Hugs Across the River and Back

The Liberty Theater, Astoria

“The world is too much with us, late and soon…”  Those familiar words of William Wordsworth’s, written in 1802 have been rattling around in my head these past weeks and months.  Not quite in the sense that Wordsworth wrote them, though.  His sonnet criticizes the world of the First Industrial Revolution for being overly absorbed in materialism and distancing itself from nature – a situation he considered endangering our humanity and spirituality.

Although I say “amen” to that viewpoint, my own take on the world right now is that it is conspiring to overtake me and my honeybunch, personally, in accidents and illnesses and dire, almost insurmountable disorder.  When that happens, one tends to lose sight of the bigger picture – never a happy or healthy happenstance.

Israel Nebeker

So… thank goodness for friends!  Right now, right when we need them, folks seem to be contacting us from every corner inviting, reminding, urging…  It’s the Astoria Music Festival and, though I hate to say it, were it not for our friends, it would have gone right by us!  We would probably have continued wallowing in our own little sea of troubles, oblivious to the joyous possibilities just an hour away.  For this, for everything, we are out of tune said Mr. Wordsworth.  Were it not for our friends, that could have been our story.

As sometimes happens, though, the fates merged yesterday when we received one phone call and two emails – all from disparate people/locations – focusing our attention back to the world of music that has arrived right at our doorstep.  First our friend Paul Brent in Seaside called inviting us to “Beethoven and Blue Jeans featuring Israel Nebeker” at the Liberty Theater next Thursday night!  Thank you and yes!!

Aaron Larget-Caplan

Later, an email from classical guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan, a friend and Oysterville House Concert performer, reminding us of his June 23rd performance at Clatsop College and a gig the following night at the Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.  The latter date was already on our calendar (for a wonder!) so I wrote and assured Aaron that we’d see him then!

And, finally, just before bedtime, a note from soprano Cameron Herbert that she and Helen Dietz (both of the Rose City Mixed Quartet, also House Concert performers) would be performing tonight at the Liberty with the Portland Symphonic Choir and could they come over for a visit between their 11 o’clock rehearsal and their 7:30 performance?  Oh boy and how!  She’ll be calling this morning to fine tune…

“The world is too much with us” has given way to “What a Difference a Day Makes” and I am rejoicing that Wordsworth’s gloomy words have suddenly been replaced by the upbeat voice of Dinah Washington.  And maybe Shakespeare too: “If music be the stuff of love…”  And wasn’t it Jackson Pollock who said “Love is friendship set to music”?

Well… there you have it!

One Response to “Hugs Across the River and Back”

  1. Stephanie Frieze says:

    Dear friends are such a blessing. Enjoy!

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