was today, which meant my last singing with just the motet choir and the last time to hear Otis Moss this year. The choir holds a breakfast every Friday, and even though I stick to my regular breakfast, I show up to socialize. Funny how now that we're practically done, I'm beginning to feel a part of this group. They have a winter retreat over a weekend, and I will come if I can depending on the time and the weather. At the end of every Friday service, Jared Jacobsen, our choir master and the organist, play's Widor's Toccata #5 which is always thrilling.
After church, I had arranged to meet a new friend, Jane to drive into Jamestown (home of Lucille Ball) and go to visit the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. I admit I did not know about this man who is responsible for the Peterson: Field Guide to the Birds, the largest selling bird guide in the world. If you have a bird book, it's likely that it's one of his. The building was an architectural wonder in stone and wood. . .very Mission-style. The original drawings/paintings of the birds were on display and they were spectacular. I was so glad to get to see this exhibit. After visiting that, we made a quick stop at Wegmans where I picked up some pasta salad to take to the choir picnic on Sunday. Then we drove to Mayville to get some lunch.
It was pretty cool being off the grounds. We got back in time for me to attend the final of a group of weekly presentations that have highlighted a different part of Chautauquan history each week. This week they picked 5 active Chautauquans to showcase 5 Giants of Chautauqua. Each person picked someone from the history and presented a slideshow/talk about that person. They were fascinating. One person chose the wife of Mr. Bestor, for whom Bestor Plaza is named. They showed pictures of this woman with Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. Another presented about George Sheridan, the head of the piano department in the early years. And one man chose his own father who was in the audience and had worked on the grounds for 53 years as a groundskeeper and fireman among other things. I really enjoyed this program.
Had choir practice tonight at 6:00. The big choir still has to sing Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Then went to the Sara Evans Concert. I don't know her music, but I know that she is a country star and was on Dancing With the Stars. She had some hard core fans in the audience from off the grounds, but most people were like me and didn't know the songs. However, she got a warm reception and gave an enthusiastic and loud performance. Tomorrow night is Elvis Costello!
Tomorrow night and Sunday night I will stay in the same room, but all of us in this building will move our food stuff to a kitchen in an adjoining building so that they can begin to clean our kitchen. There are going to be some significant renovations taking place on our building soon after the season is over.
It will be hard to leave, but I will be ready to go home, get my doggy and start back into my life at home. But in the meantime, I have two whole days left and I plan to make the most of them. RP
This was a great day, in spite of the noticeable lessening of activities and people.
Our last weekday church service was today, which meant my last singing with just the motet choir and the last time to hear Otis Moss this year. The choir holds a breakfast every Friday, and even though I stick to my regular breakfast, I show up to socialize. Funny how now that we're practically done, I'm beginning to feel a part of this group. They have a winter retreat over a weekend, and I will come if I can depending on the time and the weather. At the end of every Friday service, Jared Jacobsen, our choir master and the organist, play's Widor's Toccata #5 which is always thrilling.
After church, I had arranged to meet a new friend, Jane to drive into Jamestown (home of Lucille Ball) and go to visit the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. I admit I did not know about this man who is responsible for the Peterson: Field Guide to the Birds, the largest selling bird guide in the world. If you have a bird book, it's likely that it's one of his. The building was an architectural wonder in stone and wood. . .very Mission-style. The original drawings/paintings of the birds were on display and they were spectacular. I was so glad to get to see this exhibit. After visiting that, we made a quick stop at Wegmans where I picked up some pasta salad to take to the choir picnic on Sunday. Then we drove to Mayville to get some lunch.
It was pretty cool being off the grounds. We got back in time for me to attend the final of a group of weekly presentations that have highlighted a different part of Chautauquan history each week. This week they picked 5 active Chautauquans to showcase 5 Giants of Chautauqua. Each person picked someone from the history and presented a slideshow/talk about that person. They were fascinating. One person chose the wife of Mr. Bestor, for whom Bestor Plaza is named. They showed pictures of this woman with Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart. Another presented about George Sheridan, the head of the piano department in the early years. And one man chose his own father who was in the audience and had worked on the grounds for 53 years as a groundskeeper and fireman among other things. I really enjoyed this program.
Had choir practice tonight at 6:00. The big choir still has to sing Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Then went to the Sara Evans Concert. I don't know her music, but I know that she is a country star and was on Dancing With the Stars. She had some hard core fans in the audience from off the grounds, but most people were like me and didn't know the songs. However, she got a warm reception and gave an enthusiastic and loud performance. Tomorrow night is Elvis Costello!
Tomorrow night and Sunday night I will stay in the same room, but all of us in this building will move our food stuff to a kitchen in an adjoining building so that they can begin to clean our kitchen. There are going to be some significant renovations taking place on our building soon after the season is over.
It will be hard to leave, but I will be ready to go home, get my doggy and start back into my life at home. But in the meantime, I have two whole days left and I plan to make the most of them. RP
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August 27
More Big Guns. . .just not quite as big. . . .
Today's lecturer was Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He was a great speaker, very knowledgeable, personable, and he made some great points. Sandra Day O'Connor was in the audience as well. She is a regular Chautauquan. After the lecture I ate lunch and went back to see Mary, my massage therapist. She spent a half hour showing me how to do hand and forearm massages on seniors. To teach this to me she had to give me a great hand and arm massage, and then I had to give her one. It was fun to be on the other side. Now I have to take what I know and go back and just be brave enough to march into that nursing home and get started. That seems like the hard part.
After that I went to the gym, as I hadn't been in two days and to tell the truth what I really needed was a shower! This is the last time I'll work out in the gym by the water this season. I may work one more session in at the main gym on Saturday or Sunday.
On the way back from the gym, I saw the crowd gathering for the talk by the author of the book, The Hemingses of Monticello. This was one of the book selections for this season. I dropped my stuff in my room and went back and found a place on the grass. I would love to read that book, it is on my list. Let's see. . . . should I read it before or after all of the David McCullough books? How can I keep up with my two book clubs and all this new reading I have to do?
Had choir tonight. There's an end of season choir picnic on Sunday. Doesn't that sound like high school???? The weather has been sweatshirt cool, so I hope it's like that and not rainy for the picnic.
Tomorrow I'm doing something I haven't done. .I'm leaving campus with my new friend Jane to go to Jamestown for the better part of the day. Stay tuned to see how that went.
Sandy is home, and showered and napped. Can't wait to talk to her! I'm in my room with the strains of some guy from New Orleans performing in the amphitheater. Decided to listen from my room. Sara Evans is tomorrow night! Until then. . . .RP
Today's lecturer was Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He was a great speaker, very knowledgeable, personable, and he made some great points. Sandra Day O'Connor was in the audience as well. She is a regular Chautauquan. After the lecture I ate lunch and went back to see Mary, my massage therapist. She spent a half hour showing me how to do hand and forearm massages on seniors. To teach this to me she had to give me a great hand and arm massage, and then I had to give her one. It was fun to be on the other side. Now I have to take what I know and go back and just be brave enough to march into that nursing home and get started. That seems like the hard part.
After that I went to the gym, as I hadn't been in two days and to tell the truth what I really needed was a shower! This is the last time I'll work out in the gym by the water this season. I may work one more session in at the main gym on Saturday or Sunday.
On the way back from the gym, I saw the crowd gathering for the talk by the author of the book, The Hemingses of Monticello. This was one of the book selections for this season. I dropped my stuff in my room and went back and found a place on the grass. I would love to read that book, it is on my list. Let's see. . . . should I read it before or after all of the David McCullough books? How can I keep up with my two book clubs and all this new reading I have to do?
Had choir tonight. There's an end of season choir picnic on Sunday. Doesn't that sound like high school???? The weather has been sweatshirt cool, so I hope it's like that and not rainy for the picnic.
Tomorrow I'm doing something I haven't done. .I'm leaving campus with my new friend Jane to go to Jamestown for the better part of the day. Stay tuned to see how that went.
Sandy is home, and showered and napped. Can't wait to talk to her! I'm in my room with the strains of some guy from New Orleans performing in the amphitheater. Decided to listen from my room. Sara Evans is tomorrow night! Until then. . . .RP
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 26
Wednesday of Week 9 and Chautauqua is not going to go quietly. Today they brought out the BIG GUNS for sure.
The morning lecture featured Jim Lehrer "interviewing" Thomas Jefferson and his slave Jupiter. These were portrayed by some well-known historic portrayers from Williamsburg. First there was a skit by the two men, and then Jim Lehrer spontaneously interviewed them. . . first in character, and then as their real selves. This lecture was so popular that they had to close the gates during the church service so that people could not clomp in during the sermon (by Otis Moss and already well attended) in order to secure good seats. The service was over a little after 10, and people poured into the place for the 10:45 lecture. The 5,000 seat amphitheater was pretty much filled for it. I got a good seat because as a choir member, I was allowed to re-enter the space after we sang. It was a great "lecture" and pretty cool to see Jim Lehrer. We speculated that he must have had to fly out pretty quick afterwards in order to get back to his tv show which would inevitably be covering the Ted Kennedy funeral plans.
It rained most of the day. I had lunch in the restaurant - portobello melt sandwich - and then went to my last class. It was a good class, but I'm glad it only lasted 3 days. I had planned to go to the gym after that, but the rain and the fact that my legs are sore and I was sleepy kept me from doing that. I had a decaf cappocino (I have no idea how to spell that word) and read at the cafe. Then went home and took a 45 minute nap. After dinner I read until time to stake out my seat for David McCullough. Only at Chautauqua could an author invoke the same manic response as a rock band. The people lined up very early in the rain to get in and get their seats. The place was filled to overflowing by 7:45 for an 8:15 appearance. I swear, Jennifer Anniston could walk across this campus unrecognized, but give us an author, documentary film maker, radio personality and the like, and we will go beserk!
David McCullough did not disappoint. And I can give out the scoop on his latest book that he is now working on (without a title). It's about the period of time between 1830 and the beginning of WWI. It's about the large number of Americans who went to Paris for education and enlightenment. I had no idea that Paris was so progressive and influential a place for learning. There were no medical schools in this country at the time. . . most doctors had apprenticed with other doctors with no medical training. Doctors could go to Paris and receive state of the art education for FREE! Other figures in the group are Harriet Beecher Stowe, Samuel Morse who was a well-known artist before ever giving us the telegraph. Also Charles Sumner and others who we really don't know about but who were really significant. I thought one of the most interesting and valid points he made was that in Paris at that time, people were outside. . . in the cafes, on the sidewalks, going to artistic and intellectual events. Much like we do at Chautauqua. And it made me realize that at home I'm in the house a great deal. But here, my room is just a stopping off place and a place to sleep. Up here, we're outside with the other people all day long, rain or shine. And it is this social contact that is so stimulating, along with the commonality of what we are all experiencing.
Another interesting detail is that David McCullough's high school history teacher was in the audience. Can you imagine the experience for him seeing one of his students who has achieved such fame and admiration for his ability to relate history to the masses? As a teacher, that part gives me chills!
Tomorrow the lecturer is Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. These heavy hitter lecturers, and Otis Moss, have assured Chautauqua of big crowds even though the symphony, opera, and theater are done for the season.
Now as for Sandy. . .she arrives home tomorrow morning and many of her friends will be there as she comes off the trail. She was able to take her little dog, Winnie, with her for one leg of the trip. Winnie, a pug who is pretty chubby, apparently scared off a 350 pound black bear that was coming up behind Sandy. I hope Sandy writes a book! Can't wait to hear the adventures when I get home.
Until tomorrow. . . .RP
The morning lecture featured Jim Lehrer "interviewing" Thomas Jefferson and his slave Jupiter. These were portrayed by some well-known historic portrayers from Williamsburg. First there was a skit by the two men, and then Jim Lehrer spontaneously interviewed them. . . first in character, and then as their real selves. This lecture was so popular that they had to close the gates during the church service so that people could not clomp in during the sermon (by Otis Moss and already well attended) in order to secure good seats. The service was over a little after 10, and people poured into the place for the 10:45 lecture. The 5,000 seat amphitheater was pretty much filled for it. I got a good seat because as a choir member, I was allowed to re-enter the space after we sang. It was a great "lecture" and pretty cool to see Jim Lehrer. We speculated that he must have had to fly out pretty quick afterwards in order to get back to his tv show which would inevitably be covering the Ted Kennedy funeral plans.
It rained most of the day. I had lunch in the restaurant - portobello melt sandwich - and then went to my last class. It was a good class, but I'm glad it only lasted 3 days. I had planned to go to the gym after that, but the rain and the fact that my legs are sore and I was sleepy kept me from doing that. I had a decaf cappocino (I have no idea how to spell that word) and read at the cafe. Then went home and took a 45 minute nap. After dinner I read until time to stake out my seat for David McCullough. Only at Chautauqua could an author invoke the same manic response as a rock band. The people lined up very early in the rain to get in and get their seats. The place was filled to overflowing by 7:45 for an 8:15 appearance. I swear, Jennifer Anniston could walk across this campus unrecognized, but give us an author, documentary film maker, radio personality and the like, and we will go beserk!
