Reunion with My Old College Housemate the Protest Singer

[cookie]

WOW!

I just had one of those cool reunions that you never knew would happen. Out of the blue a couple weeks ago, my first off-campus housemate (who goes by the name of Catherine Moon) called me up and said she was coming back to town for a gig. I haven't seen her in at least 12 years---maybe more. I don't know.

Catherine Moon and I were good friends. We used to hang out when she lived on-campus. We ran with the same general party crowd of jazz and rock musicians. She studied voice at the music school, but wasn't one of the big-voice major divas. I don't even think that music was her major. For some reason I think she was a Religion or Politics major. I'll have to ask her to remind me. She gave me my first tie-dyed dress ever: a gorgeous Not-Fade-Away rainbow starburst sundress. She introduced me to Joan Armatrading, Pentangle, and really got me deep into Joni Mitchell. We used to play in drum circles and stuff. We went to some political lectures and rallies. And we spent many many nights talking about music, politics and spirituality. The summer after my *first* senior year, she found a great house off-campus and invited me to share if I wanted to.

It was a great old Ithaca house right at the end of Cascadilla Street. It was sort of built into the gorge and you could hear the waterfall in the creek at night. The first night I moved in, we heard folks drumming in the gorge, grabbed some pots and pans and a flute and went to join them. Welcome to Ithaca.

When I met and paired-up with James, our paths diverged somewhat. We would go out to parties, concerts, and gatherings before the children, but after that---well, we had to take care of our kids. Catherine Moon moved out to the country, though we'd run into her once in a while. And eventually, she moved out of the area and we lost touch entirely---until she called.

Anyway, I went to her gig tonight and WOW! First of all, she looked great---really healthy and strong. Second, she *sounded* great. Her musicianship has grown so much since the times we used to hang out and sing Dead and Dylan songs. And third, SHE HASN'T SOLD OUT.

She was in town for a BUSH MUST GO fundraiser (she opened for a New Jersey band called the New Patriots). I didn't stay to hear them, but HER music was overtly political and she didn't mince her words (that's okay, I liked them. Somebody NEEDS to sing against injustice and corporate greed. She also addressed current issues in direct, plain, forthright language. There was no attempt to "artify" her opinion and her questions). And she sang from her gut with real passion and soul. Her voice has grown full and colorful---better than I remember her ever singing. She also played some interesting and attractive rhythmic and harmonic ideas. She could have been singing "Bush/Cheney forever" and I probably still would have enjoyed the music.

We didn't have much time to talk because her little boy (not quite 2) was on the verge of melting down. I did get to meet her husband Josh who is a jazz guitarist. We're hoping to meet up tomorrow, but *I* have a gig so it may be tricky. Still, I at least have her phone number and I've found her website, too (http://www.catherinemoon.com) and I plan to *stay* in touch this time. I really missed her and had thought of her from time to time, but just didn't know where she was or what she was doing. Well, now I know and am extremely happy for her and happy for me that I got to hear what she's doing!

I just thought it was so cool. Does anyone else have any stories of getting back together with a friend you thought you might never see again? Like I said, I had missed her, but you know, you just get hung up in your own life and you lose track. I never imagined when or if our paths might meet again. Well, now's the time!

Happy, happy, joy, joy!!!

[GoodSpeak]

Sometimes Life is Grand, ain't it?

Originally Posted by cookie

Does anyone else have any stories of getting back together with a friend you thought you might never see again?

Yup.

Gordon Goodwin.

Gordon is a childhood friend of mine who heads up Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and has three Emmy's from his Disney daze.

I linked up with him a couple years ago and it was like we never parted. It was an amazing thing. I still keep in contact with him via e-mail and hope to see him again soon.

Another childhood friend of mine, who is a sought after lighting technician for Hollywood sets and I linked up at our HS reunion a couple years ago, too.


Problem is...seems like every one of my old friends is making it big, except me.


Oh well.

[jesus marion joseph]

Several years back I received an alumni directory from my undergrad school, and I looked up my old friend Steve, who, last I knew, was living in Cincinnati. Turned out he was just about to move back to Massachusetts, so we made plans to have dinner at his place and catch up. We've gone hiking every year since then. We have compatible temperaments, so it's fun to hang out. He's the guy who wrecked our rental car in Arizona.

Anyway, Steve had married his college girlfriend, who was from Cincinnati (hence the move). Turns out her family is loaded, and, believe it or not, Steve didn't find out about it until she turned 30 and received a hefty trust fund. Steve came from a very blue collar background, but I'm happy to say that the $$ haven't gone to his head.

In fact, he was telling me how he turned down his mother-in-law's efforts to give him a gift of $100,000 because he didn't want her to feel like he "owed" her any favors (apparently she likes to use the money to "influence" family members and events). He told me this story when we were hiking in Sedona. I told him that, in all honesty, I don't know if I could have done the same thing. I probably would've just taken the money and never spoken to her again (kidding). He also refused her offer to pay his law school tuition. I'm gonna hafta see about getting myself adopted or something.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

We have compatible temperaments, so it's fun to hang out. He's the guy who wrecked our rental car in Arizona.

There it is.

