Sunday, August 28, 2011 — Sad and joyful last words

I have to admit that I am sad to be bringing this journal to an end. But I have a strong tendency to follow my instincts and they tell me the time has come. So follow I shall. I am so indebted to all of you who have helped me from the moment Skip entered Sutter Medical Center, through those unbelievable next weeks and months and on to this moment. I will never forget all the thoughtful checking in and support that has come my way while my spirits were mending and working their way toward developing a reasonable perspective. Thank you all, family and friends, for the huge support you have given me over the last year. I owe my sanity to you and I love you all.

This beautiful, blue skied Sunday I have various choices of things to work on or go out and experience. Lolli is still in town and it is tempting to go to Mendocino and play boule in order to see her one more time before she leaves tomorrow for Seattle to resume care of her mother. She hasn't had time to see hardly anyone twice let alone three times, so it might just be too much for her to have me show up at the game. Kidding, Lolli.

I've decided to write this last entry and then go to Kelly House Museum in Mendocino and hear a little talk on the subject of the Tregoning family's history on the Mendocino coast. They evidently arrived in the area in the 1800s and have a long and interesting story of existence in Mendocino, Caspar and Fort Bragg. Since Greg Tregoning (nephew of Stuart Tregoning) was the builder of our FROG (functional rooms over garage), I have a personal interest in hearing a bit of the family lore. Should be an illuminating program.

Last night I went with friends up to the Westport Hotel for dinner and to listen to Peter Gealey and group. Base, drums and piano. Nice sound in that venue. A thoroughly enjoyable evening. We talked a lot about books we're reading or have recently read. Some good book trades to look forward to. I have read almost half of a book by a major force in the early conservative Christian movement, Frank Schaeffer. Sex, Mom and God. A thoroughly good rundown on the developments that have led to the present state of affairs in our country. Shaeffer is the real deal who participated along with his Dad and all the big names and who now feels free, and probably compelled to tell all. He's a really facile writer and has an unstoppable sense of humor. The discussions he used to have with his missionary mother while living in Switzerland will definitely keep you awake as she constantly refers to God's will and her husband's needs that must be satisfied every night of the week. Set this kind of revelation along side of all the hands on history of the Evangelical movement and you have a pretty interesting picture full of contrast. Certainly a fascinating read.

I'm going to pause here so I don't go too fast and get it wrong. Battery running out and time to head south for the history event. Back to finish this last entry in the evening at my leisure. Love you all. —The Kelly House event was very informal and quite interesting especially the questions and answers. It's amazing how many local families have actually been in this beautiful area for more than five or six generations. I am struck by how often it is through the female members of families that local history can be traced. Do you suppose that women have actually long appreciated living here a tad more than men?

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the Kennedy Publishing Co. to see if I would like to participate in a book on mixed media. They had seen my Corn Oblique and invited me on the basis of that work. I decided to accept the invitation and am including the pieces that I sent them in this last entry. It's the kind of work I'm hoping to get back to when the last of this Pacific Textile Arts building project is completed and we'll all be free to resume making art. Our Maiz exhibit is now on line within the American Tapestry Alliance web site. Go to exhibitions and then Maiz. The Tapestry Weavers West site is also coming along. Go to tapestryweaverswest.org and then Gallery to see some of our latest work. Jean Pierre and Yael are working their way up here from Berkeley Tuesday and will spend the night in the FROG. They will be driving up to Canada with the Maiz exhibit for one last showing in Parksville, BC. They'll also be doing a workshop and then it would seem that they'll be racing back in time to do a cutting off of their own work just after the middle of the month. Thinking of them brings a deep nostalgia for the ten years of their retreat workshops in El Tuito, Mexico that some of us have been privileged to attend. They won't be doing it this next winter and I hope having the time to themselves will mark the beginning of a whole new creative era for them personally. They have brought me so many special, poetic moments. I am deeply appreciative of that.

Tapestry Weavers West members will be gathering here for meeting and several days retreat at the end of September. Then, before I know it, The Kumihimo Festival will be gathering here with Rodrick Owen from Oxford, England for five days of concentrated Japanese and Peruvian braiding. I'll be making soups for that event as usual so I'm beginning to think about the menu. This is always a week to remember. Early next year I will spend a month in Oaxaca and several weeks in the Puerto Vallarta area, including Yelapa. I'm looking forward to that.

And so, Dear Ones, I could go on all night about how much you all mean to me, from my colleagues in Canada to friends in Mexico and every one of you friends and family in between. You've all helped me to navigate past so many obstacles and you've helped me to find my way to where I am now. I think I'm ready to face whatever lies ahead for me. I have so much to be grateful for and there's no doubt that I owe the biggest thanks to the lovely man I was privileged to share so much of my life with.

The blog will probably remain online for a short time longer. Wish me luck and please stay in touch. You are the reason that I'm feeling so healthy and willing now to face whatever waits for me around the corner. Abrazos to you all.