From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #1521 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 1521 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- RE: JMDL Digest V2012 #1517 - my Ruby Lake story [Susan Tierney McNamara ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 20:42:33 +0000 From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: JMDL Digest V2012 #1517 - my Ruby Lake story Welcome Deanna! Thanks so much for joining and adding your Ruby Lake story! I will visit your website. :-) Susan Tierney McNamara email: sem8@cornell.edu - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Deanna Knight Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2012 1:59 PM To: joni@smoe.org Subject: RE: JMDL Digest V2012 #1517 - my Ruby Lake story Hello Folks I am new to this list but not new to Joni and her magical musical journey. As a artist myself, she is by far my biggest inspiration and cherished songwriter. I was sad to see the first few posts on here and thought this might all be critics and gossip about Joni...her aging, songs that folks don't like or how she doesn't "have it" anymore. I'm thrilled to hear stories of Ruby Lake as I was also there and hope to read more and more of the good stuff. She is human and we all age... in body, mind and spirit, some more gracefully than others. Her jaw dropping body of work is stunning and she is not a human jukebox of hits. Nuff said :) I met Giorgio and the Ruby Lake folks back several years ago. When I heard of the dinner and film viewing (while eavesdropping in the grocery line) I dashed home to check it out. Seems I was 6 hours late as Giorgio had just posted on Facebook that it was sold out. I emailed, called and messaged to see if I could get on a waiting list right away. We waited patiently and on the Thursday night prior to the event, I left a sliver of light when I agreed to babysit a friend's daughter. I told her that it was slim but I MAY be going to Ruby Lake for a special event with Joni Mitchell. Seconds after hanging up the phone I got a call from the Resort saying I WAS IN!!! My husband and I were so thrilled...I was over the moon. We also prepared a card for her just in case we didn't get a chance to speak face to face. A beautiful goddess with a spiral dress that spun into thousands of butterflies. I hope she liked it. I package that up with a couple of my CD's as a thank you. Not sure she will give it a listen but I like the idea that she will. My solo CD is a healing journey more than anything and she was very much a part of that spiritual journey. I also met her just outside when she first arrived. I had thought long and hard of what I would say and just hoped to keep it together and not embarrass myself. I was resistant to approach her as she had just arrived and didn't want to crowd her right off the bat. \A friend took my full plate of food and pushed me toward her. I have met many "stars" in my life though I must say I was "star struck" I got through one sentence when my emotions surfaced and tears rolled down my cheek. She opened her arms wide and said "hug me" After one of the most grounding and memorable hugs of my life. I felt much better. My husband snapped photos with tears and all. Not the most glamorous photos but a moment I will never forget. We had a couple more nice conversations and I must say she is still very powerful, smart as a whip, full of life, charm and wisdom. She seemed in good spirits and good health. Even with the ENDLESS photo flashes she seemed to enjoy her interaction with fans. She is building another home on her land and settling in even deeper to the Sunshine Coast... where she spends half the year. She still pays her taxes in the US but says her heart is in Canada :) You can see some pics on FB is you want to track my fan page down. Hope this was not too long of a post but wanted to share my story. I had a very strong feeling I would someday meet Joni but could never have imagined such a magical Fall Equinox. With the gorgeous setting, huge bonfire and air infused with white sage and lavender, it was literally beyond my wildest dreams. Endless blessings to dear Joni Mitchell. D www.deannaknight.ca - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni-digest@smoe.org] Sent: October-04-12 9:28 AM To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #1517 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 - ------- ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #1521 ****************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------