David McCullough did not disappoint. And I can give out the scoop on his latest book that he is now working on (without a title). It's about the period of time between 1830 and the beginning of WWI. It's about the large number of Americans who went to Paris for education and enlightenment. I had no idea that Paris was so progressive and influential a place for learning. There were no medical schools in this country at the time. . . most doctors had apprenticed with other doctors with no medical training. Doctors could go to Paris and receive state of the art education for FREE! Other figures in the group are Harriet Beecher Stowe, Samuel Morse who was a well-known artist before ever giving us the telegraph. Also Charles Sumner and others who we really don't know about but who were really significant. I thought one of the most interesting and valid points he made was that in Paris at that time, people were outside. . . in the cafes, on the sidewalks, going to artistic and intellectual events. Much like we do at Chautauqua. And it made me realize that at home I'm in the house a great deal. But here, my room is just a stopping off place and a place to sleep. Up here, we're outside with the other people all day long, rain or shine. And it is this social contact that is so stimulating, along with the commonality of what we are all experiencing.
Another interesting detail is that David McCullough's high school history teacher was in the audience. Can you imagine the experience for him seeing one of his students who has achieved such fame and admiration for his ability to relate history to the masses? As a teacher, that part gives me chills!
Tomorrow the lecturer is Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. These heavy hitter lecturers, and Otis Moss, have assured Chautauqua of big crowds even though the symphony, opera, and theater are done for the season.
Now as for Sandy. . .she arrives home tomorrow morning and many of her friends will be there as she comes off the trail. She was able to take her little dog, Winnie, with her for one leg of the trip. Winnie, a pug who is pretty chubby, apparently scared off a 350 pound black bear that was coming up behind Sandy. I hope Sandy writes a book! Can't wait to hear the adventures when I get home.
Until tomorrow. . . .RP
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
August 25
CELEBRITY AUTHOR SIGHTINGS!
This morning I was on my way to choir practice in the amphitheater when I notice a man walking ahead of me with two young boys, probably grandchildren. Even from the back, without seeing his face at all, I knew from his beautiful mane of white hair that it was David McCullough!!!! I said, "Good morning, Mr. McCullough! Thank you for coming. We're so glad you're here." (Real original!) He responded that he was really glad to be here. Then as we approached the amphitheater, he said to his boys, "And this is where I'm going to speak!" It was really cute. Pretty thrilling to see him in person that close up.
Then, at the lecture this morning, I was all seated and noticed a woman going up and down the aisle looking for a seat. Then I realized it was Gail Sheehy! She found a seat right down from me before I could offer her the opportunity to sit with me! These were two Chautauqua moments!
So I did church, Otis was superb, and then the lecture. Ate lunch at Hurlbut Church where I sat with two women from my class. Walked back to the class with one of them. Getting lots of good hints about traveling.
Scheduled a massage for 3:30 with Mary, the best massage therapist in the world. As I was getting my massage I decided it was time to spring into action on a plan that has been percolating in my head for a long time. I want to learn how to give hand massages and then go to nursing homes and give free hand massages to the patients. I signed up for a half-hour massage on Thursday so that Mary can teach me how to do that properly. I'm hoping to get one or two other women who might want to do this as well when I get back. If not, I'll do it alone. Like everything else, it will either work, or it won't.
Went to the early evening movie: The Way We Get Back, a deeply touching documentary about the senior citizens in Bangor, Maine who make the effort to greet each and every arriving and departing plane carrying soldiers to and from the wars. Apparently Bangor is the airport for many of the arrivals and departures of the troops. These seniors, many with health issues, find out when the planes are coming or going, and sometimes go to the airport in the middle of the night to greet the soldiers. Having driven through Bangor in Maine, I can attest that it's a smallish town with a small airport. But for some reason, this is where the troops are sent out. Great movie to see or rent.
The concert tonight was Jay Unger and Molly Mason whom I had never heard of. But they, along with their daughter and son-in-law have a family band playing country/bluegrass type music. Their claim to fame is that he is the man who composed the haunting tune Ashokan Farewell, which is the main theme for the entire Ken Burns Civil War series. Burns is using another of their tunes for his theme for the National Parks series that will premier on PBS on September 27. This is a wonderously talented family and the concert was terrific. There was such a line for their CD's after the concert, that I came back here and have a couple ordered from Amazon!
I'm am loving how I can walk across this place and recognize by sight many many people, and by name more and more. I'm feeling so much more a part of the family this year. Being here 4 weeks certainly helps with that. I may be going "off grounds" on Friday as one of my new friends has invited me to go into Jamestown to see an art gallery, I think. My class is over tomorrow, so my afternoons are blissfully empty!
SANDY UPDATE: Sandy is almost home from her hike. Apparently she is becoming quite well known on the trail as the "70-year-old woman who is hiking length of the Shenandoah National Park." Her husband Bill talked to a hiker who was anxious to get back on the trail because he wanted to meet Sandy. Then he told Bill about her and asked him if he had heard of her! Isn't that a hoot?
Until tomorrow. . . . RP
This morning I was on my way to choir practice in the amphitheater when I notice a man walking ahead of me with two young boys, probably grandchildren. Even from the back, without seeing his face at all, I knew from his beautiful mane of white hair that it was David McCullough!!!! I said, "Good morning, Mr. McCullough! Thank you for coming. We're so glad you're here." (Real original!) He responded that he was really glad to be here. Then as we approached the amphitheater, he said to his boys, "And this is where I'm going to speak!" It was really cute. Pretty thrilling to see him in person that close up.
Then, at the lecture this morning, I was all seated and noticed a woman going up and down the aisle looking for a seat. Then I realized it was Gail Sheehy! She found a seat right down from me before I could offer her the opportunity to sit with me! These were two Chautauqua moments!
So I did church, Otis was superb, and then the lecture. Ate lunch at Hurlbut Church where I sat with two women from my class. Walked back to the class with one of them. Getting lots of good hints about traveling.
Scheduled a massage for 3:30 with Mary, the best massage therapist in the world. As I was getting my massage I decided it was time to spring into action on a plan that has been percolating in my head for a long time. I want to learn how to give hand massages and then go to nursing homes and give free hand massages to the patients. I signed up for a half-hour massage on Thursday so that Mary can teach me how to do that properly. I'm hoping to get one or two other women who might want to do this as well when I get back. If not, I'll do it alone. Like everything else, it will either work, or it won't.
Went to the early evening movie: The Way We Get Back, a deeply touching documentary about the senior citizens in Bangor, Maine who make the effort to greet each and every arriving and departing plane carrying soldiers to and from the wars. Apparently Bangor is the airport for many of the arrivals and departures of the troops. These seniors, many with health issues, find out when the planes are coming or going, and sometimes go to the airport in the middle of the night to greet the soldiers. Having driven through Bangor in Maine, I can attest that it's a smallish town with a small airport. But for some reason, this is where the troops are sent out. Great movie to see or rent.
The concert tonight was Jay Unger and Molly Mason whom I had never heard of. But they, along with their daughter and son-in-law have a family band playing country/bluegrass type music. Their claim to fame is that he is the man who composed the haunting tune Ashokan Farewell, which is the main theme for the entire Ken Burns Civil War series. Burns is using another of their tunes for his theme for the National Parks series that will premier on PBS on September 27. This is a wonderously talented family and the concert was terrific. There was such a line for their CD's after the concert, that I came back here and have a couple ordered from Amazon!
I'm am loving how I can walk across this place and recognize by sight many many people, and by name more and more. I'm feeling so much more a part of the family this year. Being here 4 weeks certainly helps with that. I may be going "off grounds" on Friday as one of my new friends has invited me to go into Jamestown to see an art gallery, I think. My class is over tomorrow, so my afternoons are blissfully empty!
SANDY UPDATE: Sandy is almost home from her hike. Apparently she is becoming quite well known on the trail as the "70-year-old woman who is hiking length of the Shenandoah National Park." Her husband Bill talked to a hiker who was anxious to get back on the trail because he wanted to meet Sandy. Then he told Bill about her and asked him if he had heard of her! Isn't that a hoot?
Until tomorrow. . . . RP
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 24
This week is going to be Rich and Full.
Today I sang in the church service, as usual. Only this week I stick around to hear Otis Moss preach. Amazing, as ususal.
I skipped the lecture in favor of the gym, but caught the end of the lecture on the way back and I could tell it was a goody, so I may buy the CD. The theme this week is Liberty. The lecturer was Hunter R Rawlings III (that doesn't sound too pretentious!). He is president emeritus of Cornell University and also teaches Classics and History. He spoke of the Greeks and Romans ideas of liberty, as well as speaking about the Enlightenment in the 18th century. However, I got my weight training done. I can listen to the lecture going home in the car.
My first class session today was fun. The class is Women Traveling Solo, and I like the women in the group and I like the teacher. It only meets M,T, & W so my afternoons will be more free than last week. After the class session I went out to the front of the Turner Center where the Chautauqua Labyrinth is. The circular labyrinth pattern is created on the lawn and is a twisting turning path towards the middle and then out again. It is used for meditation, relaxation, etc. I've never used them much, but I enjoyed walking this one.
This afternoon's movie was Frost/Nixon which I had not seen. It is a very powerful movie about a period of time which I don't remember all that well. The performances are spectacular, and of course little Ronnie Howard does not direct a bad movie!
I went to the Disciples house where I stayed on week 6 and joined my friends, Phyllis and Bill Duty and some of their friends for dinner. 87 year old Phyllis threw a dinner party after going to activities all day. I personally saw her on her way to a chamber music concert at 4:00, but dinner was served by 6:00! Lots of fun.
Tonight's performance was a singing group called 5 By Design, and they sang themes from old TV shows and commercials among other things. Very enjoyable. I was knitting while I was waiting for the concert to start and met a woman who wanted the pattern. So after the concert I followed her back to her house. She and her husband are host and hostess for the Unitarian house, which is new and which I had never seen. It's really beautiful. It's fun to meet all these new people in such off-hand ways.
Highlight of the day. . . a call from Casey to see how I was doing. Always nice to be checked up on!
My friend Sandy is getting closer to home. Her husband is planning a party to welcome her off the trail on Thursday when she arrives on Afton Mountain. Wish I could be there, but certainly don't mind being here! RP
Today I sang in the church service, as usual. Only this week I stick around to hear Otis Moss preach. Amazing, as ususal.
I skipped the lecture in favor of the gym, but caught the end of the lecture on the way back and I could tell it was a goody, so I may buy the CD. The theme this week is Liberty. The lecturer was Hunter R Rawlings III (that doesn't sound too pretentious!). He is president emeritus of Cornell University and also teaches Classics and History. He spoke of the Greeks and Romans ideas of liberty, as well as speaking about the Enlightenment in the 18th century. However, I got my weight training done. I can listen to the lecture going home in the car.
My first class session today was fun. The class is Women Traveling Solo, and I like the women in the group and I like the teacher. It only meets M,T, & W so my afternoons will be more free than last week. After the class session I went out to the front of the Turner Center where the Chautauqua Labyrinth is. The circular labyrinth pattern is created on the lawn and is a twisting turning path towards the middle and then out again. It is used for meditation, relaxation, etc. I've never used them much, but I enjoyed walking this one.
This afternoon's movie was Frost/Nixon which I had not seen. It is a very powerful movie about a period of time which I don't remember all that well. The performances are spectacular, and of course little Ronnie Howard does not direct a bad movie!
I went to the Disciples house where I stayed on week 6 and joined my friends, Phyllis and Bill Duty and some of their friends for dinner. 87 year old Phyllis threw a dinner party after going to activities all day. I personally saw her on her way to a chamber music concert at 4:00, but dinner was served by 6:00! Lots of fun.
Tonight's performance was a singing group called 5 By Design, and they sang themes from old TV shows and commercials among other things. Very enjoyable. I was knitting while I was waiting for the concert to start and met a woman who wanted the pattern. So after the concert I followed her back to her house. She and her husband are host and hostess for the Unitarian house, which is new and which I had never seen. It's really beautiful. It's fun to meet all these new people in such off-hand ways.
Highlight of the day. . . a call from Casey to see how I was doing. Always nice to be checked up on!
My friend Sandy is getting closer to home. Her husband is planning a party to welcome her off the trail on Thursday when she arrives on Afton Mountain. Wish I could be there, but certainly don't mind being here! RP
Sunday, August 23, 2009
August 23
The beginning of Week 9 and all bets are off! When Otis Moss III arrives on campus, everything changes.
Two years ago I came to Chautauqua for the first time. I picked the week based on the fact that the Inn I found on the internet had a special going for that week. Seemed a likely reason to me. I was wandering through the amphitheater area on that first Sunday, and I heard a voice preaching. It was Otis Moss III, then the associate pastor of the Trinity Church in Chicago. Back then it was a fairly well-known church, but storms were brewing. The pastor of the church was none other than Jeremiah Wright who got in all the hot water around comments he made. They were significant, because a man named Barack Obama, who was running for president was a member of that church. The religious right took the opportunity to take Wright's comments and make them a condemnation of Obama.
