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Where to begin … so many thoughts, such a diversity of experiences. 10 days in Connecticut, starting in my hometown of Southington with a Reading & Conversation at the Calendar House. This is the robust Senior Center that was known, back in the day (waaay back in the day) as the Town Farm, mentioned in my story of “Dingaling”, the beggar who gave me my first book of poetry, A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. The Reading & Conversation was spirited and lively, engaging some 20 people including three of my classmates from the Class of ’57! How I love being able to interact with an audience of my peers who snicker and chuckle, sigh and tear up in all the right places! I was happy to donate copies of both my books to Calendar House’s little Lending Library and look forward to corresponding with some of those readers. I’ve been invited back to lead a memoir workshop and will be giving that some thought for 2023.
Except for time spent with family (my sister and brother-in-law and their daughter and grandgirls, along with my two remaining cousins and their all-grown-up kids) the most delightful local surprise, perhaps, was my instant connection with the folks at the Southington Community Cultural Arts Center (SoCCA). Meeting first Jhenea, then Diann, James, and Robert, was like resuming a conversation with old friends! Learn more about them here. What a wonderfully creative, energetic bunch of innovators! I’m hoping to see some of them on this Sunday’s “Speaking of poetry and …”
I was immediately enamored by the Center’s current exhibit (watch Free Will) of Ukrainian Art and ethnic crafts brought here by a courageous group of women artist refugees who managed to successfully flee the Russian invasion in February. The exhibit coincided with the beautiful poem featured in last week’s “Inspirations” by Kateryna Kalytdo, Home is still possible there… And then, as if that wasn’t enough, they have ongoing “All Access Art” led by the program’s beloved director, James Brunelle, who instantly invited me to sit in on a class. I did and I cannot begin to describe the energy in that room, except to say how lovingly it tied together all the pieces of my September Elegy piece from two weeks ago.
Special needs? Special gifts? Who’s to say? It is obvious that these folks love what they’re creating! And last, but not least, because of my “Southington Native” status, the Gift Shop is now carrying both my books, which I deeply appreciate. Needless to say, if you’re in the vicinity of Southington anytime, I suggest you treat yourself to a visit.
» Read more about Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA)
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Next I went to Ridgefield, where my old high school friend and fellow writerly rascal, Barbara Traynor, had put together a little gathering of delightful women from her community, again a lively gathering of my peers who chuckled and hmmnnned in all the right places. I’d love for some of them to join our next round of online “Where Our Writing Takes Us” playshops, ready to start up again in 2023.
On the second and final weekend of my visit, Southington was overtaken by the start of its 50th anniversary Apple Harvest Festival featuring historic Apple Fritters from that very Zion Lutheran Church I’ve written about, the traditional pie-eating contest and of course, The Parade. It was, as are all parades for me, both stirring and nostalgic. I liked seeing more diversity in the food carts, more people of color in the marching bands, and I couldn’t help but appreciate that the “Something For Everyone” group came right after “Jesus is Still the Answer”.
I’m grateful for my sister & brother-in-law Nancy & Sal Rizzo’s warm and generous hospitality. It was lovely to watch the parade from their sidewalk table fully equipped with a bottle of wine, delicious hot chocolate & a bag of fresh, warm apple fritters. Southington continues to grow and change and I hope I get to return, maybe next summer to help celebrate my high school sweetheart friends Lea & Buddy Porter’s 65th wedding anniversary.
And finally, upon returning home, I was gifted with a two-day visit from my adventurer son, Bill, returning to Texas from his second gold-mining summer in Alaska’s Bering Sea.
With a full heart, I wish us All a Good Week.
