Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin. Happy Easter, Christians! I was once reliably informed by a man who lived next door to a woman who had a cousin who had once visited the Vatican and saw the Pope give a speech that this is the most important time of the year for their ilk. If that’s the case, and who the hell am I to argue with His Eminence, His Holiness, then for the Christians out there, I can only add the old classic, ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do; but if you do send me some pictures!’ And to the non-Christians among you, and I believe there are followers of Islam, Hinduism, Chinese Traditionalism, Buddhism, African Traditionalism, Sikhism, Judaism, Scientology, etc, lurking everywhere, even here in Anderson Valley. I have nothing more profound to say than ‘Have a nice weekend, dudes.’
Onward. With religious salutations leading off this week, I have a few related comments for your Quote(s) of the Week. From the Anglo-Irish statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke I offer, “Nothing is so fatal to religion as indifference.” And here is a gem from French author, Delphine de Girardin, who said what many of us surely think, “The best religion is the most tolerant one.” And finally, and for me the most profound and positive, here are the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and philosopher of the 1800’s, “God enters by a private door into every individual.”
Talking of positive thoughts, I went into Philo and Boonville one day last week to get mail, pick up salt blocks for the sheep, and buy fresh organic eggs from the high school. An hour or so job at the most one would think, right? Not so. As I zoomed back to the Nest I realized that I’d been thoroughly entertained/ informed/ stimulated for nearly four hours by the various conversations I had throughout the Valley, something that living in such a small and friendly community allows many of us to do, I’m sure. So for making it such a ‘Glad I Live Here’ day, thanks go out to the Gowan’s (Dave, Nancy, and Mark) at the Farm Supply; Sheila H at the Post Office in Philo; secretary Nicole Mc, teacher Mitch M, and bus driver ‘Shorty’ Adams at the elementary school; the fascinating sheep in the field alongside the Big Barn just north of Boonville; Wanda J, Beth S, Jan P, Stephanie G, Terry R, and Jim T all at the high school; Candidate for Supervisor Wendy Roberts sitting outside Zub Zub Ice Cream; and finally ‘All that Good Stuff’ owner Leslie H and customer Benna K. Let’s do it again next week. Why wouldn’t we?!
Public Service Announcements. #137: This Saturday, April 3rd, sees the Bake Sale taking place on the porch at Lemons Market in Philo. It starts at 10am and will feature Huckleberry pies, Apple pies, Zuke Bread, Brownies, and Cookies. And the best news of all is that the proceeds go towards the K-9 Deputy Dog Benefit to get a four-legged fellow officer to accompany Deputy Walker as he protects and serves us. #138: A very worthwhile and enjoyable event is taking place this coming Sunday (April 4th) at The Fairgrounds in Boonville. Yes, it’s The Lions Club Pancake Breakfast from 8am to 11.30am to benefit the AV Teen Center. With Judy Long and her crew in the kitchen you know the food will be excellent and with the Annual Easter Egg Hunt (for pre-school thru 4th grade) to follow at the Fairgrounds Lawn at 1pm sharp, what more can you and the kids possibly want? (By the way, bring your own basket) #139: The AV Food and Craft Mart, along with the Grange Flea Market, continues until the end of April at 1pm on Sundays at the Grange on Hwy 128, with the Farmer’s Market then returning to the Boonville Hotel parking lot in May for Saturday mornings throughout the summer.
I am indebted to Philo Pheasant Girl for informing me that those birds floating nonchalantly on ‘Bill Hill’s Huge Hole’ alongside Hwy 128 opposite Breggo Cellars are Canada Geese — not ‘Canadian’ I should emphasize. To date, they have been there every day for a couple of weeks now and as long as they avoid eating the pesticide infused six-legged frogs that some might say reside in that area then I’m sure they’ll have a pleasant stay before resuming their journey north.
Meanwhile, with the basic human desire since time immemorial to have a few beers with friends after work currently severely handicapped around these parts, the reality that we are living in what is basically a ‘dry Valley’ finally sinks in. However, rumors continue to swirl that the unlikely trio of David ‘I’m a nice guy really’ Johnson (landlord of the space known from 1921 to 2010 as The Boonville Lodge), Sonny of the Pick’n’Pay store, and Luis, an employee at the store, are planning the introduction of a Mexican Cantina at that very spot. Interesting, very interesting.
Meanwhile, Valley folks are trying to make the best of the current situation by gathering at various people’s homes for drinks and card games but I have to report that up here at The Nest, and no doubt at many places beyond, a definite sense of doom and gloom has descended upon the Valley’s socialites. Nevertheless, as I write, there are two options available to mingle among the ‘movers and shakers’ of the Valley’s social scene, and they are the Friday happy hour (starts at 5pm) libation at Lauren’s Restaurant and/or the bi-weekly gathering, on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes, at the Senior Center in Boonville. See you at both!
Time to take my leave. Be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you. One final request, “Let us prey.” Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. PS. Contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net. PPS. Hi, Silver Swan. Behaving yourself? Hopefully not! ¥¥
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