hi all-- So, as i'm typing that email to victor for his fabulous fecking birthday, it occurs to me once again, that i have not posted re: jonifest this year, which is a terrible shame--NAY, a crime against the list, an inhumanity. so, i'll put some words to e-paper... it was amazing, although i was distracted throughout for reasons not necessary to disclose here unless you already know me or were accosted by me and my picture parade of the quote unquote boyfriend quote unquote.... anyway, after a few days in new york city, i felt like i needed a vacation from my vacation, and was more than glad to meet my old/new friends paz, jules, kay, and jack. the ride up was adventurous and beautiful, and full of old friends getting right back into a groove that doesn't really end...just gets temporarily suspended until you meet face to face again. full moon was, as previously expressed, nearly perfect. i didn't get to see a black bear, but it wasn't for lack of trying and uncle john & claud filled in with their hugs which quite made up. food, great, digs, great, complete with BIG FECKING BLACK ANTS which only came around because our dresser was like the bar at CBGB's circa 1978 after a blondie performace...sticky, and covered in unidentifiable substances that might have been alcohol, orange juice, veuve cliquot, cranberry juice and (thank god!) natural light... i guess before i get too rambly, i should say thank yous. to ashara, whom i love and respect so deeply, thank you for having the dedication and commitment to bring us all together once again. and to do it with such grace and patience, and even want to do it again. i love you, as does anyone who meets you, i suspect. seriously, thank you. it was unbelievably good to be able to hang out with my old pals and dear friends, patrick, kay, nyc represent. thank you all for being so good to me. so, i can't get into how good it was to see everyone i know and love, and you all know who you are anyway, so i just want to acknowledge some folks that i met this year that were so amazing, and this includes but is in no way limited to...mona, whose bottle of wine i was always more than happy to open and share, marian, who is as amazing as everyone says, and so open and kind and talented, and thanks for indulging my jonatha request even though i forgot the lyrics (!), walt, another amazing heart to share, barbara little, i wish we had more time to talk!, and everyone else... and of course to all the listers i know and love, les, thanks for accompanying me and for indulging me in my singer fantasy. and to jimmy for making the trip despite all odds, and for letting me finally meet your beloved ed, who i of course instantly fell in love with, and john and bette, an unbelievable duo, and jody and victor for just being who you are, and the les-couch crew, who i didn't get to spend enough time with, and cindy vickery, just as funny and smart in person as you would expect, and see, now it's just a stream of consciousness thing. so i'll end it here, and know that if i didn't say your name here i'll be slapping my forehead later. i love you all, and i know i'll see you all next year. and that, my friends, is a comforting thing. love, alison e. in slc on my way to panguitch, utah, (no shit) for some camping and mountain biking. New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com