Flash forward two years. Otis is now the senior pastor of that church. Once I had heard Otis preach, I couldn't miss any of his services. Now remember, I am not someone who practices organized religion in any way. This man is just a truly gifted speaker. I chose my week last year based solely on when Otis Moss was going to be on the grounds. Last year he had to leave early because of all the brou-ha-ha's surrounding the Obama campaign. But he's back for the whole week this time, and he brought his phenominal choir with him. So in church this morning, our choir was divided in half and each sat on the far end of the choir loft. The Trinity Choir sat in the middle. And they, and Otis brought down the house. The choir gave a concert after the service and the crowd went just as nuts as they had for the Beach Boys. Otis was articulate and insightful and just plain exciting. I look forward to every service this week just so I get to hear him. The choir returned to Chicago tonight.
I went to another wonderful movie: Seraphine. . . in French with subtitles. Based on the true story of the woman French artist Seraphine de Senlis. Compelling story and beautifully produced and acted. Tomorrow I plan to see Frost/Nixon which Dave and I saw as a play at the Kennedy Center, but which movie I have managed to miss.
Tonight was our second to last Sacred Song service. The choir sat in the congregation with audience members all around us. Very different and fun.
I plan to squeeze every bit of activity I can from Chautauqua on this last week of the season. I only have one class for three days, so I'm hoping that I can get several times at the gym. This time next week I'll be packing up to go back to the real world.
My friend Sandy has now accomplished over 75 miles of her 100+ mile walk. She walked 4 1/2 hours yesterday in driving rain. My God, it boggles the mind! Can't wait to hear her stories when I get back! Til tomorrow. . . RP
Two years ago I came to Chautauqua for the first time. I picked the week based on the fact that the Inn I found on the internet had a special going for that week. Seemed a likely reason to me. I was wandering through the amphitheater area on that first Sunday, and I heard a voice preaching. It was Otis Moss III, then the associate pastor of the Trinity Church in Chicago. Back then it was a fairly well-known church, but storms were brewing. The pastor of the church was none other than Jeremiah Wright who got in all the hot water around comments he made. They were significant, because a man named Barack Obama, who was running for president was a member of that church. The religious right took the opportunity to take Wright's comments and make them a condemnation of Obama.
Flash forward two years. Otis is now the senior pastor of that church. Once I had heard Otis preach, I couldn't miss any of his services. Now remember, I am not someone who practices organized religion in any way. This man is just a truly gifted speaker. I chose my week last year based solely on when Otis Moss was going to be on the grounds. Last year he had to leave early because of all the brou-ha-ha's surrounding the Obama campaign. But he's back for the whole week this time, and he brought his phenominal choir with him. So in church this morning, our choir was divided in half and each sat on the far end of the choir loft. The Trinity Choir sat in the middle. And they, and Otis brought down the house. The choir gave a concert after the service and the crowd went just as nuts as they had for the Beach Boys. Otis was articulate and insightful and just plain exciting. I look forward to every service this week just so I get to hear him. The choir returned to Chicago tonight.
I went to another wonderful movie: Seraphine. . . in French with subtitles. Based on the true story of the woman French artist Seraphine de Senlis. Compelling story and beautifully produced and acted. Tomorrow I plan to see Frost/Nixon which Dave and I saw as a play at the Kennedy Center, but which movie I have managed to miss.
Tonight was our second to last Sacred Song service. The choir sat in the congregation with audience members all around us. Very different and fun.
I plan to squeeze every bit of activity I can from Chautauqua on this last week of the season. I only have one class for three days, so I'm hoping that I can get several times at the gym. This time next week I'll be packing up to go back to the real world.
My friend Sandy has now accomplished over 75 miles of her 100+ mile walk. She walked 4 1/2 hours yesterday in driving rain. My God, it boggles the mind! Can't wait to hear her stories when I get back! Til tomorrow. . . RP
Saturday, August 22, 2009
August 22
Good evening my friends!
What a lovely Saturday. Busy but not frantic. It was so wonderful watching people moving out en masse and knowing I was not one of them! I could sleep until 8:00 because this is the only day without a morning choir practice.
I went to the Farmer's Market for some foodstuffs for the next couple of days. What a luxury to be a 5 minute walk from fresh food each day except Sunday.
Went to the gym this morning and did the dreaded cardio. It wasn't so bad. Unfortunately, when it starts getting "not so bad" it's time to up the time, or the incline or the resistance or something to make it excruciating again.
I was invited by Lois and Bill (from Wintergreen) to join them for lunch at the Season Ticket restaurant. This is a nice place and we had a lovely lunch and conversation. That's two special meals in two days!
Afterwards I grabbed my knitting and seat cushions and staked out great seats for Lois and myself to see Gail Sheehy speak. She has appeared at Chautauqua numerous times, but this is the first I've had to hear her. Her emphasis now is caregiving to aging relatives. She is the AARP ambassador for care giving. Her talk was very interesting. Great to see and hear her live.
I grabbed a quick dinner and went to the 6:00 choir practice. Tomorrow begins the week of Otis Moss as the preacher. I love hearing him every summer. His choir will be in the loft with us tomorrow morning, however we will not be singing together. But everything will be in a state of flux, so it should be interesting.
After choir I attended the last concert of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for the seaon. Wonderful program of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins with the same Stradavarius guys from the other night. Phenominal. Then Tchaikovsky Symphony #5. Glorious.
Tomorrow we sing alot, and I have a movie to watch. Eight more days. YeeHaaaa!
What a lovely Saturday. Busy but not frantic. It was so wonderful watching people moving out en masse and knowing I was not one of them! I could sleep until 8:00 because this is the only day without a morning choir practice.
I went to the Farmer's Market for some foodstuffs for the next couple of days. What a luxury to be a 5 minute walk from fresh food each day except Sunday.
Went to the gym this morning and did the dreaded cardio. It wasn't so bad. Unfortunately, when it starts getting "not so bad" it's time to up the time, or the incline or the resistance or something to make it excruciating again.
I was invited by Lois and Bill (from Wintergreen) to join them for lunch at the Season Ticket restaurant. This is a nice place and we had a lovely lunch and conversation. That's two special meals in two days!
Afterwards I grabbed my knitting and seat cushions and staked out great seats for Lois and myself to see Gail Sheehy speak. She has appeared at Chautauqua numerous times, but this is the first I've had to hear her. Her emphasis now is caregiving to aging relatives. She is the AARP ambassador for care giving. Her talk was very interesting. Great to see and hear her live.
I grabbed a quick dinner and went to the 6:00 choir practice. Tomorrow begins the week of Otis Moss as the preacher. I love hearing him every summer. His choir will be in the loft with us tomorrow morning, however we will not be singing together. But everything will be in a state of flux, so it should be interesting.
After choir I attended the last concert of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for the seaon. Wonderful program of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins with the same Stradavarius guys from the other night. Phenominal. Then Tchaikovsky Symphony #5. Glorious.
Tomorrow we sing alot, and I have a movie to watch. Eight more days. YeeHaaaa!
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 20
I'be been here a week and done about 6 months worth of stuff! I'm SOOOOOO glad I'm not packing up to leave tomorrow!
This morning after church I gave myself an hour to find a computer hooked to a printer so that I could print out my story for class. I was the only one who had not shared their writing. I was able to get the printing done in about a minute and a half once I got to the library and waited around for a computer to free up.
I grabbed a lunch and headed for the porch of Alumni Hall. Sherrie Flick, my writing teacher, was giving a talk on the history of Flash Fiction. She even displayed some of our post-it stories. Then we went upstairs and had our last class session. I shared my story and got some great feedback, at least 95% of it positive which made me feel great. Always hard to break up a writing class. Something about writing and sharing that brings people pretty close. My New York actress with a house at Wintergreen friend walked back together and she invited me to her house when she and her husband are down at W'green during Labor Day weekend. Also ran into my friend Lois, mentioned yesterday, and she and I are going to try to see Gail Sheehy speak together tomorrow. (I know. That syntax is terrible. So much for the writing class!)
I dressed in my best clothes that I brought (basically my WHITE jeans instead of the other ones) and went to the Atheneum Hotel (about a 2 1/2 minute walk from here) for the pre-opera dinner. I had a glass of Chardonnay! Also salmon, salad, and chocolate lava cake!! Yum. Sat with some fabulous people. A widow from Kansas who owns a condo up here, and some friends of hers that were visiting. We had great conversations about books, Cuba, teaching, singing in choir, etc. It's easy to talk to almost anyone you encounter around here, but these folks were particularly nice. Took the shuttle to the opera. Pirates of Penzance is my least favorite of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas that I know. However, this was a lively production, with clever choreography and "bits" and very talented people. Most enjoyable. When I walked back to the house I was able to catch the very end of the Beach Boys (well, the Beach Boy wanna-bes. Only Mike Love, the second most obscure BB after Mike Jardin, is still in the group. They sing the songs, but they don't really have the sound. But having said that, I had a great time grooving and singing to Kokomo and Fun Fun Fun. But I miss the Wilson brothers. I still remember when we got to sing for Brian Wilson when he received a Kennedy Center Honor. Not sure how much old Brian was aware of what was going on. Apparently there's a price to pay for all that Fun Fun Fun. But it was a memorable evening anyway.
Tomorrow should be a light day. I can sleep in since there's no choir until 6 at night. Gail Sheehy is the only thing on my agenda except I'm going to try to get to the gym in the morning for the dreaded cardio. My friend Sandy is hanging tough out on the trail. She needs moleskin for her shoulders, believe it or not from carrying the pack. She climbed the highest peak today and says she has seen lots of bears. That Sandy is made from some strong stuff for sure. Think good thoughts about her!!! RP
This morning after church I gave myself an hour to find a computer hooked to a printer so that I could print out my story for class. I was the only one who had not shared their writing. I was able to get the printing done in about a minute and a half once I got to the library and waited around for a computer to free up.
I grabbed a lunch and headed for the porch of Alumni Hall. Sherrie Flick, my writing teacher, was giving a talk on the history of Flash Fiction. She even displayed some of our post-it stories. Then we went upstairs and had our last class session. I shared my story and got some great feedback, at least 95% of it positive which made me feel great. Always hard to break up a writing class. Something about writing and sharing that brings people pretty close. My New York actress with a house at Wintergreen friend walked back together and she invited me to her house when she and her husband are down at W'green during Labor Day weekend. Also ran into my friend Lois, mentioned yesterday, and she and I are going to try to see Gail Sheehy speak together tomorrow. (I know. That syntax is terrible. So much for the writing class!)
I dressed in my best clothes that I brought (basically my WHITE jeans instead of the other ones) and went to the Atheneum Hotel (about a 2 1/2 minute walk from here) for the pre-opera dinner. I had a glass of Chardonnay! Also salmon, salad, and chocolate lava cake!! Yum. Sat with some fabulous people. A widow from Kansas who owns a condo up here, and some friends of hers that were visiting. We had great conversations about books, Cuba, teaching, singing in choir, etc. It's easy to talk to almost anyone you encounter around here, but these folks were particularly nice. Took the shuttle to the opera. Pirates of Penzance is my least favorite of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas that I know. However, this was a lively production, with clever choreography and "bits" and very talented people. Most enjoyable. When I walked back to the house I was able to catch the very end of the Beach Boys (well, the Beach Boy wanna-bes. Only Mike Love, the second most obscure BB after Mike Jardin, is still in the group. They sing the songs, but they don't really have the sound. But having said that, I had a great time grooving and singing to Kokomo and Fun Fun Fun. But I miss the Wilson brothers. I still remember when we got to sing for Brian Wilson when he received a Kennedy Center Honor. Not sure how much old Brian was aware of what was going on. Apparently there's a price to pay for all that Fun Fun Fun. But it was a memorable evening anyway.
Tomorrow should be a light day. I can sleep in since there's no choir until 6 at night. Gail Sheehy is the only thing on my agenda except I'm going to try to get to the gym in the morning for the dreaded cardio. My friend Sandy is hanging tough out on the trail. She needs moleskin for her shoulders, believe it or not from carrying the pack. She climbed the highest peak today and says she has seen lots of bears. That Sandy is made from some strong stuff for sure. Think good thoughts about her!!! RP
Thursday, August 20, 2009
August 20
I'm on the porch in the dark again and a storm is maybe blowing in. At least I can see the lightning in the distance and hear the thunder which seems to be getting closer. What this will do to the internet connection I have no idea. But I'm out here because I'm listening to a concert called Dueling Stradivariuses. Two exceptional violinists, each on a Strad, are playing together with no other accompaniment. It should be spectacular unless the storm blows in to upstage it. Two violins are no match for Mother Nature. I'm sure the humidity is a Strad issue as well. But that's Chautauqua. And the lightning is brighter, so I'll finish later or in my room! You know me and storms!
Okay, I'm back. The storm has blown over, and I've taken up residence in an unoccupied room that has a small porch and a view of the concert. This is great!
