From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #1516 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Thursday, October 4 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 1516 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Hejira to Madeira (Ruby Lake) - Anita's Tale (quite long) [Anita G Subject: Hejira to Madeira (Ruby Lake) - Anita's Tale (quite long) Leading up to the Ruby Lake expedition, there was a JMDL thread about what people might say or not say if they met Joni. I said I wasnt going to plan but try to be there and trust what came. As I have alluded to already, I am not sure that I did a very good job. After the 10 hour flight to Vancouver and on the way to the Ruby Lake, I began to ask myself more and more why I was going and what for? The owl had called us to go to the Lake. I was concerned as I knew some of the beliefs about Death associated with their call, so I did wonder if it was to say good-bye. Whatever had made us decide to go, I thought I would buy some sunflowers for Joni and we stopped in Sechelt and shopped. I wanted to give Joni something that she might enjoy, at least for a couple of days and flowers seemed a good idea. On seeing Joni the next day, I was delighted to see that she far from dead was, in fact, very much alive and not far off kicking. When we first arrived at Ruby Lake and met the Cogrossi family and all the staff, they could not have been kinder or more helpful. We noticed a signed, framed print of Taming the Tiger hung on the wall of the restaurant, along with a poster advertising one of the Joni and Bob Dylan concerts. It was a very good place for us to land. Giorgio loved the story of the owl calling us to go to Ruby Lake. He told us that, on Jonis 60th birthday meal held at the Lake, she had released an owl that Aldo had rehabilitated. Joni had stroked the owl for ten minutes or so before releasing it and it flew up on to the Italian flag pole where it sat for a long time before flying away. Steph, with her usual dry wit, said I dont think it was the same one. Giorgio had mentioned that day on an email that he would be choosing some folk to go and pay tribute to Joni at the end of the event , but I had an idea that he knew whom he wanted to do that job, so I thought it unlikely Id get a chance so I decided I would write something to give to her. After all, wed gone all that way, so I might as well try and find a few words. I wrote Joni a card and taped it to the sunflowers. The card said: Dear Joni In case I am not one of the fortunate ones to be called up to pay you a tribute, this is what I wanted to say: Eleven nights ago an owl screeched at my window more or less telling me to cross the Atlantic and come to Ruby Lake. Now I know why. In 1968, when I was 14 years old, my brother Michael came home from a concert in London. He said he had seen this Lady Singer he thought I would like and he promised to buy me her first album, which he did. 44 years later, I can tell you that for me and countless others, Joni's music has been the soundtrack to our lives, supporting and challenging us in equal measure. The owl has brought me here to give me the chance to say thank you Joni for finding words for me when I had none. Bless you, and may your road be always charmed. With love Anita x The next day, the day of the gig, the weather was really grim. Grey, heavy drizzle and cloud made visibility really poor, but Steph and I ventured up the amphitheatre where the event was to be held and, even in the greyness, it was magical. We breathed it all in and decided it would be good to see if we do anything to help out, but, although there must have been tons to do, Giorgio and Aldo didnt assign us any tasks, so we spent a really fun afternoon with Phyllis and Bob making lanterns out of paper bags to light at the amphitheatre. It was one of those things where you find yourself with people who are good at art and your own efforts look like those of an untalented three year old. Honestly, Phyllis and Bob were turning them Mothers out as though Banksy or Picasso were related to them. There were lanterns that said JMDL and I have seen a beautiful close up photo somewhere of Bobs (or was it Phylisss?) Hejira to Madeira. A majestic lantern! We were joined by Pearl, Cassy and Laura and we sang, drank tea and made more lanterns. The laughter and fun of that afternoon is one of the great memories I will cherish. Five oclock came closer and the sun came out! It was an astonishing turn around. The JMDLers had been given a table outside overlooking the lake near to where Joni would be having her meal. We had a drink and near six, Joni arrived. When I first saw her, she reminded me of images painted by my friend Carolyn Hillyer. Carolyn painted a series of circle of thirteen archetypal grandmothers and Joni could have been one of them. Although these images of grandmothers arent available on line, if you scroll down through her and her husband, Nigels, work, to the Northern Sisterhood of Drums you might get the sense of her paintings and the drift: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&suggest¬e_id=134070774102 People started moving up to go for the wonderful barbecue of organic, wild sockeye salmon and prawns with salad. The JMDL group were invited to join the queue for food. Steph said to me I must go and get my camera to photograph this beautiful fare. She was gone for some time and then rushed over and excitedly said You must come now, you must come now. Im with Joni It transpired that Giorgio, who seemed to really like Steph, had grabbed her by the hand and introduced her to Joni. It was then that Steph said ' Joni, I am so pleased to meet you, but my friend likes you more than I do' When Joni laughed , Steph said 'I didn't mean it quite like that, but can I go and get her?' and Joni said yes, of course. So Steph grabbed me and we went back. It was Steph who took me to Paris when I first met Joni and it had been Steph that took me to Edmonton when I met Joni again and here she was this time introducing me TO Joni! Joni commented on how far wed come just to be there and I was about to embark on chat when Steph said ' Come on, Anita, you have always wanted to tell Joni what she means to you. Nows your chance. I remember starting to say pretty much what I had written on the card  about my brother coming home from London, that I was fourteen, hed bought me her first album but then everything is blank. I don't remember anything else. Not a single word. Not even a glimmer .. There is absolutely nothing in my memory whatsoever until Joni took my hand and said 'Isnt this a beautiful place?' And I kept saying 'Yes it is......it is very beautiful I felt a wee bit mesmerised. Joni looked around, took a breath and quietly and slowly said again This is such a beautiful place. Steph, Joni and I talked a little about how we planned to do some walking and bird watching and then my time with Joni was finished. I dont quite know what happened. I dont remember much of it, but Steph tells me that I said more or less what I said on my card and that I did take my chance to thank her. However, the experience of meeting Joni has left my bones telling me that the present really is all we have. Everything happens in the here and now. I am no longer 14. 1968 has gone. I wanted to be fully present with Joni and I wasnt. Joni simply was presence. ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #1516 ****************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------