18 years old! November 1st! Nadine sat on the living room couch and opened a box of beads from Erek and Kate -- a variegated cascade of assorted beauties, including some utilitarian, some silvery, some whimsical, some completely outrageous. It looked like Kate had gone gloriously and ecstatically wild in the bead store, exuberantly expressing love for beads, beauty, and Nadine all at once. None of this was lost on a very happy Nadine.
Nadine responded with glee when I presented her with a miniature Canon camera, the same type as she'd coveted when seeing Erek's and later when Erek surprised me with one of my own for my birthday. This surprise had involved more work and angst than I'd anticipated -- the "convenient" online order process had been full of time-draining snafus. But it was all worth it.
I lost count of the times I sang Happy Birthday at random moments.
Big brother Raymi was going to be coming up from Pittsburgh, but he was sick and didn't make it. He was very much missed and Raymi sounded very sad on the phone; However, he would visit later in the month, so at least we'd see him.
THEATER EXPEDITION WITH TLC
Nadine had a big day. She was going with her friends from TLC (Teens Living with Cancer) to see Push Theater Company's production of Dracula plus other dance-acrobatic-theater pieces at Geva. They are truly amazing. They had worked with the TLC "kids" on the Journeys production, and were going to meet the "kids" in the lobby.
To mask or not to mask was an inevitable question the theater. I was for masking; Nadine didn't want to mask, insisting that she'd be sitting with careful people whom she knew. Finally I gave in. She happily joined Leah from TLC and went inside. They all had fun.
Afterwards we drove off to Webster for Nadine's big birthday benefit.
NADINE'S BIRTHDAY BENEFIT
The benefit was amazing!! In addition to being fabulous music from people we love, It brought together people from many of our "worlds", classical music, traditional music, homeschooling, contra dancing, hospital, close friends, new people I hadn't met.
It was conceived by the members of Crowfoot, the wonderful band that Nicholas Williams is in. Nicholas is a wonderful traditional flutist from Quebec and was one of Nadine's first flute teachers; we have heard him and his band since, and Nadine has sat in with them.
Ralph and Judy Hunt, organizers of the Heartland folk concert serious, graciously organized the entire benefit -- they found the venue (Harmony House), made posters, baked food, publicized it, the whole thing. When I went to pick up the gorgeous glossy full-color posters including pictures of Crowfoot and Nadine, Ralph invited me for dinner and when I didn't stay, he sent me home with a wonderful loaf of his home-baked bread. Posters got put up around town by them and by me.
On the way there, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset over Route 104.
There were many people, glorious music, getting to see the Crowfoot people, Nadine visiting with Nicholas Williams, the wonderful flutist from Crowfoot who had done so much teaching her and now was doing this benefit.
The benefit brought together people from so many of our "worlds" -- classical music, folk/traditional music, hospital/medical; homeschooling; contra dancing; and others.
Sophia, Nadine's classical flute teacher, quipped that she wondered why Nadine did classical music when it was so much easier for her to do traditional music and she already was accomplished.
In the intermission I introduced Nicholas and Sophia, two influential, wonderful teachers of the two different genres, and got a photo of Nadine with them.
The room was full. Many other friends came as well -- the -- all the Thurstons; Brian, Rafi and Doriel Pryntz-Nadworny; Jessie the visiting nurse; Lauren Sample from RAHA; Susan Basu, the manager of the RPYO; people from RAHA, the Rochester Flute Association, Sue Klassen, Betty Wayman, the man who sang Autumn Leaves at the Golden Links songswap; Bob and Ron from the Rochester Contra Dance; John Wobus from Ithaca;
When we arrived, Ralph and Judy were setting up; Ralph had baked gorgeous pastries, teeshirts with a hand drawing of the band and a photo of Nadine were there; Ralph gave me some delicious soup, which I ate so eagerly that I burned my mouth.
We were given a beautiful glass vase with a ribbon on it and some hearts in the bottom, with some gifts from the Ithaca contra dance.
I was asked to introduce the band -- getting up there, I talked of gratefulness, to everyone, the wonderful band, the beautiful friends, and Ralph and Judy of Heartland, that the name Heartland certainly suited them.
And the music!!! From the moment Crowfoot was setting up and checking the sound, I was awed by the beauty, the interweavings of the flute, accordion, violin and guitar, the way they blended yet each instrument sounded individual and beautiful; the warmth and expertise and flow of the sound. The concert itself was amazing -- I didn't want it to end. Jaige, the violinist, sways like a willow when she plays; Adam crafts each guitar sound with care and energy; Nicholas is so glorious at his flute with his warm, rich and rhythmic pulse that has always been a huge inspiration.
Afterwards, we stayed and visited with people, and Nadine and Adam had a nice relaxed visit. After that, back home and to bed.
The benefit was so wonderful -- it did raise needed money, but even if it hadn't raised a cent, the gift of the music, the friends, the warmth, the love, made it an outstanding and enriching and moving event. What a gift!!!!!
And afterwards, it was back to the house, and to much-needed rest.
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