This was a day of running from one place to the next. After church I packed and headed for the gym for a bout of weight training. Got back around 11:15 and ran into Lois Conrad, a friend of mine from Wintergreen. She and her husband Bill are friends of the Goodells (yes, the NFL commissioner Goodells) and they come up here for a few days every summer. It was amazing that I ran into her! She invited me to join them and the Goodells for dinner at a restaurant off grounds, and I had to very reluctantly turn them down due to my required choir practice. A restaurant dinner with friends would be pretty nice about now. But I'm good at having to make hard decisions up here.
At any rate, I hung up my wet towels and headed for one of the eaterys to pick up a sandwich and then attend the Theater Brown Bag luncheon (There are several brown bag luncheon presentations all over the grounds each day). This was the final one for the theater, and included some previews of some of the acts that will be on their Cabaret concert tomorrow night at 10:30, which I will most likely not be able to attend.
From there I hauled ass over to Alumni Hall and my writing class. I share my piece tomorrow. We have also been writing fiction on 4x6 post-its. Lots of fun and challenging. I wrote one today about Sandy being out on the trail. Not exactly fiction, but fun to write.
From there I hauled ass again back to the other end to make the 3:30 movie: Departures. It's Japanese with subtitles and truly one of the best movies I have ever seen. It involves a Japanese cellist whose orchestra goes defunct and has to take a job "casketing" which is preparing bodies for burial. I know it sounds a little macabre, but trust me, this is one gloriously filmed and touching movies. I adored it and highly recommend it to anyone.
From there I hauled ass again to the choir practice, which started back on the other side 10 minutes after the film ended. I ended up having dinner around 8:00 after practice!
Speaking of nice dinners, I will have one tomorrow night at the fancy schmancy Atheneum hotel for their pre-opera dinner. I plan on having a glass of wine!
And as for Sandy, she had a long hard day today - over 11 miles planned made longer because she left her hiking poles at last night's stop and had to hike back and get them. Then there was the driving rain and storms. But she had dinner with Bill and is off for another day. What a woman!!!! RP
Okay, I'm back. The storm has blown over, and I've taken up residence in an unoccupied room that has a small porch and a view of the concert. This is great!
This was a day of running from one place to the next. After church I packed and headed for the gym for a bout of weight training. Got back around 11:15 and ran into Lois Conrad, a friend of mine from Wintergreen. She and her husband Bill are friends of the Goodells (yes, the NFL commissioner Goodells) and they come up here for a few days every summer. It was amazing that I ran into her! She invited me to join them and the Goodells for dinner at a restaurant off grounds, and I had to very reluctantly turn them down due to my required choir practice. A restaurant dinner with friends would be pretty nice about now. But I'm good at having to make hard decisions up here.
At any rate, I hung up my wet towels and headed for one of the eaterys to pick up a sandwich and then attend the Theater Brown Bag luncheon (There are several brown bag luncheon presentations all over the grounds each day). This was the final one for the theater, and included some previews of some of the acts that will be on their Cabaret concert tomorrow night at 10:30, which I will most likely not be able to attend.
From there I hauled ass over to Alumni Hall and my writing class. I share my piece tomorrow. We have also been writing fiction on 4x6 post-its. Lots of fun and challenging. I wrote one today about Sandy being out on the trail. Not exactly fiction, but fun to write.
From there I hauled ass again back to the other end to make the 3:30 movie: Departures. It's Japanese with subtitles and truly one of the best movies I have ever seen. It involves a Japanese cellist whose orchestra goes defunct and has to take a job "casketing" which is preparing bodies for burial. I know it sounds a little macabre, but trust me, this is one gloriously filmed and touching movies. I adored it and highly recommend it to anyone.
From there I hauled ass again to the choir practice, which started back on the other side 10 minutes after the film ended. I ended up having dinner around 8:00 after practice!
Speaking of nice dinners, I will have one tomorrow night at the fancy schmancy Atheneum hotel for their pre-opera dinner. I plan on having a glass of wine!
And as for Sandy, she had a long hard day today - over 11 miles planned made longer because she left her hiking poles at last night's stop and had to hike back and get them. Then there was the driving rain and storms. But she had dinner with Bill and is off for another day. What a woman!!!! RP
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
August 19
Well, I just have to set the scene right now. It's nearly totally dark and I'm typing by only the light emitted from the screen. The rooming house where I'm staying is directly across a narrow lane from the Amphitheater, which tonight has been converted from a concert hall to a dance hall. This is the annual Summer Ball complete with a big band, disco ball hanging from the ceiling, and dancers from the very tiny children to old old folks and everyone in between. Many have dressed for the occasion in fancier clothes than the normal everyday attire. The strains of Duke Ellington's Satin Doll are wafting over the night, and I can see the sparkles circulating like fireflies over the dancers as the disco ball spins. I swear its right out of Dirty Dancing, and I half expect to see Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze stealing away to take the path down to the lake where they will have their own brand of music making in the summer night. It's fantastic!
Today at noon I had a mountaintop experience for me in that Jared was giving an organ recital in the amphitheater and he gave an all JS Bach program. This is nirvana. Unfortunately I had to leave to get to my writing class and had to leave before his finale. . .Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This is a classic and one which I played in college. But I heard him play it during week 1, so if I had to skip one piece, that was the one.
I am loving my writing class and the teacher/author. I have bought her new, first novel and am thinking about hiring her for a half hour in the next couple of days so I can pick her brain about her process. She is really nice, and such a great writer. Our assignment for tomorrow is to write Post-it Stories, each no longer than what can fit on a post-it that is about the size of a large index card. This is the essence of Flash Fiction, which is the topic for the workshop this week. Challenging and fun.
From the class I headed for the movie theater where I caught a matinee of a movie called Easy Virtue with Jessica Biel, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas. It was terrific. I have several movies to see in the next week and a half.
After the movie I came back and snarfed down dinner in order to go to the Women's Club building where I saw an original one-woman-show written and acted by the woman in my class who I said almost married Paul of Peter, Paul, and Mary. She lives, writes, and acts in New York in her real life, and interestingly enough, also owns a home at Wintergreen!!!! She sings in the Motet choir with me as well. Lots of "small world" experiences up here.
Tomorrow I'm going to try to see another movie, but I have to get back to the gym after settling today with a walk half way around the grounds this morning. It's cooler and less humid. I wore jeans comfortably today. . . .that is life at it's best for me.
My friend Sandy is on day 2 of her trek. I'm planning to write my first Post-It story about her trip. According to hubby Bill, all is well. She is making her goals and meeting people. Two days down, eight to go. Until tomorrow.. . .
Today at noon I had a mountaintop experience for me in that Jared was giving an organ recital in the amphitheater and he gave an all JS Bach program. This is nirvana. Unfortunately I had to leave to get to my writing class and had to leave before his finale. . .Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This is a classic and one which I played in college. But I heard him play it during week 1, so if I had to skip one piece, that was the one.
I am loving my writing class and the teacher/author. I have bought her new, first novel and am thinking about hiring her for a half hour in the next couple of days so I can pick her brain about her process. She is really nice, and such a great writer. Our assignment for tomorrow is to write Post-it Stories, each no longer than what can fit on a post-it that is about the size of a large index card. This is the essence of Flash Fiction, which is the topic for the workshop this week. Challenging and fun.
From the class I headed for the movie theater where I caught a matinee of a movie called Easy Virtue with Jessica Biel, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas. It was terrific. I have several movies to see in the next week and a half.
After the movie I came back and snarfed down dinner in order to go to the Women's Club building where I saw an original one-woman-show written and acted by the woman in my class who I said almost married Paul of Peter, Paul, and Mary. She lives, writes, and acts in New York in her real life, and interestingly enough, also owns a home at Wintergreen!!!! She sings in the Motet choir with me as well. Lots of "small world" experiences up here.
Tomorrow I'm going to try to see another movie, but I have to get back to the gym after settling today with a walk half way around the grounds this morning. It's cooler and less humid. I wore jeans comfortably today. . . .that is life at it's best for me.
My friend Sandy is on day 2 of her trek. I'm planning to write my first Post-It story about her trip. According to hubby Bill, all is well. She is making her goals and meeting people. Two days down, eight to go. Until tomorrow.. . .
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
August 18
This week is taking on a personality of its own based on my class and my residence. I find myself concentrated in the south part of the town this week. I'm spending daily time in Alumni Hall and it's just a big teddy-bear of a building - drop dead gorgeous inside and out, and full of rich woods, subdued restful colors and cozy rooms or nooks with comfortable chairs. Also, the nicest bathrooms on the grounds.
I did church this morning and then helped the choir manager put 135 copies of a piece of music in numerical order. For some reason I LOVE tasks like this. Just like I love to untangle yarn. It's so left-brained and restful for me. The task is obvious, the steps logical, the outcomes immediately apparent. I know. . . I'm a strange bird.
Under the heading of "You can't do everything," I opted to skip the lecture this morning in order to go do my weight training at the gym. This is one of the few times when a class is not meeting in the weight room, and I had the place to myself when I got there. Weight training is hard, but extremely satisfying. Unlike cardio for me which is only hard. I celebrated before my 3rd set of 15 by switching from 6 pound weights to 7 pound weights. This was a big victory for me. I was tempted to celebrate with an ice cream cone, but then what would be the point? And let me say there is nothing more spectacularly wonderful than a long hot shower and hair wash after a grueling weight lifting session. I admit it. . . I like weight training (particularly right after I finish).
Had lunch and went to the library to work on the assignment for my writing class. It is particularly tricky for me, and I can't even describe it (because I'm a lousy writer, I guess). Suffice it to say, I got some good pondering done, but nothing concrete. HOwever here's a cool fact. . . .one of the women in my writing class almost married Noel Stookey who is Paul from Peter, Paul and Mary. They were my abolute heroes in middle and high school, so I was very impressed with the news and plan to pump her for details before the week is out. The writing instructor is Sherrie Flick who just published her first novel which I bought today. She is a fabulous writer. It's fun just to be around her for the week, my so far failed assignment notwithstanding.
While I was in class, a big thunderstorm came up and managed to squeeze the buckets of humidity out of the air. Alumni Hall is a great place to be in a storm. When it was over, and when class was over, I went next store to the Hall of Christ which is a large, church-like (shocker) building next to Alumni Hall. There was a lecture by a woman who just wrote a book on the Farmettes - the women who, during WWI took over the farming duties in the country while the boys were at war. There was a chapter of the group at Chautauqua. It is a fascinating story.
After dinner (stuffed peppers which I got at the farmer's market this morning - yum!) I struggled with the writing assignment again - redirected my thinking but nothing concrete yet. We had an hour long rehearsal back at the Hall of Christ. Then I attended the second to the last orchestra concert of the season. Great concert ending with Ravel's Bolero. You either love that piece or you hate it. I unabashedly LOVE it!!! I feel like smoking a cigarette when it's over if you catch my drift. I don't, however, smoke a cigarette.
I'm thinking about my friend Sandy out on the AT tonight by herself! Her husband Bill appears to be sending out daily updates. Even my "nun's cell" is many steps above the inside of a tent on the hard ground. Stay tuned. . . there is adventure everywhere! RP
I did church this morning and then helped the choir manager put 135 copies of a piece of music in numerical order. For some reason I LOVE tasks like this. Just like I love to untangle yarn. It's so left-brained and restful for me. The task is obvious, the steps logical, the outcomes immediately apparent. I know. . . I'm a strange bird.
Under the heading of "You can't do everything," I opted to skip the lecture this morning in order to go do my weight training at the gym. This is one of the few times when a class is not meeting in the weight room, and I had the place to myself when I got there. Weight training is hard, but extremely satisfying. Unlike cardio for me which is only hard. I celebrated before my 3rd set of 15 by switching from 6 pound weights to 7 pound weights. This was a big victory for me. I was tempted to celebrate with an ice cream cone, but then what would be the point? And let me say there is nothing more spectacularly wonderful than a long hot shower and hair wash after a grueling weight lifting session. I admit it. . . I like weight training (particularly right after I finish).
Had lunch and went to the library to work on the assignment for my writing class. It is particularly tricky for me, and I can't even describe it (because I'm a lousy writer, I guess). Suffice it to say, I got some good pondering done, but nothing concrete. HOwever here's a cool fact. . . .one of the women in my writing class almost married Noel Stookey who is Paul from Peter, Paul and Mary. They were my abolute heroes in middle and high school, so I was very impressed with the news and plan to pump her for details before the week is out. The writing instructor is Sherrie Flick who just published her first novel which I bought today. She is a fabulous writer. It's fun just to be around her for the week, my so far failed assignment notwithstanding.
While I was in class, a big thunderstorm came up and managed to squeeze the buckets of humidity out of the air. Alumni Hall is a great place to be in a storm. When it was over, and when class was over, I went next store to the Hall of Christ which is a large, church-like (shocker) building next to Alumni Hall. There was a lecture by a woman who just wrote a book on the Farmettes - the women who, during WWI took over the farming duties in the country while the boys were at war. There was a chapter of the group at Chautauqua. It is a fascinating story.
