...Because sometimes in the middle of July, the ONLY thing that works is a Mary Jenison Apron, and an inflatable beehive wig! That's our wonderful employee, Debra, modeling for us in Paper Scissors On The Rock. (must've been the heat.)

ps....I love how Sadie is staring at her ankles trying to figure out just what the hell is goin' on!

My Summer Playlist

Kickin' it oldskool.....back to the summer of 1967 & '68...."The Summer of Love"

Summer Of Love - The Hits Of 1967 - CD 1

01 - Scott McKenzie - San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
mp3
02 - The Turtles - Happy Together.mp3
03 - The Association - Windy.mp3
04 - The Mamas & The Papas - Creeque Alley.mp3
05 - The Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Lovin'.mp3
06 - Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense and Peppermints.mp3
07 - The Music Explosion - Little Bit O' Soul.mp3
08 - Harpers Bizarre - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).mp3
09 - The Box Tops - The Letter.mp3
10 - The Beach Boys - Heroes and Villians.mp3
11 - Diana Ross and the Supremes - Reflections.mp3
12 - The Grass Roots - Let's Live for Today.mp3
13 - The Lovin' Spoonful - Darling Be Home Soon.mp3
14 - Stevie Wonder - I Was Made to Love Her.mp3
15 - The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday.mp3
16 - The Hollies - Carrie-Anne.mp3
17 - The Music Machine - Talk Talk.mp3
18 - Spanky and Our Gang - Sunday Will Never Be the Same.mp3
19 - The Buckinghams - Kind of a Drag.mp3
20 - Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale.flac.mp3

VA - Summer Of Love - The Hits Of 1967 - CD 2
==============================================

01 - Cream - I Feel Free.mp3
02 - The Byrds - So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star.mp3
03 - Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love.mp3
04 - The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night).mp3
05 - The Youngbloods - Get Together.mp3
06 - The Spencer Davis Group - I'm a Man.mp3
07 - Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl.mp3
08 - The Easybeats - Friday on My Mind.mp3
09 - Eric Burdon & The Animals - San Francisco Nights.mp3
10 - Blues Magoos - (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet.mp3
11 - Donovan - Season of the Witch.mp3
12 - The Blues Project - Wake Me, Shake Me.mp3
13 - Big Brother and the Holding Company - Down on Me.mp3
14 - Vanilla Fudge - You Keep Me Hangin' On.mp3
15 - Country Joe and the Fish - Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine.mp3
16 - Traffic - Paper Sun.mp3
17 - The Seeds - Pushin' Too Hard.mp3
18 - The Peanut Butter Conspiracy - It's A Happening Thing.mp3
19 - The Butterfield Blues Band - Mary, Mary.mp3
20 - The Yardbirds - Stroll On.mp3

"OK your Holiness...time to play find-the-pea!"

For those of you who remember, here's the only photo I could find of the house on Rancheria. Designed by Henry Hill, noted protege of Frank Lloyd Wright, landscaping by Robert Royston. The house was torn down in 2004 and replaced by a 7000 sq. foot Mediterranean Palazzo.

Hildegarde Goss, One Of A Kind.

Losing Miss Hildegarde at age 93 has certainly put a damper on our community, and robbed us of a talented artist, gadabout, and raconteur. Here is the monologue developed by Sunny Massad, based on an interview with Miss H. about 4 years ago......


Hildegarde
Age 89


"I was married for 64 years. I still feel married, although I’ve been a widow for 5 years (or however long it’s been). When Bill first died, a flood of people tended to my every need. But within a month, I was rattling around in this house by myself and was considered to be a single woman. I don’t consider myself to be single! Even though the old boy isn’t here any more, we are still married. I had my time with sex & romance but that was long gone. Along with relationships come compromise, and as Bill and I got older, neither of us were willing to pay that price. We were both fiercely independent.

I have never been a single woman, really, until now ... and I don’t have any children. I never had a desire to have any. I’m allergic to kids, I think. It never fails that when I get around them I come down with something.

When I’m lonely, I feel sorry for myself for as long as I can stand it ... I can have one hell of a pity party. But I limit myself to three days. And then I get bored with it and get myself to town where I can be around people - even if they are strangers, or people I don’t like - I get energy from people ... especially young people, whom I adore! But I remember all my dead friends and family fondly and I forget all about the hard times I ever had with them once they die. I like the memory of people more than I liked them when they were alive. That’s a terrible thing to say. But it’s true!

