It was no contest. This doll has been beaten down, but they're still here. Head held high. In your face attitude. This doll is a role model to dolls and humans alike.
I asked if I could take a photo. We talked about peace for a bit. She and her friend set up around town with their violins and their sign. She said, "It's a small thing we can do." They've been peace playing for a few years now. Come to find out, there's always more violence to play over.
I heard her music from my car window on my way home. Well done.
Forget you ever read that. I've probably jinxed it now. Another bad decision on my part. Why do I do these things?
Moving on quickly....
We went to our 200th Lotus Festival this weekend. I bought the festival t-shirt that has a sea turtle on it. I love sea turtles, but why a sea turtle? We may never know. We saw musicians from India, Mali, Pakistan, Canada, Ukraine and Virginia. Usual drill. Some we loved more than others, but I'm not going to lie---the festival overall pleased us greatly yet again.
I know you've all been waiting, so here it is...
This year...the 2024 LeewayLotus Trophy goes to....USTAD NOOR BAKHSH and his amazing benju wizardry.
Born into a shepherd family in Pakistan, Ustad became obsessed with the benju at age 7. He apprenticed with a benju master at 14 who had his same name, but was no relation. After decades of playing around, doing his thing, anthropologist Daniyal Ahmed searched him out and made some music videos. These went viral. Now Ahmed is Ustad's manager and Ustad plays all around the world. Ustad, age 79, now supports his extended family. They recently added running water and a bathroom to their residence. California friends, maybe you caught Ustad at Hardly Strictly?
By the way, the official name for the benju is bulbul tarang, which means "waves of nightingales." The benju evolved from a Japanese instrument, probably brought around the world by Japanese sailors, called a Taishōgoto.
The Taishōgoto was developed in 1912 by the musician Gorō Morita in Nagoya. He came up with the idea of combining the mechanics of a typewriter with an instrument. (wikipedia) Well done Goro!
In an attempt to avoid working on dreaded report cards, I've spent time reading about Ustad's home province of Balochistan this morning. Balochistan, you might want to work on your literacy rate. Not good. Just saying.
I'm probably listening to Ustad's EP as you read this. You can learn more about Ustad here and listen to some of his music if you feel like it.
Congratulations, Ustad, and don't be a stranger! Your birdsongs are always welcome here.
The Shakers got their start in England, but Ann Lee (Mother Ann) and 8 other Shakers arrived in the colonies before the American Revolution. Besides celibacy, they believe in pacifism, racial and gender equality, economic cooperation, dedication to the land, and the sanctity of labor. Not crazy about the celibacy or crazy work ethic, but other than that, I'm mostly all in with Shaker principles.
The westernmost Shaker village, called Busro, was in Southern Indiana. Issachar Bates and a few other Shaker missionaries walked to the midwest recruiting Shakers along the way. Bates, a poet, was known as "a merry singer of ballad tales."
The Shakers lived in Busro, (later renamed West Union) from 1811 to 1827. Revolutionary War veterans and free Black people were among their numbers. Like movers and shakers of today, they had their share of troubles in their new home. They were on Indian land, so the Shawnee weren't thrilled. War of 1812 brought William Henry Harrison and his soldiers with their belligerence and violence. Hoosier neighbors distrusted and persecuted the Shakers. There were earthquakes and tornadoes. In 1827, the Shakers cleared out of Indiana.
The Indiana Shaker site is now owned privately with only a historical marker to honor the hundreds of brave idealists that tried their best to bring Shakerism to the western United States. Kudos to the 2 Shakers and their outer family supporters who stay loyal at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village. If you're a teacher in Maine, don't forget that this is a great site for an interesting, fun field trip.
For everyone else, enjoy this snippet of Shaker song, featuring Frances McDormand.
I attempted to lighten up at afternoon meeting on Thursday and told a hilarious anecdote. At the conclusion of my tale of comic brilliance, the 3rdLanders erupted into such a clamorous din of screaming and rolling around on the floor that my apple watch signaled excessive decibel levels in my immediate environment. With prolonged exposure, I could suffer hearing loss.
Geez Louise.
I hope we can all settle into the supportive, thriving community we know from movies such as To Sir With Love, Good Morning Miss Dove, Dead Poets Society and School of Rock. I do see a few glimmers of hope. At the very least they appreciate a well told tale. Also, we'll have cooler weather this week.
ps: If you want to check out Mitzker's travel blog, you should. Her photos of the wildlife in South Africa are incredible.
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| Venetian Port, Chania |
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| Minaret - Rethymno Mosque |
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| Nazi bombing of Crete 1941 - Rethymno |
Athens has been wonderful in some ways, challenging in others. Let me explain.
