Maggie, what a beautiful post. I gave me chills the entire time reading it. Thank you for your full-time presence this year -- your relaxed smiles are equally as delicious as your culinary contributions the previous years. Also, how great that your beloved was with you I really enjoyed meeting Alex! What a tremendous experience for you both to share together!
Love, Claud > > Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 15:55:30 -0400 > From: "Maggie McNally" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Another lasting JoniFest impression (now NJC I guess) > > I don't know, there was something wildly decadent about being in the > lush beauty of those Catskills -- even if we did have to break a sweat > to go there. And yes, Smurf, there were mountains...the real kind. > Next year, you're leading the trek. > > I have yet to gather my thoughts in a coherent fashion, and have not > posted anything of substance because others are doing such a fine job of > it, but each of us had our own experience of the time and many of us are > left speechless by the magic (there's that word again) of the weekend we > just lived. I have tried to understand what made it so very, very > special, and where it came from. > > One thing I know for certain, it didn't come from nowhere (how's that > for a double negative?) In the beginning, Les begat the JMDL, and Wally > begat JoniMitchelldotcom, and it was good. And one by one the > passionate ones found these sites, and crossed from one to the other, > and lo it was good. Then JulieZWebb opened up her heart and home and > invited people to leave their screens and keyboard and travel on down > (up, over) to Pennsylvania, and lo, it was very good. But, neither > Ashara nor Maggie made that trek, and they were sorrowful when they > heard of the good times had by those who did. And Ashara, wise, brave, > motherly Ashara said, whaddayathink? And so the first New England > Jonifest was born, with the team of Chuck E., Ric, Heather and > KatyfromtheCape all doing their part to make it happen, and to make > Ashara feel safe in bravely opening up her heart and home to all who > would come. And come they did -- some 25 strong. And each year, more > would come. Some came each year, some came one year but not the next. > It was about music, amazing, beautiful music. But it was about more, > and with each passing year it became more and more clear that it was > about community. > > Now we are a tribe, gathering where ever and whenever we can. We laugh, > cry, fight, fall in love, support, reprimand, respect and share the joys > and sorrows that life dishes out. > > This year built on the experiences and expectations of each of the > previous years, but a few things made it even more special. Full Moon > made it more special - the setting, the opportunity to all stay together > (more or less), and the people who staff it. Could they have been more > perfect? I think not. > > The marriage made it more special - that doesn't happen every day in a > family, you know. I'm just waiting for the next step of our family > having a baby (not you, Mags -- I heard you loud and clear!!! lol!!!!). > The exponential growth of people who have found each other through JMDL > and one 'fest or another and are not letting go for anything, that adds > to that "bubble of love" as my colleague back at work called it (she > gets it!). I was there with my beloved for the first time, so that gave > me an extra measure of love, but I know that I would have felt it > regardless. > > At dinner at Ric's the other night I asked Chuck, Ashara and Roberto for > their personal highlights and they were remarkably similar. Mine? > Started with the first note on Saturday night and peaked with the song > circle. As a non-performer I was sitting outside the circle (not that I > wouldn't have been made to feel welcome), and observed and clapped and > sang (out of tune, of course) and smiled, smiled, smiled and turned to > Bob Muller and said, "I am in love with every person in this room." > Yes, magic. A spell was cast, and I'm still under it. > > I send you all my love - even though I mostly lurk, my heart is with you > and I thank you for the hugs, the laughs, the songs, the smiles. My > mouth is aching from the smiles and breaking from the separation. > > Maggi
