RIVER FALLS, Part Three

These hands belong to Phyllis who is an exception pianist. I could listen to her forever. She composed and performed the music on my two videos (www.jaggedyears.ca) and when I first heard that music, it brought tears to my eyes (and still does).  I love listening to her play.

The days at River Falls have been very full and a bit of a blur.  I know we went to the pool at the Y several times which I thoroughly enjoyed.  One evening we went into Minneapolis to the Theatre to see "Beyond Ballroom", an excellent show of dancing.  At intermission, the audience is encouraged to come up on the stage to dance and they were almost as good as the performance.

One night we went to the University to hear the Air Force Wind Band - they were phenomenal. Plus I learned a lot I didn't know - for example, did you know that only 4% of people in the Air Force are pilots?  I didn't know that at all!  The music was exceptionally fine.

Prior to the concert, once more I tagged along with Phyllis and Wanda as we went on their monthly peace march.  It used to be weekly, but now every month, a group of them gather, each one taking a sign and marching down the street and back again.  My sign said: "Money for human needs, not for war" on one side, and "Demand peace, justice and equality" on the other.  I was proud to carry it.  Then we had a pot luck dinner. Of course.

One evening we went to the birthday party of a friend and beside meeting some very nice people, heard two fabulous musicians, Lehto and Wright, who were friends of the birthday woman.  We could have listened to them all evening - in fact, we did, and it was a very late, but wonderful night.

I also had the opportunity to visit Wanda's parents, 94 and 95 years old, both of them with complete mental awareness and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them about the book.  I had met them both on previous visits, and they had seen me  on TV the other day.  I adore spending time with them.

All in all, the trip to River Falls was full and enjoyable and I'm glad I allowed a few more days to spend visiting with Phyllis and Wanda, two wonderful friends who just outdid themselves with preparation for my reading.  Next to my launch, River Falls was my next biggest crowd, and for that, and everything else they did for me, including having so much fun,  I am incredibly grateful.