We got caught up in the airline shutdown fiasco of '24, and did not arrive to our Athens hotel until 2:30 in the morning. We had ferry tickets for the morning so we hardly slept that first night. We got to the ferry on time, but a British man named Nick sat next to us and talked non-stop. Lucky for me, Husbandman, with his superior conversational skills, dealt with Nick while I applied laser focus to my book.
We loved Hydra. There are no cars allowed on Hydra. Some people use donkeys. We chose to walk. We found a beautiful place for swimming and mocktails where we lounged for a good long while. We had no water shoes, so we had to walk across burning stones to the sea whenever we wanted to get back in the water. Imagine a bed of hot coals. After swimming, we headed to a delightful lunch spot on a shady terrace overlooking the port. Greece gets high points for veggie friendly, tasty food items. I love the food here.
We've had our ups and downs, Athens, but I'm not mad at you.
And we will return.
But not in the summer.
Antio kai efcharisto!
The heat has been a challenge, but Husbandman and I have figured out how to do the right amount of stuff each day so that neither of us gets heatstroke. Our hotel has a pool, so a late afternoon swim has been part of our routine.
The food has been another challenge. I'm a vegetarian who will eat a shrimp or an oyster if placed right in front of me. Rarely, but yes, I do it. (Please don't kick me out of the vegetarian club because of this. Cut me some slack why don't you?) Seville serves a lot of fishy fish that I do not care for. They mostly serve a ton of meat products. They are big on meat here. Meat prepared every which way.
Croquettes are also frequently on the menu. I loved the veggie croquettes we ate at Elsa and Fred, but, come to find out, most croquettes are meaty. Ever hopeful for the possibility of veggie croquettes, I asked a waiter at Pasaje about them. He replied haltingly, "They are filled with.... how would you say it.... it does not sound good.... but it is good...they are filled with blood."
Blood. Seriously?
Seville, we loved our time with you despite the food issues. You're super friendly and beautiful.
Adios and gracias! On to Athens.
We've been staying in the Born area of Barcelona with narrow cobblestone streets and secret passages. Centuries old stone buildings and shady plazas.
Have been noticing a lot of strolling happening around town. Especially after a late dinner of tapas. It's as if people didn't have a care in the world.
I'd like to do more strolling of an evening when I get home, but I would prefer the Bloomington strolling to be more like Barcelona strolling where I'm with hundreds of others and I'm not walking alone down 1st Street on my way to Bryan Park like I'm the sheriff in a ghost town.
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| Hoagy Carmichael lived here when he was a kid. He wrote 100s of songs and 50 of them were big hits. 4 of Hoagy's songs are among the most recorded songs in history. And yes, he was born right here in our town and is buried over in Rose Hill Cemetery. I walked by his house while taking my 5th history walk of the summer. |
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| On a meandering walk south of campus I came across this eye-catching mural which I believe is new. I've never seen it before and I've walked next to my dentist's office a bunch of times. I'm sure I would have noticed it. Bloomington is really upping their mural game. Keep it up, B-town. Way to support #publicART! |
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| Wednesday Surprise: Music at The Elm with John Raymond and Jeremy Allen |
As you can see from these photos, I've been traipsing around town doing my best and forgetting the rest.
Mitzker and I were happy as all get out to see John Raymond and Jeremy Allen playing music at The Elm when we popped in for dinner on Wednesday evening.
I know of these two jazz cats because a). Jeremy Allen was #1 Son's spectacular bass professor at Jacobs School and b.) John Raymond, also a Jacobs School professor, played his tremendous trumpet with #1 Son at a Jazz Kitchen show last year. I also have a sweet connection to a younger member of the Raymond fam.
On our way out after a delightful dinner, I stopped to take a photo of the players. A couple nearby gestured me over to their table. "Ma'am, ma'am," the man whispered as I was walking by. I leaned toward them and he said, "The bass player is our son."
I felt a chill, a zip and a zing. Their pride was palpable and so was mine when I gushed back, "Well, YOUR son was MY son's teacher. We are very fond of YOUR son. He was so good to our son Quinn who is now... a bass player...in Asheville North Carolina!" I ended my gushing with a flourish. The mom clapped her hands. The dad said, "That's great, that's great."
Mitz and I said adieu and then I floated off to my car, happy about my membership in the PPBB-- short for Proud Parents of Bloomington Bassists. This serendipitous meetup made me think of the Metropolitan Diary pieces that NYT readers send in about their walks around town. Then I remembered this blog and decided that writing about it here could work just fine.
FYI: Jeremy Allen and John Raymond will be playing at the ELM on Wednesdays through July. You should see them if you feel like it.August Klintberg, 2010 Meet Me in the Town Nell had 3 tickets for a history tour in town, but at the last minute Kendall and Abbie turned t...