After dinner (stuffed peppers which I got at the farmer's market this morning - yum!) I struggled with the writing assignment again - redirected my thinking but nothing concrete yet. We had an hour long rehearsal back at the Hall of Christ. Then I attended the second to the last orchestra concert of the season. Great concert ending with Ravel's Bolero. You either love that piece or you hate it. I unabashedly LOVE it!!! I feel like smoking a cigarette when it's over if you catch my drift. I don't, however, smoke a cigarette.
I'm thinking about my friend Sandy out on the AT tonight by herself! Her husband Bill appears to be sending out daily updates. Even my "nun's cell" is many steps above the inside of a tent on the hard ground. Stay tuned. . . there is adventure everywhere! RP
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 17
The thing about being in Chautauqua for two weeks straight, is that I seem to be giving myself permission to not be so frantic about trying to do everything. Because if I try to do everything (especially in the heat and humidity) I will die and miss part of my stay.
Keeping that in mind, here was my day.
Choir practice at 8:15 and service at 9:15.
This week's theme is Cuba. And I wasn't sure I would be all that interested but so far there's lots to learn. I have to decide when to fit in my workouts, and it appears the morning lectures may have to take a hit. But I attended the overview of the Cuban situation this morning and enjoyed it. From there I dashed (so much for not being frantic!) to the Hurlbut Church for the lunch special to go. I went to the porch of Alumni Hall and heard a book review by a woman who was born in Cuba but left as a child. She was great to listen to. So not only am I eating my lunch and listening to a great speaker, but I'm on a charming porch with wicker furniture and people sitting at picnic tables on the grass, breeze blowing, sun shining. Yikes! It's heaven.
My first session of my writing class met in that building after the talk was over. This is a class about writing Flash Fiction. . .which is fiction in under a thousand words. One of our writing activities today was to write our entire biography in 5 minutes. I may be way out of my league on this class, but at this stage of life that only means some kind of great adventure. The worst that can happen is that I will totally humiliate myself. . . . and I can live with that! I'm looking forward to this week class-wise!
I went to the gym and did my 25 minutes of circuit cardio. . . that is 7 minutes on the eliptical machine, 7 minutes on the rowing machine, and 10 minutes on the treadmill. I was huffing and puffing for sure. Showered at the gym.
Had a nice leisurely late afternoon. On the way home from the gym I passed through the amphitheater where I was lucky enough to catch Jared, our organist/choirmaster, practicing on the Massey organ. What a thrill to just sit there and listen to great organ playing for about 45 minutes!
Went to see a movie tonight. . . .I can't resist the movies. This one was Summer Hours, which was a subtitled French film. Low-key, but very powerful. Ran into my friend Penny who is from Charlottesville and we were able to see it together and then discuss it walking back home.
What a great day!
Keeping that in mind, here was my day.
Choir practice at 8:15 and service at 9:15.
This week's theme is Cuba. And I wasn't sure I would be all that interested but so far there's lots to learn. I have to decide when to fit in my workouts, and it appears the morning lectures may have to take a hit. But I attended the overview of the Cuban situation this morning and enjoyed it. From there I dashed (so much for not being frantic!) to the Hurlbut Church for the lunch special to go. I went to the porch of Alumni Hall and heard a book review by a woman who was born in Cuba but left as a child. She was great to listen to. So not only am I eating my lunch and listening to a great speaker, but I'm on a charming porch with wicker furniture and people sitting at picnic tables on the grass, breeze blowing, sun shining. Yikes! It's heaven.
My first session of my writing class met in that building after the talk was over. This is a class about writing Flash Fiction. . .which is fiction in under a thousand words. One of our writing activities today was to write our entire biography in 5 minutes. I may be way out of my league on this class, but at this stage of life that only means some kind of great adventure. The worst that can happen is that I will totally humiliate myself. . . . and I can live with that! I'm looking forward to this week class-wise!
I went to the gym and did my 25 minutes of circuit cardio. . . that is 7 minutes on the eliptical machine, 7 minutes on the rowing machine, and 10 minutes on the treadmill. I was huffing and puffing for sure. Showered at the gym.
Had a nice leisurely late afternoon. On the way home from the gym I passed through the amphitheater where I was lucky enough to catch Jared, our organist/choirmaster, practicing on the Massey organ. What a thrill to just sit there and listen to great organ playing for about 45 minutes!
Went to see a movie tonight. . . .I can't resist the movies. This one was Summer Hours, which was a subtitled French film. Low-key, but very powerful. Ran into my friend Penny who is from Charlottesville and we were able to see it together and then discuss it walking back home.
What a great day!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
August 16
What I did:
Sang church service this morning.
Sang at a memorial service for former choir member and long-standing Chautuaquan.
Attended ice cream social at the house where I'm staying.
Saw the movie UP. Hilarious. More of a senior citizens movie than a kid's movie despite animation. Two different kids had to be carried out of the theater in hysterics of fear!!! But the film was phenominal.
Rehearsed and sang in the evening Sacred Song service. Theme was Spanish carols and lullabies. Really beautiful.
Tonight at the service I looked up to see Bill Duty in the audience. He is the 91 year old of whom I spoke a couple of days ago. He came to the service to see me sing in the choir. I can't describe how wonderful it is to have someone out there watching me. It was like having my dad come to a concert. This is a rare treat at this stage of life, and I'm very grateful for it.
And my 60th birthday trip last May pales in comparison to my friend Sandy G. who turned 70 this month. On Tuesday she heads off alone for a 10 day hike on the Appalachian Trail where she plans to cover 110 miles in 10 days. . . in essence, being dropped off at Front Royal and walking back home, the length of Shenandoah National Park. That is just too impressive for words. I want to be her when I grow up!
The regular week starts tomorrow, and I'm hitting the hay to get ready! Signing off! RP
Sang church service this morning.
Sang at a memorial service for former choir member and long-standing Chautuaquan.
Attended ice cream social at the house where I'm staying.
Saw the movie UP. Hilarious. More of a senior citizens movie than a kid's movie despite animation. Two different kids had to be carried out of the theater in hysterics of fear!!! But the film was phenominal.
Rehearsed and sang in the evening Sacred Song service. Theme was Spanish carols and lullabies. Really beautiful.
Tonight at the service I looked up to see Bill Duty in the audience. He is the 91 year old of whom I spoke a couple of days ago. He came to the service to see me sing in the choir. I can't describe how wonderful it is to have someone out there watching me. It was like having my dad come to a concert. This is a rare treat at this stage of life, and I'm very grateful for it.
And my 60th birthday trip last May pales in comparison to my friend Sandy G. who turned 70 this month. On Tuesday she heads off alone for a 10 day hike on the Appalachian Trail where she plans to cover 110 miles in 10 days. . . in essence, being dropped off at Front Royal and walking back home, the length of Shenandoah National Park. That is just too impressive for words. I want to be her when I grow up!
The regular week starts tomorrow, and I'm hitting the hay to get ready! Signing off! RP
Saturday, August 15, 2009
August 15
Here's what I did today!
Moved my belongings from temporary room 9, to permanent room 8 right next door! I'm all settled in to the smallest room yet, but it's cozy and I love it. A single bed suits me just fine and the internet signal is stronger here than anywhere that I've been this summer.
I went to the gym and did about 40 minutes of weight training, then took a good long shower and washed my hair. This greatly helps the shared bathroom situation back at the house.
I went to a lecture called "American Politics and the Obama Presidency." Political analyst David Kozak was the speaker and it was excellent.
Choir practice tonight for tomorrow's two performances.
Attended the Shakespeare play The Winter's Tale which was excellent. The theater company here is fabulous!
I also spent some time musing about my Creedence Clearwater experience of last night. I had the opportunity, at age 60, of being a "young whippersnapper!" While there were scads of people in the audience who are my age or younger, there is also a large contingency of Chautauquans who are the age of my parents. About 8 minutes into this rock and roll concert, many of them promptly got up and walked out, looks of disgust on their faces. That left the rest of us to whoop and yell and dance and sing along. If only I had had a cigarette lighter to hold up in the air! It's a real gift to have opportunities to feel young and decadent. . . . only in Chautauqua!
It's late. . . . . I'm going to bed tired and happy.
Moved my belongings from temporary room 9, to permanent room 8 right next door! I'm all settled in to the smallest room yet, but it's cozy and I love it. A single bed suits me just fine and the internet signal is stronger here than anywhere that I've been this summer.
I went to the gym and did about 40 minutes of weight training, then took a good long shower and washed my hair. This greatly helps the shared bathroom situation back at the house.
I went to a lecture called "American Politics and the Obama Presidency." Political analyst David Kozak was the speaker and it was excellent.
Choir practice tonight for tomorrow's two performances.
Attended the Shakespeare play The Winter's Tale which was excellent. The theater company here is fabulous!
I also spent some time musing about my Creedence Clearwater experience of last night. I had the opportunity, at age 60, of being a "young whippersnapper!" While there were scads of people in the audience who are my age or younger, there is also a large contingency of Chautauquans who are the age of my parents. About 8 minutes into this rock and roll concert, many of them promptly got up and walked out, looks of disgust on their faces. That left the rest of us to whoop and yell and dance and sing along. If only I had had a cigarette lighter to hold up in the air! It's a real gift to have opportunities to feel young and decadent. . . . only in Chautauqua!
It's late. . . . . I'm going to bed tired and happy.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Chautauqua Week 8!
And I'm back! Went home last week to mow grass, go to book club, reintroduce my self to my dog, and drive all that way back here today! Weather great, book-on-tape wonderful, and scenery gorgeous. I'm in the same house as week one, and the internet signal seems strong from this room!
I've already attended a choir rehearsal, and then rocked out to Creedence Clearwater Revisited, with two members of the original group. They were sensational and really rocked the house.
I'm in a temporary room for one night, and then move next door to my permanent home for the next two weeks. I'm going to LOVE not having to come home after one week. I have tickets to a Shakespeare play (A Winter's Tale) and a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta (Pirates of Penzance). I'll be taking a writing course this week Monday - Friday. I'm prepared to work out multiple times. The weather is quite a bit warmer than when I was last here. The fan I bought before week one is already coming in handy!
Stay tuned for life at Chautauqua. . . . . . RP
I've already attended a choir rehearsal, and then rocked out to Creedence Clearwater Revisited, with two members of the original group. They were sensational and really rocked the house.
I'm in a temporary room for one night, and then move next door to my permanent home for the next two weeks. I'm going to LOVE not having to come home after one week. I have tickets to a Shakespeare play (A Winter's Tale) and a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta (Pirates of Penzance). I'll be taking a writing course this week Monday - Friday. I'm prepared to work out multiple times. The weather is quite a bit warmer than when I was last here. The fan I bought before week one is already coming in handy!
Stay tuned for life at Chautauqua. . . . . . RP
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Chautauqua Week 6 - Post Script
I must say I enjoy the blogging thing. But at Chautauqua it often is not easy to keep up with due to all the activities and to the lack of reliable internet access in the buildings in which I stay. But you get what you pay for!!!
At any rate. . . I'm home! And I've already cut the front field and the very front yard. I have two more fields to cut, and the promise of several days in the row in the upper 90's. Maybe THIS will be the way to lose weight. . . .sweat it off!
At any rate, I wanted to tell about my final Chautauqua day for Week 6. It was "rich and full" (Chautuaqua expression).
But before I get to that, I have to tell something that I left out. Another bummer about having to walk to the library squeeze in the blog is that I can't be as careful about getting everything in that I want to. So let's go back a couple of entries to when I was describing the First Night program. This is the one with the kids performing and the counting of how many generations, etc. etc. One of the most touching, funky, and impressive parts of the program was the Drooping of the Lilies. Now just let that sink in for a minute and try to envision what that must be. They have everyone bring a handkerchief or tissue to the program. I brought a white wash cloth from my room. I wasn't too sure what they were for. I figured it would be funny, like when Pat Johnson's family all puts white napkins on their heads at family weddings. But instead, this was the part of the program where everyone is supposed to remember all those Chautauquans who have died in the past year. They announce some of the better known people, and then have everyone else just think about who they know. Then everyone raises the white handkerchief in the air, and in silence, the whole audience slowly brings their hands down as all those white pieces of cloth drift toward the ground. It's very impressive, and just another Chautauqua tradition.
My theme for the last day could be KEEPING UP WITH 90 YEAR OLDS!
Most of you are familiar with the story of my finding my parents' friends last year. This is the couple who first told me about Chautauqua many years ago when they were visiting my folks. Last year, through an unbelievably serendipitous occurance, I was able to find out that they are STILL going to Chautauqua, and in fact was able to meet up with them. They were up again this year. Bill and Phyllis are 91 and 87 years old, respectively. They still drive up to Chautauqua from Florida or Kentucky each summer and spend about 5 weeks there. This past week I saw Phyllis in the first couple of days, but had not seen Bill. I'm thinking, "Well he is 91, perhaps he's taking a nap. Or doesn't feel well." It was yesterday when I finally saw Bill coming into the morning church service. I was in the choir and I saw him walk in. I thought I would be able to see him after the service since I knew where he was sitting. After the service I went around to where he had been sitting, only to see him walking, rather briskly, down the steep concrete ramps that are the aisles of the amphitheater. He was on his way to talk to the former NBA basketball player who was the husband of the weekly preacher. He was taking that ramp alot more smoothly than I do. So I figured, "Well, I'll see him when he comes back up here." But he headed in another direction. I eventually saw him heading down the street towards the post office, and I literally had to run to catch up with him. He (and Phyllis both) are absolutely amazing! They are on the go all day every day. It reminds me of another reason I love Chautauqua. Being a lifelong learner and participant in life is a great way to stay young.
