What a wonderful week I have had. Three occasions of meeting people face to face and maskless. Monday I rode the bus and walked through downtown Santa Rosa to the Glacer Center to meet my friends of the Older and Bolder Ladies, women who have reached their 80th year. We realized that when we were all vaccinated we could meet in person instead of zooming twice a month. What a joyful experience to see people in the flesh after a whole year of isolation.
Then a friend of mine, another member of the percussion section of the New Horizon Band, stopped by for a conversation, in my apartment, maskless. We covered most of the year talking about our experiences during the shutdown, bringing ourselves up to date and considering how the group could reunite and play together again.
And because I was ready and my dear friends were finished with their vaccinations I arranged a dinner party. I fixed a Spanish flavored rice and chicken dish containing flavorful and spicy Jalapeno peppers. Friends brought the a green salad with shrimp, an apple pie with a crumb topping and a sauvignon blanc to accompany the rice. After dinner we played Up Words, a type of scrabble game. We were back. Back to sharing our stories, our joys and sorrows, our experiences as we go through life.
I shared my pictures made of fabric that I made to illustrate a story about a docent led hike through the Bouverie Preserve at Glen Ellen. Here is a sample. It will be a print book and ready for publication this month.
Chlele Gummer, Author & Artist 