Saturday, November 27, 2010 — Better than I expected

Another hurdle crossed. Thanksgiving came and went and we had a really good time. Many toasts to Skip and to all attending. We had thirteen people Thursday night and the same on Friday evening. Thursday featured a beautiful turkey with way too many side dishes and Friday we did turkey Penang curry with leftovers and salad. Lots of good conversation, wine and the most artistic chocolates Karen Urbanek has ever shown us. A grid of one eighth inch high tiles made from two different formulas that only Karen could describe. They were designed like tiny one of a kind tiles with imagery so similar to some of Jenny's latest abstract paintings I had to pull Jenny away from a deep conversation and drag her into the dining room before anyone disturbed this perfect chocolate arrangement. They were incredible. So much for the dietary restraint I had been so good about lately. All to the wind. Karen is as much an artist with chocolate as she is with silk. Bravo and thank you.

I can't overstate the gratitude I feel for the unconditional love I receive from my family. Along with good friends, they are directly responsible for my level of sanity. I don't think I could cope with the loss of Skip without their caring attention. By coming here and spending this holiday with me and a few good friends, they have made a serious contribution to my health. Dear ones, thank you. I love you for everything you do to keep me in touch and functioning through this time.

Mike had a gig this evening so he, Chuck and Jenny left after breakfast. Kathy and family were determined to have lunch at Viraporn's Thai Cafe before heading back to Trinidad. That also was a huge success, including Larkin's bravery in going for the "spicy hot" designation of his grandfather's favorite lemongrass soup with coconut milk. Let's just say, the world stood still as we all watched for him to take his first spoonful.

As we were preparing to leave, the rains became torrential with something resembling a waterfall just outside the north window of the restaurant as the water cascaded down a tall green fern. The sky was dark and we were ready to run for it to get to our cars. But just while we opened the front door, the sun burst out and a vibrant double rainbow appeared in the northern sky. Unbelievable! Skip was blamed for orchestrating the whole show, we kissed goodbye and drove off as the sky again became dark grey. When I turned north on Highway One, the whole rainbow appeared again and I drove home peering at wondrously contrasting clouds with a huge grin on my face.

All in all, it was a good few days. Tomorrow I will play boule again as I managed to do last week, and try to resume the journey into the new normal. I know I can do it. It's just the alone time that makes the doubts creep back into my head and heart. But I followed the happy mood when I returned home and made myself go on line to book my ticket for Mexico in January. lt's done now and I'll be down there for six weeks. Sandra will live here and keep our dogs happy and cozy. That will be a huge tonic for me as it always is. After the workshops in El Tuito, some of us are going to travel by bus to Mexico City where our Maiz tapestries will be shown and then we'll go by bus to Oaxaca. I'm thrilled about that. I've never been there and I know it is a weaver's paradise beyond compare.

Monetary crises abound. The Mendocino Art Center is in the worst budget crunch they've ever experienced and big decisions are pending. Please help if you can. The Star Aquatic Center in Fort Bragg is conducting a last ditch pledge drive to save the center from being forced to close. I finally decided to make the requested monthly pledge for a year. Won't you all try to do the same if you possible can? Pacific Textile Arts is actually in the best shape of all. Our pledge drive has been very successful though we still need a bit more than expected because of the sudden edict regarding fire sprinklers for our buildings. Please send your donations or the pledges you have already made to: Pacific Textile Arts, 450 Alger Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. If you can't remember how much you pledged, email info@pacifictextilearts.org and we'll get that figure back to you immediately. We need to bring in all of our pledges within the next two weeks. And we thank you with all our hearts. Remember, if you'd like to see photos of our youthful weavers who will benefit so greatly from our project efforts, just go to: pacifictextilearts.org. You will also find pictures from our latest Japanese braiding workshop with Makiko Tada on the website.

If it sounds to you like I'm beginning to get back onto my galloping horse, it does to me as well. Love you all. Abrazos.