So I had tickets to the opera, Tosca for last evening. I went to a pre-opera talk at 5:30. When we got out I didn't want to walk all the way back to my house, so I just sat on a bench outside the theater until they began to seat for the 7:30 performance. I sat on a bench with two delightful women and began to strike up a conversation. The one woman showed me her free gate pass for the season, which you get once you turn 90. Bill got his for the first time last year. This woman was dynamite and so much fun to talk to.
I finished my weaving piece and learned how to take it off the loom, make fringe and finish it off. It's pretty cool for a beginning piece. I enjoyed that class alot.
For lunch yesterday I decided to try, for the first time, the lunch that is offered daily at one of the churches on the grounds. For $6.00 you go into their community room and have a choice of several kinds of salad (I got crab salad) or soup and sandwich. It's a great way to have lunch. I met a wonderful couple from New York, and saw the woman who I met last year who is from Charlottesville. I may try the church lunch again during weeks 8 & 9.
This morning I was up early and actually drove out of the grounds by 8:15. This is no easy feat since everyone who is leaving at the end of a week is usually supposed to be out of their place by 9:30 or 10. This creates an unbelievable mess of traffic on the narrow and limited access roads of the grounds. One reason I'm going up next Friday instead of Saturday is to avoid that mess!
I did get a pretty good guarantee that I will be able to stay at this house next week for Week 1. This is going to be a socko week called Richard Rosenblatt and friends. They've had this before and there are great people who come. It will be hard to get a room for that week, but the people in the house I stayed liked me, so they said I could get a room. I offered to go up early next year to help them set up the house. That didn't hurt!!! I know that Alan Alda is on the schedule for sure during week 1 next year.
So I'm home for grass cutting, book club, bill paying, and having Chester around for a few days. It's tough when you have to leave Heaven to go to Heaven!!!!!! I'm going to keep blogging when the spirit moves me. Stay tuned! RP
At any rate. . . I'm home! And I've already cut the front field and the very front yard. I have two more fields to cut, and the promise of several days in the row in the upper 90's. Maybe THIS will be the way to lose weight. . . .sweat it off!
At any rate, I wanted to tell about my final Chautauqua day for Week 6. It was "rich and full" (Chautuaqua expression).
But before I get to that, I have to tell something that I left out. Another bummer about having to walk to the library squeeze in the blog is that I can't be as careful about getting everything in that I want to. So let's go back a couple of entries to when I was describing the First Night program. This is the one with the kids performing and the counting of how many generations, etc. etc. One of the most touching, funky, and impressive parts of the program was the Drooping of the Lilies. Now just let that sink in for a minute and try to envision what that must be. They have everyone bring a handkerchief or tissue to the program. I brought a white wash cloth from my room. I wasn't too sure what they were for. I figured it would be funny, like when Pat Johnson's family all puts white napkins on their heads at family weddings. But instead, this was the part of the program where everyone is supposed to remember all those Chautauquans who have died in the past year. They announce some of the better known people, and then have everyone else just think about who they know. Then everyone raises the white handkerchief in the air, and in silence, the whole audience slowly brings their hands down as all those white pieces of cloth drift toward the ground. It's very impressive, and just another Chautauqua tradition.
My theme for the last day could be KEEPING UP WITH 90 YEAR OLDS!
Most of you are familiar with the story of my finding my parents' friends last year. This is the couple who first told me about Chautauqua many years ago when they were visiting my folks. Last year, through an unbelievably serendipitous occurance, I was able to find out that they are STILL going to Chautauqua, and in fact was able to meet up with them. They were up again this year. Bill and Phyllis are 91 and 87 years old, respectively. They still drive up to Chautauqua from Florida or Kentucky each summer and spend about 5 weeks there. This past week I saw Phyllis in the first couple of days, but had not seen Bill. I'm thinking, "Well he is 91, perhaps he's taking a nap. Or doesn't feel well." It was yesterday when I finally saw Bill coming into the morning church service. I was in the choir and I saw him walk in. I thought I would be able to see him after the service since I knew where he was sitting. After the service I went around to where he had been sitting, only to see him walking, rather briskly, down the steep concrete ramps that are the aisles of the amphitheater. He was on his way to talk to the former NBA basketball player who was the husband of the weekly preacher. He was taking that ramp alot more smoothly than I do. So I figured, "Well, I'll see him when he comes back up here." But he headed in another direction. I eventually saw him heading down the street towards the post office, and I literally had to run to catch up with him. He (and Phyllis both) are absolutely amazing! They are on the go all day every day. It reminds me of another reason I love Chautauqua. Being a lifelong learner and participant in life is a great way to stay young.
So I had tickets to the opera, Tosca for last evening. I went to a pre-opera talk at 5:30. When we got out I didn't want to walk all the way back to my house, so I just sat on a bench outside the theater until they began to seat for the 7:30 performance. I sat on a bench with two delightful women and began to strike up a conversation. The one woman showed me her free gate pass for the season, which you get once you turn 90. Bill got his for the first time last year. This woman was dynamite and so much fun to talk to.
I finished my weaving piece and learned how to take it off the loom, make fringe and finish it off. It's pretty cool for a beginning piece. I enjoyed that class alot.
For lunch yesterday I decided to try, for the first time, the lunch that is offered daily at one of the churches on the grounds. For $6.00 you go into their community room and have a choice of several kinds of salad (I got crab salad) or soup and sandwich. It's a great way to have lunch. I met a wonderful couple from New York, and saw the woman who I met last year who is from Charlottesville. I may try the church lunch again during weeks 8 & 9.
This morning I was up early and actually drove out of the grounds by 8:15. This is no easy feat since everyone who is leaving at the end of a week is usually supposed to be out of their place by 9:30 or 10. This creates an unbelievable mess of traffic on the narrow and limited access roads of the grounds. One reason I'm going up next Friday instead of Saturday is to avoid that mess!
I did get a pretty good guarantee that I will be able to stay at this house next week for Week 1. This is going to be a socko week called Richard Rosenblatt and friends. They've had this before and there are great people who come. It will be hard to get a room for that week, but the people in the house I stayed liked me, so they said I could get a room. I offered to go up early next year to help them set up the house. That didn't hurt!!! I know that Alan Alda is on the schedule for sure during week 1 next year.
So I'm home for grass cutting, book club, bill paying, and having Chester around for a few days. It's tough when you have to leave Heaven to go to Heaven!!!!!! I'm going to keep blogging when the spirit moves me. Stay tuned! RP
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Chautauqua - August 6
Tonight, as promised. . . . I will attempt a description of perhaps the most unique tradition up here. I got to see this for the first time this week. . . it happens every year during the week of First Night.
Our story begins with the establishment of a book club all those many years ago. This is no ordinary book club like the ones that are popular now, thanks to Oprah! This club is called the CLSC - Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. One of the impressive buildings on the grounds is Alumni Hall. . . and now I know who the alumni are. . .they are graduates of this book club group. Here's how it works. . . just as it did 135 years ago. The group posts a list of books at the beginning of the season. I don't know if it was always this way, but now a days the books are coordinated with the theme of the weeks. This year there are 10 selections. Some of the titles this year are: If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar, The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, Proust Was A Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, A Person of Interest by Susan Choi, The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed, etc. etc.
A person becomes a member by going to the CLSC office, signing up, and paying the yearly fee. They then begin to read books off the list. This is a list now of over 800 books, dating back to the very first year. It's quite an impressive list, and most readers will find books they have already read on the list. In order to "graduate" one must read any 14 selections off the list and pay 4 years of CLSC membership dues. You can count books you've already read. The year before your graduation, you join a "class" (ie - the class of 2010). The class forms and meets on the grounds during the summer before graduation. They decide a Class Name, Class Motto, design and arrange to produce a banner, and plan their Vigil Service (one of several ceremonies that the class goes through at graduation).
Okay, so flash forward to the graduation year. This is what I observed this year. In keeping with tradition, the graduation process is almost exactly like it was all those years ago. It's unbelievable the pageantry that accompanies the simple act of reading books.
During the graduation week, the class attends one of the church services that serves as its Baccalaureate. There is an evening vigil service on another night where the graduates, dressed in white, carry candles into the Hall of Philosphy. They name their class honoree - in this case an author who has written a couple of great books about Chautauqua. The honoree's name is associated with the class (the class name). This year the honoree was in attendance and spoke.
The graduation ceremony itself is unforgetable. A small brass band, lead by two men dressed as the Chautauqua founders, marches through the grounds to Alumni Hall where all the banners of previous classes are lined up in a procession back to the Plaza. Then the graduates join the procession behind the band and march to the lower level of the Hall of Philosophy. Here they have constructed large golden gates which is ceremonially unlocked by a giant key held by one of the costumed men. The key has the word READ written on it. The graduates are dressed all in white. Men and women. One this year was so elderly he had to be physically helped up the stairs after the unlocking of the gate. As they come through the gate and up the steps, small children are dropping flower petals on the ground in front of them and a choir (me this time) is at the top of the stairs singing the same hymn to learning that was sung in the first ceremony. The graduates come up the stairs and into the open-air Hall of Philosophy. The choir sings a second song. They recognize people from the "graduate school" level of the club. . .those who continue to read and acquire patches for the stoles they wear. You can get up to 4 extra patches. . .each patch represents 14 more books. After the service, complete with diplomas and introduction of the class banner, the brass band leads the graduates through the grounds and into the amphitheater where they are given the best seats for the morning lecture. Amazing. It reminds me of a fraternity or sorority initiation.
This place is a shrine to lifelong learning, and they put their money where their mouth is on that front.
And that, my friends is how the oldest continuous book club in America does business. Now they are members of the alumni association.
In other Chautauqua news: I am nearly finished with my woven piece, which is just that. . . .a piece which I have not decided the function it will perform. But it was fun and I would like to take this class again next year when I know what I'm doing.
Went to the brown bag discussion in the theater at noon where they discussed the play I will see tonight. I was able to catch part of the dress rehearsal of the orchestra concert I will miss tonight. And I got a little gym time in as well.
The week is cranking down. But I have a very full day tomorrow! RP
Our story begins with the establishment of a book club all those many years ago. This is no ordinary book club like the ones that are popular now, thanks to Oprah! This club is called the CLSC - Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. One of the impressive buildings on the grounds is Alumni Hall. . . and now I know who the alumni are. . .they are graduates of this book club group. Here's how it works. . . just as it did 135 years ago. The group posts a list of books at the beginning of the season. I don't know if it was always this way, but now a days the books are coordinated with the theme of the weeks. This year there are 10 selections. Some of the titles this year are: If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar, The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, Proust Was A Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, A Person of Interest by Susan Choi, The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed, etc. etc.
A person becomes a member by going to the CLSC office, signing up, and paying the yearly fee. They then begin to read books off the list. This is a list now of over 800 books, dating back to the very first year. It's quite an impressive list, and most readers will find books they have already read on the list. In order to "graduate" one must read any 14 selections off the list and pay 4 years of CLSC membership dues. You can count books you've already read. The year before your graduation, you join a "class" (ie - the class of 2010). The class forms and meets on the grounds during the summer before graduation. They decide a Class Name, Class Motto, design and arrange to produce a banner, and plan their Vigil Service (one of several ceremonies that the class goes through at graduation).
Okay, so flash forward to the graduation year. This is what I observed this year. In keeping with tradition, the graduation process is almost exactly like it was all those years ago. It's unbelievable the pageantry that accompanies the simple act of reading books.
During the graduation week, the class attends one of the church services that serves as its Baccalaureate. There is an evening vigil service on another night where the graduates, dressed in white, carry candles into the Hall of Philosphy. They name their class honoree - in this case an author who has written a couple of great books about Chautauqua. The honoree's name is associated with the class (the class name). This year the honoree was in attendance and spoke.
The graduation ceremony itself is unforgetable. A small brass band, lead by two men dressed as the Chautauqua founders, marches through the grounds to Alumni Hall where all the banners of previous classes are lined up in a procession back to the Plaza. Then the graduates join the procession behind the band and march to the lower level of the Hall of Philosophy. Here they have constructed large golden gates which is ceremonially unlocked by a giant key held by one of the costumed men. The key has the word READ written on it. The graduates are dressed all in white. Men and women. One this year was so elderly he had to be physically helped up the stairs after the unlocking of the gate. As they come through the gate and up the steps, small children are dropping flower petals on the ground in front of them and a choir (me this time) is at the top of the stairs singing the same hymn to learning that was sung in the first ceremony. The graduates come up the stairs and into the open-air Hall of Philosophy. The choir sings a second song. They recognize people from the "graduate school" level of the club. . .those who continue to read and acquire patches for the stoles they wear. You can get up to 4 extra patches. . .each patch represents 14 more books. After the service, complete with diplomas and introduction of the class banner, the brass band leads the graduates through the grounds and into the amphitheater where they are given the best seats for the morning lecture. Amazing. It reminds me of a fraternity or sorority initiation.
