From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #1517 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 1517 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: JMDL Digest V2012 #1516 ["Gary Hanick" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 09:26:56 -0700 From: "Gary Hanick" Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2012 #1516 What a beautiful story and how fortunate you are!! Sent from my iPad On Oct 4, 2012, at 9:18 AM, "JMDL Digest" wrote: > > 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 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 17:14:52 +0100 > From: 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 > ------- ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #1517 ****************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------