I have actually discovered some interesting things about living alone:
I only eat when I’m hungry - but I’m not hungry much any more. I prepare a little something to eat for myself, plop myself up on my bed, turn the TV on, and share my food, one bite at a time with each dog, and then one bite for me ... until it’s gone. Dogs love to eat people food and eating together makes it like a party. I also like to eat ice cream on frozen waffles any old time of day and have been known to eat a half a jar of homemade lemon curd in one sitting.
My false teeth fly out of my mouth when I eat so I’m finally thin. I have the body now that I wanted my whole life.........except its got hanging skin from top to bottom!

I do like to dress up though, if I can find something that doesn’t have slop spilled all over the front of it.If I grab clothes out of my closet when I don’t have my glasses on, I think I look pretty grand until I get my glasses on, and then I realize I look like a bag lady. But no matter how drab I look, a bright scarf or hat does wonders. Older women need a splash of color near their face.
I’ve always gotten lonely when I’m alone too much. It’s not good for anyone to be alone for too long, unless they’re artists.

Getting dressed and going out can take time, though. Sometimes my brain gives my leg the command to move and it just sits there like a dumb dog. It cantake up to a minute to finally get the message and go. I start out all right, but then I veer off in one direction, which is okay, as long as I’m not near water!

I still like to drive my van into town. I just press the gas peddle and go. I smash into things once in awhile in the same way that I smash into things with my legs and elbows, but a few dents never hurt anything.


I keep my eyes open for any opportunity to be surprised or amazed. Why just the other day I noticed a man who had the most marvelously shaped head. When I stopped to compliment him on it, he said he’d never been told that before. It’s amazing to me that someone could go through a whole life with a head like that and nobody would comment on it! It was almost square! I would have loved to have sculpted that square head of his. My last art exhibit was a few months ago, or was that this summer? Whenever it was, I sold all but three paintings. There’s just no accounting for taste. I can’t hold my hand steady any more. Those paintings were simply dreadful! Really, they were!

My relationship with my animals, the birds and humming birds that come to feed every morning and evening, and the friends who call or drop by, are the most important things in my life now. This morning I got so involved in tracing a snail trail back to it’s starting point that I lost all track of time. But at my age, time doesn’t matter. I’m always surprised at where I am and how I ended up there. I can find myself in the kitchen and damned if I can remember what I went in there for. Then I go back into the bedroom to givemyself a clue about why I had gone into the kitchen but I get distracted by a squirrel eating the bird food or the fire that needs tending. It’s a constant source of entertainment.

But the best part about being 89 is that there’s a lot of freedom and damned little peer pressure! None of us are getting younger – but you know what? That’s just fine with me because the best time is always NOW anyway ... As long as my body moves, I get a little attention, and keep managing to have fun, I guess I’ll stick around a little longer.”

transcribed & edited by Sunny Massad

graduation speech

Here is a copy of the keynote speech I gave at graduation:

“Graduates, parents, educators, and friends, I cannot tell you how honored I was to be asked to speak today on behalf of this amazing class of 2010. Now as most of you know, I have known almost all of these kids since they were in poopie-diapers, and I could spend the next few minutes telling crushingly funny and humiliating stories about these fine young adults that would probably scar them for life or at least insure many therapists livelihood for the next 30 years or so. But I won’t. But I must say I am tempted! When Lilly Ewert confirmed to me that I would be speaking, I just looked at her and asked...”Are ya’ SURE????” and she, in classic Lilly style, looked me right in the eye and and said “Bring it on.”

Then I started thinking about the last four years, and the high school careers of these graduates, and first I have a confession to make to the class of 2010. Whenever you came into the cafe for drinks (That’s Caffe La Boheme, right next to Holly B’s Bakery open every day at 7am....I know I know, shameless..) anyway, whenever you came into the cafe, until you turned 15 or so.....I ALWAYs served you decaf, whether you wanted it or not. Believe me when I say that I only had your and your parents best interests at heart.....because honestly? You guys were scary enough WITHOUT caffeine!

