Monday, October 12, 2009

Winter's first chill Fall's last offerings





I am in school again after a long summer of adjustment after 10 years in the Bay area. I have made new friends and renewed old friendships. I am singing more now after two years away from the gigs with Nikki and the girls culminating with our trio of me Jenny Lane and Nikki. In those two years I got the rare opportunity to play hard jazz with a very great man and artist, Vince Wallace. I am not sure if I will ever play with him again, though I wish to always be "ready for NYC" if the call comes to me.
Yesterday,I rode my bicycle out to the Umatilla River. There is a new park there built since my father died in 1995 which was the last time I spent much time here. On the edge of the river in the park there is a grove of nettles, yes, stinging nettles, the kind that makes welts if they get to sting you. I collected a large bag of leaves for tea and for cooking and a smaller bag of aerial parts for my daily tonic for rhinitis.
I also finally decanted a St John's Wort/olive oil tincture I started the summer with after gathering dancing and singing as I picked the herbs and the wild flowers halfway through a 20 miles bike ride. I would later put the wort in olive oil and leave in the sun to make a soothing ointment for the frigid months ahead.This summer I also gathered and prepared tinctures of yarrow, mullein, dandelion, nettles,cactus flowers, astragulus, and burdock.
The roses and all the flowers not under the eaves have started to wilt. I have one rose I have covered with 5 buds still not opened. The last rose to open was so beautiful. It's in the kitchen by the sink right now. Two cabbages I nursed all summer finally started growing in earnest in late August. I have them covered but I am not sure if there will be much more growing to be had as the sun gets lower on the horizon.
I am now playing in three musical groups, karaoke jazz with a brass guy, a variety band of 5 and a country rock band of 6, all with the same brass guy. Not Vinnie Wallace but at least its indoors and more than once a week. Having my family back for better or worse is fine. They know me,and so far, haven't filed papers on me. I have a place to practice and a place to play. What more could a guy like me ask for? Good medicine and good friends to listen. I am grateful for all these things.Did mention I wrote one new song? I had forgotten about it. It was on my trip to SF after the long summer.
Riding my bicycle through the Haight was enough to inspire "The Goddess is Here!"
I am getting beter. Not that there aren't some challenging days, but I have laughed again for the first time in a long time.
Someone wants me healthy. Their wish in mine also.
Namaste.