events – Kay Foley

I made a whole bunch of these adorable little gift tags.

I’m tired, I’m beat, but I’m determined to write this letter tonight, Sunday night, to be sent out in the morning. I do take this very seriously! I just wrapped up my Studio Sale, complete with a small plumbing catastrophe during setup, barely recovered from a bad cold (not Covid!), and I am tired.

We had an amazing turnout! We required masks. We had low expectations. It was just two of us artists, hoping to sell some things and we pulled it together rather last-minute. I had thought, initially, that I didn’t have much, but I got to work on small things I thought might appeal. I came up with accordion fold Christmas cards, tiny handmade paper gift cards, garlands from collected leaves, plus art and photos that I already had. Meg had lots of her charming and zany glass pieces–zany Portraits of Alarm, Christmas ornaments, hearts, little boxes, and beautiful single earrings.

The aftermath of the plumbing catastrophe

Saturday morning I had suddenly felt like I was over my cold, like my old self, energetic and determined. I was getting everything set up. Things were going well. Then I opened the downstairs closet and discovered all kinds of stuff in there was soaking wet. The upstairs bathroom (lead) drain pipes were leaking through the ceiling, through my stuffed animals (yes, mine), ball caps, too many jackets and secondhand wool and/or cashmere coats, plus couch covers and all manner of bits and bobs that I stuff into that closet in the vain hope that the rest of the house might look presentable. Soaking wet. Falling drywall tape and soggy bits of drywall paste all over the things and the floor. And I presumed it was all soaked with toilet water. Ack!

Things can turn on a dime, can’t they? Humming right along one moment, in crisis mode the next.

I didn’t quite manage to get these cards finished. 🙁

And then a great guy comes right over to take a look. Applies a Band-Aid (epoxy) to the pipes. Fingers crossed. Terrible night of “sleep,” with Miles waking me at 4:00 and again at 5:30 a.m. Headache, bone-tired. Then today an amazing show, terrific turnout, no one bothered by the mask requirement, everyone excited to be here, all kinds of people I’ve never seen at my shows before, new people, lovely people, so happy to be here, especially a lovely older (aren’t I older?) woman whose first name is Bliss! Sweet, lovely, engaging. I forgot to put on music. We failed to give out the door prizes. It had been so long since either of us had done a show that we both forgot to get cash for making change. We’ve offered no cookies, no hot chocolate, nothing at all but art. And yet we’ve knocked this show out of the park! Woohoo!!

Things can turn on a dime, can’t they? In crisis mode one moment, bad sleep, etc., and then–amazing show.

It seemed that people were just really ready for an event. And that we did offer. And it was well received. Interesting times we’re in.

Help, thanks, and wow, boom boom boom, just like that. Thank you, everyone!

“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”

― Roy T. Bennett

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

― Epicurus

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. And if you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

Recently, I’ve had the great pleasure of gathering with others–both friends and strangers–for three occasions. I participated in a lovely wedding, I was celebrated (grandly) for my 70th birthday, and then I was lucky enough to attend a marvelous music festival. It all felt so remarkable! And in a couple of days I will be driving across the country to gather with my two New York sons. I’ve had my Covid-19 booster shot and somehow I suddenly feel quite confident about the future.

This is certainly a change from even a few weeks ago. My organizing partner and I had just cancelled our annual November art show (again), due to concerns about Covid. I have not even considered participating in any indoor shows or events, going to a movie or the gym or an indoor concert. I probably will not do any of those things for awhile longer. But these recent gatherings have so lifted my spirit.

I won a weekend pass to our big local music festival, Roots ‘n’ Blues in a random drawing. It’s expensive and I never feel like it’s something I can afford. Everyone was required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test. The rule gave me a feeling of ahhh, I have to say. The weekend was beautiful and it was a pleasure to be there with good friends. We reveled. This was shortly after gathering at a lake house for my birthday, where we ate and drank merrily, played games, sang songs, and lolled on our private dock gazing at the stars until long after my bedtime. My family had made a touching video for my birthday, with lots of old and new photos and video contributions from faraway friends, siblings, and family. It is a thing I will treasure forever and watch again and again. They went through great machinations to get it sent along with one of my friends and it was so much better that I watched it surrounded by friends.

Gathering. Feeling comfortable. Enjoying the company of our beloveds. What a luxury! I suppose none of us ever imagined that these simple things would feel so absolutely extravagant, but they sure do.

At Roots ‘n’ Blues, every single performer expressed their gratitude and delight at being able to do the thing they love, once again. For many of them, it was their first performance, especially to an audience of our size, in a very long time. They were in their element. And we were the lucky recipients of their all-out joy.

There were just so many memorable moments during all of these gatherings, all of them the kind of soft moments that warm the heart. They weren’t skydiving or hot air balloon moments or thrills of a lifetime. They were just pockets of loveliness that make your soul thrive.

I see many more of these gatherings and moments on the horizon. I do. I feel very open and hopeful right now that we are coming to the end of all the sickness and death and entering into a light-filled era of gratitude. I know I am feeling very grateful for all I have right now. I am totting up a list and letting it build a blanket fort in my heart.

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.” ― A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“Later on, when they had all said “Good-bye” and “Thank-you” to Christopher Robin, Pooh and Piglet walked home thoughtfully together in the golden evening, and for a long time they were silent.

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”

“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting to-day?” said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. And if you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

Tag: events

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Gathering