I have watched you grow from young children running amok on the deck in front of Holly B’s to running amok during concerts and dances, first at The legion hall, and later at the community Center. I have laughed and cried with you, and offered advise over countless cups of tea, hot chocolate, or soy London fogs. You have in turn called me, Spaghetti- head, poopie-head, tickle monster, Auntie Bob, and finally just Robert. I have watched as you tried various and unfortunate fashion statements and hair styles, I have seen you travel all over the globe, and have read with interest and delight the emails, letters and Facebook status updates. I have not mentioned “a lot of things” to your parents, only the really funny lines like...”Ugh...like I mean Bruce Willis is so OLD! How could my mother find him sexy?? Like eeewwww! I mean he’s only been in 1 or 2 movies right?” I have held the sacred trust of your secret coffeehouse whisperings and stories, you successes and failures, your too-many-to count parties at Watmough. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Growing up in a community like Lopez is a blessing, although at times, I know it doesn’t always feel that way, you have grown up in a trusting, loving , supportive community that has kept tabs on you 24/7/365. You have grown up not knowing how to lock your doors, you have partied with people old enough to be your grandparents, you’ve grown up knowing people named after animals, trees, and colors. You’ve bitched about having to drive all the way to Islandale for munchies, you’ve actually used the phrase “all the way to Islandale” because it feels like it takes forever to get there! You’ve eaten countless platters of burgers, fish tacos & cajun fries at Bucky’s, and a gazillion cinnamon rolls at the Bakery.

I also want to thank you, the class of 2010, for helping me to stay young at heart. Sometimes when I listen to the conversations of the older people here on Lopez, the constant complaining about aches and pains, and the latest surgeries, I find myself thinking... “Dude...you need to hang out with people younger than you..” and yes in my thoughts I DO use the word DUDE. Because honestly, I’d much rather talk about Lady gaga’s Kermit-the frog dress than laser eye surgery any day! (Although I draw the line at the Twilight Books and movies, because who really cares about a guy named edward who’s as white as an envelope, and yet all his high school chums think he’s normal? Now that would NEVER happen at Lopez high School!) My point is that, hanging out with people younger than you talking to them and really listening, helps to keep you young as well, and fresh and informed.....

Now I suppose I should probably tell you graduates some of my hard-earned truisms about life and career etc....but experience tells me that you don’t want to hear all that stuff, and the best teacher is experience itself...but there are two thoughts I would like to share with you; first is that when you hear someone tell you to follow your dreams, you SHOULD listen, but know this: dreams change. I’ll say it again....dreams change.

I once heard a young friend say that he was really disappointed in how older people allowed their dreams to die, and how sad that seemed to him. The reality is that, often what you dream is not what you TRULY want, or what will TRULY make you happy and fulfilled, and sometimes, what you THINK is not exactly what you want, is EXACTLY what you NEED. Also while pursuing one dream, you may find yourself veering towards something completely different, and not realize at that time that the NEW path you follow will lead you smack-dab to the dream you never even considered, until you’re right in the middle of it.... Happy and fulfilled, and dispensing coffee and laughter in a small cafe on a small island in the middle of nowhere, and realizing that there is nothing else you would rather be doing!...except maybe doing it in a warmer climate!

My second thought is actually a saying that my Mom shared with me at a particularly challenging time in my life, a time when I had a difficult choice to make, a choice between maintaining the status quo in my life, or striking out in a totally new and unknown and therefore terrifying direction in my life. So after cooking me a wonderful dinner of lamb chops, roast potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake, my favorite meal at the time, and knowing that I was relaxed and receptive, she said to me “Honey....I will always be thankful to all of the people who told me, no it cannot be done....It is because of THEM that I went out and did it myself.” I will always be thankful to all of the people who told me NO. It is because of them that I went out and did it myself...... and so with that thought in my head, I did. I went out and did it myself. And I still do..... to this day.

So to the class of 2010, to you amazing young people, all of whom I am truly honored to call my friends, Thank you for letting me accompany you on part of you journey. In Brazil, where I worked in the early 80’s, they have a word that is a personal favorite of mine, (and I know that Tahoma probably has a pretty good idea what the word is) and I would like to share that with you...the word is “saudade”, and the closest translation I can tell you, because there is no true literal translation, is that it means a heart-wrenching longing or yearning for a place or a sense of place, in other words a love of place so strong, that it leaves you feeling empty and weak in the knees; “saudade”.... So graduates...as you head out into the big wide world, there may come a time when you do in fact have that feeling of “saudade” when thinking of Lopez Island, so I would like to present each of you with a small token of my appreciation, to help you remember that wherever you are, your friends and family on Lopez will always be there to welcome you back.......

