Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.
Having returned to the Valley a few days ago after a long flight, my wings are still sore. I thought I might point out a few of the things that I observed on my travels beyond the Valley and across the seas as being, in my humble opinion, noticeably different than here. This topic could be the subject of a lengthy book of course but for current purposes let’s just have a few of the obvious ones in a somewhat simplistic form.
Generally speaking, folks in the “Old World,” from whatever section of society or level of education, seem to have a greater knowledge of what is going on elsewhere in the world, culturally, socially and politically. The multi-cultural cities of the Old World have their issues of course, but overall there seems to be a genuine, deep, and successful intertwining of cultures; not the sometimes faux “happy melting pot” that I have been unconvinced exists over here. There is no place like Texas in the Old World, and that’s a good thing for the Old World. People of all ages in the Old World almost always say “Please” when asking for something (most folks here say “Thank you” of course, but a significant amount, mainly under 30, forget the initial “Please.” Maybe it’s not important anymore?). There is a darker side to the humor overall, and certainly a greater degree of sarcasm in the Old World. There is also a greater degree of self-deprecation than over here. The television quiz shows are most definitely harder there. Folks say they don’t know something if they don’t, while many folks in this country will come up with some kind of answer even if they are clueless as to the answer. It’s almost endearing, but isn’t. There are definitely more “jobsworths” in the Old World than here. These are the people who, when asked to do something a little extra or different, will refuse by saying, “I’d like to, but it’s more than my job’s worth.” While drinking alcohol is less than it was in the Old World, particularly among the younger generations, the imbibing of large amounts of beer in particular is still a mainstay of the socializing culture for many. A functioning “alcoholic” over here is a chap who “just enjoys a good drink” over there. Such a person would not be called an “alcoholic.” There are too many cars driving on streets that are too narrow in the Old World. Far too often the excuse for inefficiency in the Old World is that “we are short-staffed,” rather than the truth: “We can’t bothered.” The quality of tattoos is very poor in the Old World, and yet it has become a very common sight among the younger generation, and far more women are displaying them than over here. People over there are generally far less garrulous, forthcoming, and chatty, unless you provoke the conversation in the first place. Then sometimes they won’t shut up. The prime time television soaps they have are mostly awful. Many of the younger women continue the fashion fad of recent times of having a false tan. It has the opposite of the desired effect of making them appear healthy, they actually look quite ill. Petty crime/theft is a way of life for many of those who regard themselves, correctly or otherwise, as the “have-nots.” Fistfights and brawls are less than in the old days but still seem more frequent than in this country. And finally, whereas folks over here generally hold a positive attitude, I feel that those over there have a somewhat negative/curmudgeonly view on many aspects of life and society. In my mind, this reality-based mentality can be best summed up in the example of death that I have mentioned here before: folks here say somebody has “passed,” whereas folks in the Old World say a person is “dead.” As somebody over there said to me when I described someone as having passed, “What do you mean he’s passed? He’s f***ing dead isn’t he?” It seemed to sum up the differences perfectly.
Public Service Announcements. Calendars and pens at the ready. #535. The 22nd Sierra Nevada World Music Festival returns for its 10th year at The Fairgrounds in Boonville over the weekend of June 19-21. The line-up is particularly strong this year with headline acts such as Steel Pulse, Jimmy Cliff, Third World, Max Romeo, Ken Boothe, Big Youth, and The Melodians. #536. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be in the Valley on Thursdays, June 25 and July 2, but not again after that until August. #537. The Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley on Tuesday, June 16. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for just 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details. #538. The AV Museum is open every Saturday and Sunday, from 1pm-4pm. Situated in The Little Red Schoolhouse next to the Elementary School on AV Way, this is a perfect thing to do when you have a couple of spare hours on a weekend afternoon. It is not without reason that it is generally regarded as “The Best Little Museum in the West.” #539. The AV Drumming Circle meets from 7pm to 9pm at The Grange on the second Wednesday of each month; that would be tonight. Call Rob at 895-3897 or Andy at 895-3020 for details. #540. The AV Grange is having its regular second Sunday Pancake Breakfast on June 14 from 8:30-11am. Prices range from $5-10. Kids through hungry folks, for a delicious, locally-sourced breakfast. Choices include pancakes, eggs, and bacon, with a choice of juice, tea or coffee included, (gluten free products are available, but gluten extra is not). #541. Gardeners, farmers, and produce growers of all kinds, are asked to remember Food Bank days as a time to donate your extra produce — third Tuesday of every month from 8am to 10am at the Boonville Methodist Church: next Tuesday, June 16. Please drop off on Monday the day before, behind the church. If you need someone to glean your produce to take to the Food Bank, contact Valerie Kim at valerie.h.kim@gmail.com or Denisse Mattei, the Food Bank director, at 895-3763.
Here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans Building in Boonville. The Center asks for a $6 donation from seniors for both and charges $7 for Non-seniors. Tomorrow, Thursday, June 11, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Stuffed Shells, Spinach, Garlic Bread, and Coconut-lime Berry Cake for dessert. Next Tuesday, June 16, the lunch will feature Hamburgers with Banana Split Cake for dessert. All meals include vegetables, a full salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal — the best $7 you’ll spend all week! Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember, ALL ages are welcome! Hope to see you there.
Topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge— “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.
…It’s good to be safely back in the Valley from the “real world” where all kinds of weird and wonderful, yet frequently disturbing, events are occurring every day. Of course, “disturbing” events are not completely absent from the bucolic bubble that is life in Anderson Valley and I have been fully informed by many Three-Dot regulars about the unfortunate closing of the splendid Coq au Vin restaurant at the Floodgate and of the difficulties getting the magnificent but large new stove through the door and into the kitchen at the Senior Center. “Whatever next?” One cannot help but wonder.
…This past weekend seemed to be a busy one in the Valley that saw, among other things, large gatherings at Lauren’s Restaurant and The Buckhorn, a wedding at the Boonville Hotel, a steady stream of visitors to the monthly Barn Sale, and the annual wine club party at Husch. Not sure how business was at our 30-plus tasting rooms but I sincerely hope it was good.
…It was generally agreed by several regulars at the Three-Dot that the “armed robbery” at the “All that Good Stuff” store in Boonville was a peculiar story and one that required further investigation. After all, nobody could recall the last time such an event had occurred here.
Time to take my leave. Besides I’ve got see a man about a sheep. So, until we talk again. Keep the Faith; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and may your god go with you. A final request, Let us prey. Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
(Contact me through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture9@gmail.com. PS. Keep wagging that tail, Fred. Is that “lafter” I hear, Carroll? Looking forward to our next rendezvous, Round-eyed Robin.)
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