Sandra Nielson
Sandra “Sandy” Nielson is at it again! She is planning a Valentine’s Day celebration, “Love Notes” at the Oysterville Church. It will involve music (Of course! Happily, everything Sandy does involves music!) as well as stories and love letters – ‘notes’ of music and ‘notes’ of words. And, also typical of Sandy, many familiar locals will be featured center stage.
Besides the fact that I love the idea of a Valentine performance at the Oysterville Church, I especially like what Sandy shared with me about why the idea occurred to her. “I always loved Valentine’s Day when I was a little girl – making the Valentines, passing them out at school, and then the magical time when you saw the pleasure on your friends’ faces when they opened their cards.” She said that the day has continued to be special for her into adulthood, but now that she is alone, she wants to recreate that specialness in a way that singles as well as couples can enjoy.
The program will take a look at love through the ages – from Biblical times forward and through the eyes of people well known in literature and the arts. Included, also, will be excerpts from the love letters of historical figures such as Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Beethoven and Woodrow Wilson and the thoughts and words of our own Peninsula neighbors.
As she described her idea, I couldn’t help but think how mutual friend Diane Buttrell once characterized Sandy to me. “She is great at birthing ideas!” And, in fact, the Bayside Singers, “Shoalwater Shenanigans” and now “Love Notes” are just a few of her creations in recent memory. She has served as organist for the Oysterville Music Vespers services, has been involved with several PAPA productions and is especially adept at encouraging the participation of many locals and showcasing their talents.
Included in the upcoming program will be Barbara Poulshock, Teresa Goodwin, Christl Mack, Bette Lu Krause, Char Sutherland, Frank & Nancy Logan, Rich and Frances Makowski, Joyce Wingett and Pete Hanner, Rita Smith, Nyel and Sydney Stevens, Terry Arnali and Sandra, herself. The readings will be interspersed with music by featured vocalist Allison Wils-King of Gearhart, Oregon, accompanied by pianist Barbara Bate of Ocean Park.
I encourage everyone to make a note of “Love Notes” – February 14th, 2:00 p.m. at the Historic Oysterville Church.
Rats! Wish we would have known before we made other plans for that night! What a wonderful idea. Sounds like she’s the mother of ideas!