Articles from: 2013

I’ve been back a month, and sure enough I’m starting to get itchy feet… but I am determined to try and stay put this time. (finances also play a large part…)

My new home (which I LOVE) is coming together slowly – trying hard to keep the clutter to a minimum (figuring out where and how the shelves will go is testing my carpenter’s patience) – and I am continuing to slowly prep both the Monteverdi and the Brecht/Eisler pieces. Spent the day with Karin last week doing Strangers And Other Angels – what a great and diverse group of people, all willing to freeze their asses off for the sake of really telling a story… Had a fabulous Mr. Wau-Wa gig at Barbes, one of our best – I so love that repertoire, and those musicians (Doug, Kenny, Marcus, Rinde), who do it better than anyone, anywhere… and it was a vintage Thanksgiving up in Nyack, with only 17 at table, the core group plus a few new (lovely) girlfriends – so happy to be back in the fold…

Sis Diana is struggling valiantly with a solo menorcan winter. We both have a large dose of the “grass is greener” syndrome and “what have I done?” doubts but also, hopefully, some wisdom, after this much time on the planet…. We are both determined to see this phase of things through, where we each are, and see where it gets us… I’m going to throw my solstice party for whoever is still in town, and thank my lucky stars for being one of the fortunate few…

It’s been two years since I started this, and I think I’ll sign off for now… be well, make music, perform random acts of kindness, and live in hope…

Back to winter… snow flurries in the city as I flew back yesterday, quite the contrast… luckily I spent the weekend in london where it was rather chill and dreary so I had a little warning…

Menorca remained beautiful until after I left… such a gift… great walks – some known, some unknown – swimming in the limpid water off Cavalleria, even Galdana (no tourists), hiking the Cami Reial to S’Algendar – the occasional evening fire to warm and dry the house, and much great work on the finca. The greatest of all was the final clearing of Mateo’s shanty town out back, including the remains of the old plastic greenhouse, emptying the pigsty, and removing all the old well pipes – 4 great truck loads of porqueria went to the dump – hallelujah… the four of us – Diana and I, Sebastian and Miguel (and Miguel’s truck) wrought miracles in my last two days. I thought “if I stayed another month I could really clean up the finca” but then it was only because I was leaving that we got it done… meanwhile the house is warm and snug, the fire laid, the carpets down, and I hope diana hunkers down for the winter… god speed…