Conquering Vertigo

notes from the grove 7-8-07

A couple of weeks ago we went to the opening of the Stern Grove concert season.
Outdoors in a natural canyon-based ampitheatre in San Francisco -- happy times.

We went with the Rudds, dog, children, lots of picnic goodies. The gopher from Caddyshack kept popping up in front of Bryn, hungry for the nasturtiums. A moment of bliss -- My head was on the dog, the baby Killian was on my belly, husband and friends nearby, some champagne being popped while the band played on. Then Killian wanted his mom, and Bryn wanted the gopher. But still, being left with Richard, Rudds, champagne outdoors... not so bad.

At one point, Judah (3-yr-old) said, "Mommy, what's that?"
Sniffing, Mommy said, "That's marijuana, honey."
Then we realized Judah was pointing to the gopher.

We went back yesterday to hear the symphony play. Arrived early and nabbed a great spot. Watching people in silly shoes sliding up and down the hills (sometimes almost into us) reminded me of a youth trip I sponsored about ten years ago. Behind the wheel of the newest church van, armed with the church credit card, two cell phones (thanks, Harry C) and tons of brio, I set off for the Jesus Go Fest with a dozen very cool teenagers.

Picture Woodstock with praise and worship music, in the red clay of East Texas. We pitched our tents, we set up our stoves, and we went off to the increasingly slushly mosh pit in front of the stage. Throughout Friday night and Saturday, the rains came. Saturday morning, we stood on a hill in slickers, taking bets and cheering while Volvo station wagons tried to get up and down the slippery red roads. I can hear us now, "Turn, turn, now floor it! GO!" And then the Volvo and its dispirited occupants would slide back down to the bottom. Really, it was cruel.

I thought of that wet red hill at Stern yesterday, as chick after chick tried climbing in 5-inch stilleto heels, while guy after guy lost their flip flops. Thousands of people weathering sun and fog, steep hills and gophers, pot and holes. This is my paean to the indomitable human will -- outdoor concerts in the summertime.

posted by Woman In Love @ 12:17 PM