This place is a shrine to lifelong learning, and they put their money where their mouth is on that front.
And that, my friends is how the oldest continuous book club in America does business. Now they are members of the alumni association.
In other Chautauqua news: I am nearly finished with my woven piece, which is just that. . . .a piece which I have not decided the function it will perform. But it was fun and I would like to take this class again next year when I know what I'm doing.
Went to the brown bag discussion in the theater at noon where they discussed the play I will see tonight. I was able to catch part of the dress rehearsal of the orchestra concert I will miss tonight. And I got a little gym time in as well.
The week is cranking down. But I have a very full day tomorrow! RP
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Chautauqua - August 5
"Tradition is the living voice of the dead."
This was a quote I heard this morning and the second one, more controversial, was: Traditionalism is the voice of the living dead!
However, sticking with quote one. . . . nobody does tradition quite like Chautauqua.
To that end, I'm going to describe the First Night program last night. Tomorrow I'll tell about The Oldest Book Club in the World and all that entails. It's too much for one blog!
First night is celebrated on the 2nd Tuesday in August, because the first year Chautauqua started it was a 2-week Sunday School teachers conference. . . .in tents! So in essence, this was a birthday party. I had never seen this program and it was something!
To begin with, part of Chautauqua is the Boys & Girls club. . . .which is open to kids from elementary school through middle school ( I think). Now in this day and age, the first thing I would say to myself is that middle school kids of today would not be caught dead in a Boys and Girls club that also includes elementary students. But the clubs have hundreds of kids in them, and they had opportunities to perform last night. Apparently for the club, there is an annual Air Band contest. . . which means that each group (the groups are organized by grade and gender. . . so Group 3 girls are third grade girls I think. Or else just the third oldest group. Air Band is a compilation of popular recorded songs around a theme - Last night the group 3 girls did one called Fruit Salad which had lip synching in costume to songs like Strawberry Fields, Blueberry Pie, etc. They were adorable, and the winning groups got to perform last night.
Memorable parts of the program:
The Children's school (age 2 years to about 5) marching up on stage with their homemade hats to sing Happy Birthday to Chautauqua and their special Children's school song. They had had an open house, bake sale and troll event to raise $600 for the Chautauqua Fund. There was the prerequisite waving to parents and "Hi Mommy!" from this massive stage. One little boy never moved a muscle and stood with his hands to his side, his hat having slipped down and covered his face. As they children left the stage you could see the counselors frantically counting them to make sure they had everyone! Priceless!
The count to see who had been at Chautauqua the longest. You were allowed to count a year if your mother had been here when she was pregnant with you. Believe it or not, by the end, THREE women were standing, each having attended Chautauqua for 95 years!!!!!! And they were standing!!!
The count to see how many generations were represented in individual families. These are generations, living or dead, who had ever attended Chautauqua! Two families won with eight generations! I am such a newby here!
The most people from a state contest is always between Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Not surprising, New York won.
Several performances by the winners of the Air Band contest. But even more impressive, after the children came forward, the Boys and Girls club kids came down the aisle exhuberantly singing their theme song to the tune of On Wisconsin. Middle School aged girls in their sleeveless sun dresses which they were constantly pulling up from the top, were tottering down the steep concrete aisles in their heels and makeup, but singing at the top of their lungs! I did, however, see many of them after their turn running around the amphitheater with cell phones on!
Four members of the piano faculty playing on two pianos . . . .The Star and Stripes Forever, which was played two different times in the program and always sets off loud, slightly off-beat clapping by the audience.
My favorite section. . . Chautauqua post cards. They showed up on a screen vintage postcards from Chautauqua. . . some from the very early 1900's, and then read the messages on the back. They were hilarious, and will make me look for Chautauqua postcards at antique shops from now on (shout out to Joan. . . .look for me!!!!). they were wonderful and very timely. Some of the messages very pertinent to today.
The event is used as a fund raiser for the Chautauqua Fund, because like all arts organizations (like the Kennedy Center, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Wintergreen Performing Arts Center. . .just to name those in my life) the entrance passes only cover a fraction of the cost of the place. Last night over 32,000 dollars was raised. A worthy cause in my book.
It was a great evening of celebration and tradition. I'm happy to be a part, albeit a new part, of this family.
But the most interesting aspect of First Night Week is the Chautauqua Scientific and Literary Society events. I know this sounds dry, but dry it is not. I'll describe this tomorrow.
In the meantime, I am attending classic movie night at the Cinema tonight. . . .To Have and To Hold with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Tomorrow night I'm seeing a play, and Friday night an Opera! Can't believe the time is rushing past.
Until tomorrow. . . . . ... PS - the speaker whose name I couldn't remember yesterday. . and who you might have thought was James Lipton, was in fact, Richard Brown from NYU.
This was a quote I heard this morning and the second one, more controversial, was: Traditionalism is the voice of the living dead!
However, sticking with quote one. . . . nobody does tradition quite like Chautauqua.
To that end, I'm going to describe the First Night program last night. Tomorrow I'll tell about The Oldest Book Club in the World and all that entails. It's too much for one blog!
First night is celebrated on the 2nd Tuesday in August, because the first year Chautauqua started it was a 2-week Sunday School teachers conference. . . .in tents! So in essence, this was a birthday party. I had never seen this program and it was something!
To begin with, part of Chautauqua is the Boys & Girls club. . . .which is open to kids from elementary school through middle school ( I think). Now in this day and age, the first thing I would say to myself is that middle school kids of today would not be caught dead in a Boys and Girls club that also includes elementary students. But the clubs have hundreds of kids in them, and they had opportunities to perform last night. Apparently for the club, there is an annual Air Band contest. . . which means that each group (the groups are organized by grade and gender. . . so Group 3 girls are third grade girls I think. Or else just the third oldest group. Air Band is a compilation of popular recorded songs around a theme - Last night the group 3 girls did one called Fruit Salad which had lip synching in costume to songs like Strawberry Fields, Blueberry Pie, etc. They were adorable, and the winning groups got to perform last night.
Memorable parts of the program:
The Children's school (age 2 years to about 5) marching up on stage with their homemade hats to sing Happy Birthday to Chautauqua and their special Children's school song. They had had an open house, bake sale and troll event to raise $600 for the Chautauqua Fund. There was the prerequisite waving to parents and "Hi Mommy!" from this massive stage. One little boy never moved a muscle and stood with his hands to his side, his hat having slipped down and covered his face. As they children left the stage you could see the counselors frantically counting them to make sure they had everyone! Priceless!
The count to see who had been at Chautauqua the longest. You were allowed to count a year if your mother had been here when she was pregnant with you. Believe it or not, by the end, THREE women were standing, each having attended Chautauqua for 95 years!!!!!! And they were standing!!!
The count to see how many generations were represented in individual families. These are generations, living or dead, who had ever attended Chautauqua! Two families won with eight generations! I am such a newby here!
The most people from a state contest is always between Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Not surprising, New York won.
Several performances by the winners of the Air Band contest. But even more impressive, after the children came forward, the Boys and Girls club kids came down the aisle exhuberantly singing their theme song to the tune of On Wisconsin. Middle School aged girls in their sleeveless sun dresses which they were constantly pulling up from the top, were tottering down the steep concrete aisles in their heels and makeup, but singing at the top of their lungs! I did, however, see many of them after their turn running around the amphitheater with cell phones on!
Four members of the piano faculty playing on two pianos . . . .The Star and Stripes Forever, which was played two different times in the program and always sets off loud, slightly off-beat clapping by the audience.
My favorite section. . . Chautauqua post cards. They showed up on a screen vintage postcards from Chautauqua. . . some from the very early 1900's, and then read the messages on the back. They were hilarious, and will make me look for Chautauqua postcards at antique shops from now on (shout out to Joan. . . .look for me!!!!). they were wonderful and very timely. Some of the messages very pertinent to today.
The event is used as a fund raiser for the Chautauqua Fund, because like all arts organizations (like the Kennedy Center, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Wintergreen Performing Arts Center. . .just to name those in my life) the entrance passes only cover a fraction of the cost of the place. Last night over 32,000 dollars was raised. A worthy cause in my book.
It was a great evening of celebration and tradition. I'm happy to be a part, albeit a new part, of this family.
But the most interesting aspect of First Night Week is the Chautauqua Scientific and Literary Society events. I know this sounds dry, but dry it is not. I'll describe this tomorrow.
In the meantime, I am attending classic movie night at the Cinema tonight. . . .To Have and To Hold with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Tomorrow night I'm seeing a play, and Friday night an Opera! Can't believe the time is rushing past.
Until tomorrow. . . . . ... PS - the speaker whose name I couldn't remember yesterday. . and who you might have thought was James Lipton, was in fact, Richard Brown from NYU.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Chautauqua - Week 2 - Entry 2 - Finally!
Oh the internet woes! Since I've made it one of my goals to spend as few hours of the rest of my life as possible in the state of frustration, I just had to stop last night as the connection kept kicking out on me. I've carved out an hour this afternoon and found that sitting outside the closed library offers a great strong signal (aren't libraries wonderful?), so I will blog my little heart out! But understand if there are not daily entries.
Today I shall relay what I've been doing, and save the description of First Night (which is tonight and apparently very memorable) for tomorrow!
This week feels very different from the first week. New place to stay, new people to meet, new routine. I'm not as connected to people this week for various reasons, but still it is a great time. Can't believe it's already Tuesday!
Considering that I'm having my gate pass provided for me by my duty in the choir, I got off easy this week. Since tonight is a special occasion, our regular Tuesday night rehearsal has been cancelled. We don't sing in church tomorrow morning for the same reason. And I won't be here on Sunday so I don't need to go to the evening rehearsals for that, but I probably will anyway. I feel like I'm cheating them, and maybe I can sit next to someone who needs help learning the parts. . . the weekend choir invites anyone to participate, and some of the people are not regular singers elsewhere. The director chooses pretty challenging music.
The theme for the week is Movies. Yesterday and today were absolutely memorable in terms of who we've heard speak so far. I'm having a fit because I want to tell you the first lecturer from yesterday who was fabulous but his name has flown out of my head. But he is a famous film professor at NYU and has had a program on A&E where he interviews actors. He has interviewed EVERYONE from Katharine Hepburn to Jimmy Stewart and absolutely everyone else. He was hilarious and so fascinating with his stories. And then last night we had An Evening with Ken Burns. What an amazing, gifted, articulate, brilliant, nice man he is. His new documentary series which starts on PBS on Sept. 27 (how come I can remember that?????) is The American National Parks. We got to see a 14 minute clip of that. When you consider the wide range of topics he has covered in his legendary documentaries (Baseball, Lewis and Clark, The Civil War, etc. etc. etc) it's hard to believe how prolific he has been. And he has many new exciting projects in the offering. Ken Burns is truly a man who has put the notion of "I Can" into action.
This morning we heard the actor Matthew Modine who was sensational. What is really cool is how choked up all these famous people get when they step into the full amphitheater to speak in this legendary setting (I have now used the word "legendary" twice. . . .this is a first I think). Matthew Modine was just quite simply adorable. He seems quite smitten with his wife of many years, so I guess stalking would be in bad taste. He had wonderful, colorful stories about his theater studies with Stella Adler in New York, as well as movie making experiences.
For my class this week I'm taking "handweaving" which is basically weaving on a loom. We finished the second class today and I'm well on my way weaving a sort of a dish towel. The class got off to a slow start yesterday, and I had my doubts, but now that we're working, it's lots of fun. I'm totally a "process" person. I don't really care what I make as long as I'm trying out the skill. Loom weaving is very complicated in terms of set up, but relatively simple once you get to actually weaving. They have all the looms set up, so this would not be a skill I could take home and continue doing without more instruction and equipment. I'm rather famous for getting totally excited about my new art form, buying all kinds of supplies, and then losing interest. I'm thinking back on all the supplies I have at home for making fishing nets from several years ago!! I'm kind of glad this one will be impossible to go home and spend my life savings on! But I will be happy to have a "product" at the end, and the class is offered every year so I could do it again.
I've worked out in the gym three times already! My cute trainer, George, gave me a workout to do and I've stuck with the program. Also, by working out every day, I can shower at the gym and not wait in line at my house! The payoff for all this working out is really showing. I sat in the bleachers for three hours at that demolition derby and never got tired. I used to get tired arms from applauding too long. . . no more! All this grunting and groaning is paying off.