Reading this thread inspired me to send an e-mail to one of my old college roomies whom I haven't seen or talked to since 1985. Watch for further developments.

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

In fact, he was telling me how he turned down his mother-in-law's efforts to give him a gift of $100,000 because he didn't want her to feel like he "owed" her any favors (apparently she likes to use the money to "influence" family members and events).

Yeah, I'm definitely impressionable that way.

Over the last few years, I've tried to find old school friends using the Internet. I managed to locate one friend who was a Navy anesthesiologist now in provate practice in Dallas, where he's dating an ex-Cowboys cheerleader (this is the guy who turned me on to Pink Floyd and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow). Another friend of mine is a journalist in Washington, DC. I haven't hooked up in person with these folks, but they were pleasantly surprised when they found a greeting from me in their email.

I think it's very important to keep in touch. I have a dear college friend who I speak to once every 2-3 years but when we do it's always worthwhile.

Even better: look up an old teacher.

[cookie]

Thanks for your stories. I'm sure you all understand my joy!

GG: I think you're right about looking up a teacher. Out of the blue this summer, I ran into an old family friend who was also a guidance counselor at my high school. I was assigned to the other guy, but Mr. Fields always looked out for me. He and his wife were instrumental in providing music instruction at our church (his first wife was the choir director and my very first piano teacher. She taught me to play and sing "Moon River" in addition to hymns). I grew up with his sons, one of whom is now the band director at my old high-school. Mr. Fields used to drive me to a lot of band functions. Anyway, HE helped me out a lot. He was well-trained, well-read, and enjoyed word play. He also talked to kids like they were people.

Anyway, I went up to the store when I was at my father's house and he and I pulled into adjacent parking places at the same time. How weird is that? Well, in a small town, it's not so strange, really. I later found out that it was indeed strange happenstance.

He looked wonderful! Very healthy and remarkably little-changed from the way I remember him. He has a full head of hair and excellent complexion (he was always very health-conscious and was one of the first people I knew who joined a food cooperative and baked whole-grain bread for his families and friends--us included. I admit, his appearance made me think that maybe he's onto somethin'...). We caught up with each other---his sons are both musicians. One lives in the area; the other in Massachusetts. He asked after my parents and I introduced him to James and my kids.

It turns out that our meeting *was* rather serendipitous because he no longer lives in town, but rather about 20 miles away. He was back in town for the celebration of the town's bicentennial. He and his wife were to lead a singalong of old-timey favorites. "I just wonder if they're too old for anyone to remember" he said. I remember him leading similar singalongs when I was a kid and he knew some doozies. I loved the song about "Sweet Sixteen she goes to church just to see the boys/ She turns around and giggles at every little noise...." which was irreverent and fun. I wish I could remember the song. It was a wicked pissah (saw that phrase on another thread and it's just the bon mot here). I wish that my plans had allowed for me to have gone to the celebration.

I also wish to contact my old debate coach. I spent alot of time with that man and he taught me SOOOO much. The cat essentially taught me to write. I used to babysit for him. We went to TX together when I won State Extemp.
But it's hard to find a guy named Glenn Robert Smith. I've tried Glen, I've tried Glen R.,I've tried GlenN R.----nothin' solid. I've asked around and nobody's quite sure what happened. I believe he left teaching and became a lawyer. I know he was in N.H. for a while, but other than that....no word.

I also miss and regret not taking the time to visit Mr. Lawrence on my last several trips to Maine. He was THE single most important person in my education. I think I've talked about him before. He was never my classroom teacher, but he always took an interest in feeding my mind and soul. When I was in the 2nd grade, he brought a marching-band shako hat to our classroom and said, "I think you'll enjoy wearing that and imaginging things." In 3rd grade, he encouraged me to learn the Gettysburg address. He served as a teacher at all levels of education and in several schools throughout the district. He'd be a principal for a while and then go back to a classroom for a while. He gave me a Billie Holiday songbook and played her records for me. He encouraged me to join the debate team and to participate in drama. He too encouraged my writing and singing. He helped me form a path in life. He's the one who got me to think about college as a child. He's the one who told me to go out of State for school. The man was never my teacher, but he was certainly one of the most gifted educators I have ever met. Many, many, many other students felt the same way. He had a way with even the hardest cases.

Now he's the first selectman of my ancestral town (he replaced my grandfather who held the position for over 25 years). I read about him online in the local paper, but I just haven't hooked up with him in a few years.

My college roomie's coming over for breakfast tomorrow! Yay!!!!

[Ron Thorne]

Thanks for an absolutely delicious thread, Cookie!

[GoodSpeak]

Have a cup of coffee on me, OK?

[Deke]

I went to CDStreet from that website, and when I clicked on the track 'How long?' I got what appears to be the intro to 'Can't turn you loose' by some soul band.

Shum mishtake, shoorly?

Update: I just tried 'Let freedom ring' from the CDBaby website and got the same thing. That player (Noatun) seems to be obsessed with that track, but apart from the fact that it's being downloaded from 'Ioma' I have no idea what it is.

Anyway, I'm using Xmms now and it's playing fine. Someone spike up a doobie. I'm on my way...