So stay tuned for my description of "First Night" which promises to be pretty funky and mildly strange. In a nutshell, First Night is the Chautauqua birthday party since the first year the place opened was on the second Tuesday in August, 135 years ago. Here at Chautauqua there is a huge amount of reverence for the past, and they take opportunities to follow traditions that are over 100 years old. Needless to say, some of those are not in keeping with current times. But that's one of the reasons to be here. I'll try to get up here tomorrow to fill you in. . .however here are some teasers: think candles, think ancient rituals, think brass bands, think dropped handkerchiefs, think men in costume carrying giant keys. Now aren't you curious?????? RP
Today I shall relay what I've been doing, and save the description of First Night (which is tonight and apparently very memorable) for tomorrow!
This week feels very different from the first week. New place to stay, new people to meet, new routine. I'm not as connected to people this week for various reasons, but still it is a great time. Can't believe it's already Tuesday!
Considering that I'm having my gate pass provided for me by my duty in the choir, I got off easy this week. Since tonight is a special occasion, our regular Tuesday night rehearsal has been cancelled. We don't sing in church tomorrow morning for the same reason. And I won't be here on Sunday so I don't need to go to the evening rehearsals for that, but I probably will anyway. I feel like I'm cheating them, and maybe I can sit next to someone who needs help learning the parts. . . the weekend choir invites anyone to participate, and some of the people are not regular singers elsewhere. The director chooses pretty challenging music.
The theme for the week is Movies. Yesterday and today were absolutely memorable in terms of who we've heard speak so far. I'm having a fit because I want to tell you the first lecturer from yesterday who was fabulous but his name has flown out of my head. But he is a famous film professor at NYU and has had a program on A&E where he interviews actors. He has interviewed EVERYONE from Katharine Hepburn to Jimmy Stewart and absolutely everyone else. He was hilarious and so fascinating with his stories. And then last night we had An Evening with Ken Burns. What an amazing, gifted, articulate, brilliant, nice man he is. His new documentary series which starts on PBS on Sept. 27 (how come I can remember that?????) is The American National Parks. We got to see a 14 minute clip of that. When you consider the wide range of topics he has covered in his legendary documentaries (Baseball, Lewis and Clark, The Civil War, etc. etc. etc) it's hard to believe how prolific he has been. And he has many new exciting projects in the offering. Ken Burns is truly a man who has put the notion of "I Can" into action.
This morning we heard the actor Matthew Modine who was sensational. What is really cool is how choked up all these famous people get when they step into the full amphitheater to speak in this legendary setting (I have now used the word "legendary" twice. . . .this is a first I think). Matthew Modine was just quite simply adorable. He seems quite smitten with his wife of many years, so I guess stalking would be in bad taste. He had wonderful, colorful stories about his theater studies with Stella Adler in New York, as well as movie making experiences.
For my class this week I'm taking "handweaving" which is basically weaving on a loom. We finished the second class today and I'm well on my way weaving a sort of a dish towel. The class got off to a slow start yesterday, and I had my doubts, but now that we're working, it's lots of fun. I'm totally a "process" person. I don't really care what I make as long as I'm trying out the skill. Loom weaving is very complicated in terms of set up, but relatively simple once you get to actually weaving. They have all the looms set up, so this would not be a skill I could take home and continue doing without more instruction and equipment. I'm rather famous for getting totally excited about my new art form, buying all kinds of supplies, and then losing interest. I'm thinking back on all the supplies I have at home for making fishing nets from several years ago!! I'm kind of glad this one will be impossible to go home and spend my life savings on! But I will be happy to have a "product" at the end, and the class is offered every year so I could do it again.
I've worked out in the gym three times already! My cute trainer, George, gave me a workout to do and I've stuck with the program. Also, by working out every day, I can shower at the gym and not wait in line at my house! The payoff for all this working out is really showing. I sat in the bleachers for three hours at that demolition derby and never got tired. I used to get tired arms from applauding too long. . . no more! All this grunting and groaning is paying off.
So stay tuned for my description of "First Night" which promises to be pretty funky and mildly strange. In a nutshell, First Night is the Chautauqua birthday party since the first year the place opened was on the second Tuesday in August, 135 years ago. Here at Chautauqua there is a huge amount of reverence for the past, and they take opportunities to follow traditions that are over 100 years old. Needless to say, some of those are not in keeping with current times. But that's one of the reasons to be here. I'll try to get up here tomorrow to fill you in. . .however here are some teasers: think candles, think ancient rituals, think brass bands, think dropped handkerchiefs, think men in costume carrying giant keys. Now aren't you curious?????? RP
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Chautauqua, Week 6
Okay, so I'm back in Chautauqua. But I'm not going to write about Chautauqua. . . yet. Maybe tomorrow.
Because sometimes you get to do wild wacky things that have to be commented on. . .and this is one of those times.
Also. . . .questionable internet connection like last time. . . so I'll save, save, save and hope for the best. If this is my cross to bear in life, what a wonderful life I am having.
I finished up my obligations at the Wintergreen Music Festival. The festival is finishing up today, Sunday, and it was a total success. I plan to do the same job next year if they will have me. I dropped Chester at camp, and of course waited until Friday morning to pack, so the house is a disaster area for when I get home. Some things never change.
I left for the Pittsburgh area to stay the night with my friend Sandy whom I met during week one. We have lots in common. . .both are piano/organ/choral people, both have two boys, both live on houses with property and horses next door, etc. etc. etc.
So now to begin the story. . . .
When I took my sons to Seaworld in Florida when they were little boys, we decided to go see the Shamu show. The amphitheater where the show took place was pretty full by the time we got there. But low and behold there were some wonderful seats right down close to the front. We could hardly believe our luck. Those of you who have been there are already laughing! Well, soon the show started and it did not take long for it to become clear why those seats were empty. And the people in the crowd, who shared the secret, got a great deal of joy at seeing the three of us get completely drenched as Shamu splashed us! And when I say drenched, it was, I think, possible to be literally drowned during the process! I was wearing contact lenses and it was a miracle I did not lose them in the force of the water. However, my eyes burned from the salt water for the rest of the day. Needless to say, I would know better than to sit there if I ever went back! And I would be as smug as the rest of the audience was with us as I watched some neophyte take those seats.
There's a reason I related that story. Sandy took me, along with her son and a friend, to my very first Demolition Derby!!! I was totally on board for this. I love new experiences. I even had the forethought to dig through my bags and get out my Big O and Dukes shirt, knowing that there would HAVE to be someone in that crowd that had listened to Chad's former show streamed on computer. I was certain that if I strutted around in that shirt that someone would eventually come up to me and ask me about it. And then I would have the pleasure of announcing that I was Mama Dukes! This did not come to pass however, because very shortly after arriving at the muddy field that was the venue, Sandy suggested I don the waterproof poncho she had provided for me. This made me a bit nervous, especially when I saw people sitting in front of us that were unrolling large rolls of plastic and sitting behind them. I suspected another Shamu event, but this time with mud instead of water.
So here is this large field with at least 6-8 inches of extremely juicy mud. It was into this quagmire that the first event began. On to the field, one at a time, drove the most unbelievable excuses for motor vehicles that you could imagine. Most of them seemed to be held together by paper clips. The noise was deafening as they came on to the field one at a time. By the time the flags went down, the squeal of the wheels and the roar of the engines was like what it must be like to having a tornado bearing down on your house. And then came the mud as the accelerators of all those cars were smashed to the floor, every car in reverse, at the same time. We all had to literally leap behind our plastic, ponchos, or whatever as the blobs of mud came pelting through the air, plopping down on everyone within range. Anyone who has ever read the Dr. Seuss book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck (my favorite DR. S book) knows what the situation was. And I had no idea how funny that would seem. All I could do is laugh and laugh and laugh. Watching these cars slam into each other was amazing. And the noise of the engines was so loud that you could not even hear any noise from the crashing itself. When the "match" was over, there was a long period of time to allow large pickups to come out and tow the "dead" cars out of the ring. It was amazing and fun and I suspect slightly dangerous for all concerned. Every once in awhile a car would catch fire and the race would stop while firemen came running on the field to extinguish the flames. If any event could be characterized as the Anti-Chautauqua, this would be it. What a great, muddy time. I only regret that my Big O and Dukes shirt was not visible, because I KNOW Chad had some fans in that arena.
After the derby, Sandy and I went back to her house and played piano duets and drank wine. I have literally not played piano for about 5 years, but the more wine we drank, the better the playing sounded! What a treat to be able to make music that way. For a piano player, at least this piano player, this is Nirvana! Huge shout-outs to Sandy for a great time.
I had gone two nights with not enough sleep when I arrived here, so I was semi-catatonic on my first night. I'm staying in a small room, shared bathroom situation in a different house than last time. But I'm all moved in, I had about 9 hours of sleep last night, and I've already sung in a rehearsal and church this morning. It's great to be back. I did my strength training at the gym this afternoon, and I am re-energized and ready for the week. Stay tuned for more news from Chautauqua! RP
Because sometimes you get to do wild wacky things that have to be commented on. . .and this is one of those times.
Also. . . .questionable internet connection like last time. . . so I'll save, save, save and hope for the best. If this is my cross to bear in life, what a wonderful life I am having.
I finished up my obligations at the Wintergreen Music Festival. The festival is finishing up today, Sunday, and it was a total success. I plan to do the same job next year if they will have me. I dropped Chester at camp, and of course waited until Friday morning to pack, so the house is a disaster area for when I get home. Some things never change.
I left for the Pittsburgh area to stay the night with my friend Sandy whom I met during week one. We have lots in common. . .both are piano/organ/choral people, both have two boys, both live on houses with property and horses next door, etc. etc. etc.
So now to begin the story. . . .
When I took my sons to Seaworld in Florida when they were little boys, we decided to go see the Shamu show. The amphitheater where the show took place was pretty full by the time we got there. But low and behold there were some wonderful seats right down close to the front. We could hardly believe our luck. Those of you who have been there are already laughing! Well, soon the show started and it did not take long for it to become clear why those seats were empty. And the people in the crowd, who shared the secret, got a great deal of joy at seeing the three of us get completely drenched as Shamu splashed us! And when I say drenched, it was, I think, possible to be literally drowned during the process! I was wearing contact lenses and it was a miracle I did not lose them in the force of the water. However, my eyes burned from the salt water for the rest of the day. Needless to say, I would know better than to sit there if I ever went back! And I would be as smug as the rest of the audience was with us as I watched some neophyte take those seats.
There's a reason I related that story. Sandy took me, along with her son and a friend, to my very first Demolition Derby!!! I was totally on board for this. I love new experiences. I even had the forethought to dig through my bags and get out my Big O and Dukes shirt, knowing that there would HAVE to be someone in that crowd that had listened to Chad's former show streamed on computer. I was certain that if I strutted around in that shirt that someone would eventually come up to me and ask me about it. And then I would have the pleasure of announcing that I was Mama Dukes! This did not come to pass however, because very shortly after arriving at the muddy field that was the venue, Sandy suggested I don the waterproof poncho she had provided for me. This made me a bit nervous, especially when I saw people sitting in front of us that were unrolling large rolls of plastic and sitting behind them. I suspected another Shamu event, but this time with mud instead of water.
So here is this large field with at least 6-8 inches of extremely juicy mud. It was into this quagmire that the first event began. On to the field, one at a time, drove the most unbelievable excuses for motor vehicles that you could imagine. Most of them seemed to be held together by paper clips. The noise was deafening as they came on to the field one at a time. By the time the flags went down, the squeal of the wheels and the roar of the engines was like what it must be like to having a tornado bearing down on your house. And then came the mud as the accelerators of all those cars were smashed to the floor, every car in reverse, at the same time. We all had to literally leap behind our plastic, ponchos, or whatever as the blobs of mud came pelting through the air, plopping down on everyone within range. Anyone who has ever read the Dr. Seuss book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck (my favorite DR. S book) knows what the situation was. And I had no idea how funny that would seem. All I could do is laugh and laugh and laugh. Watching these cars slam into each other was amazing. And the noise of the engines was so loud that you could not even hear any noise from the crashing itself. When the "match" was over, there was a long period of time to allow large pickups to come out and tow the "dead" cars out of the ring. It was amazing and fun and I suspect slightly dangerous for all concerned. Every once in awhile a car would catch fire and the race would stop while firemen came running on the field to extinguish the flames. If any event could be characterized as the Anti-Chautauqua, this would be it. What a great, muddy time. I only regret that my Big O and Dukes shirt was not visible, because I KNOW Chad had some fans in that arena.
After the derby, Sandy and I went back to her house and played piano duets and drank wine. I have literally not played piano for about 5 years, but the more wine we drank, the better the playing sounded! What a treat to be able to make music that way. For a piano player, at least this piano player, this is Nirvana! Huge shout-outs to Sandy for a great time.
I had gone two nights with not enough sleep when I arrived here, so I was semi-catatonic on my first night. I'm staying in a small room, shared bathroom situation in a different house than last time. But I'm all moved in, I had about 9 hours of sleep last night, and I've already sung in a rehearsal and church this morning. It's great to be back. I did my strength training at the gym this afternoon, and I am re-energized and ready for the week. Stay tuned for more news from Chautauqua! RP
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