(hand out bottles of Bucky’s Cajun Spice))

......and lastly to the parents of the graduates, please remember, that despite any separation anxiety you may be feeling at this moment, it is emphatically NOT an “empty nest” until all their crap is out of the garage! Thanks you.”

"Across The Universe"

If you love great cinematography, choreography, and Beatle's music, then go out and snag a copy of Julie Taymor's visual take on the 60's; "Across The Universe". I never get tired of watching it. With guest stars Eddie Izzard, Bono, Joe Cocker, and a host of others, It truly recreates the "Magical Mystery Tour" that was the late 60's.

MARY J'S BIRTHDAY BASH.....

Happy Birthday Miss Mary, Long may your fabulousity light up our lives!

A Great party for a wonderful friend and lady! We'll just let the pictures tell the story!
About 120 people showed up, bringing wonderful appetizers and finger food. Joyce from Vita's created 3 amazing desserts: Fresh mango with sticky rice, a 12 inch high dark chocolate cake, and dark chocolate ice cream bon bons!



Just as those were running out Brooke brought in an amazing multi-layer white cake with fresh strawberries and a boiled icing.....(Honestly...when was the last time you saw a boiled icing??? 1965???? it was FAAABULOUS!)

And of course kids everywhere!

(here's Eva in deep conversation with Dick....notice the body language? um....Kira???? you are sooooo screwed!)



...And Josie, who despite being pretty wasted on baby Benedryl, had a great time!

BVM....Day Two

Well....she's a bit on the "fuzzy" side, but growing!

Mary Jenison is turning 60!!!

Thursday is Mary's not-such-a-surprise party at the Lopez
Community Center...
5:30 to 8:30 pm, appetizer/finger food potluck
(looks like there's a heavy Thai influence...what a surprise!)

GROW YOUR OWN B.V.M.

Now anyone who knows me really well, knows that I have a "thang" goin' on with Guadalupe/B.V.M. and have surrounded myself with icons and pictures of her throughout my life. So the opportunity to grow my own BVM in the privacy of my own kitchen, was just too good to pass up!

I decided to keep a photo log of her growth (should take about 10 days to reach full maturity)...

... so here she is, still in the package, and then napping on the bottom of a large Pyrex measuring cup. (Only the best for our Lady G.!)













Day 1......

In Memory of Peter Bennett....

Today we said goodbye to dear sweet Peter Bennett, longtime Lopezian, and one of the most gracious men I've ever had the pleasure to meet. He leaves behind, his adoring wife Glenys, his son Tim and his wife Betsy, two terrific teen aged grand kids, Ezra and Una, and a community that is heartbroken at his passing.

The memorial was held at Center church, which was of course, packed to the rafters, with people standing outside, and in the vestry due to lack of seating. The service was short, sweet, to the point, and exactly how P. would've loved it!

People got up and told wonderful stories, cried, and spent the afternoon filling our hearts with the memory of his loving kindness, hospitality, dry British wit, fabulous bonhomie, and hidden supply of arguably the best Scotch Whiskey on Lopez! Afterwards, everyone went outside to share shortbread and raise glasses of great Scotch in Memory!

It's hard to think that he will not be coming into the Caffe every day, helping Glenys to the point of distraction, when she would start waving her (one) arm while saying "OOHHH Petah!!!! Stawp Fusssss-ing!!!" Or shaming him into leaving a dollar in the tip jar instead of a dime! I miss him terribly, and will remember him for the rest of my life.

Goodbye Peter....we love you.

Tour De Lopez 2009

Well....once again we have survived another Tour De Lopez in fine fashion! 1007 cyclists showed up, the day was cold with sun breaks, with the sun finally coming out for good at about 3pm. We actually love the Tour; it makes for a great day of business, and honestly the folks who attend are lovely....very laid back and just wanting to have a good time! Not like the late summer cyclists whom we call "The Yellow jackets".
I ran over to White Bear's for lunch, she's serving these wonderful new wraps, and they're only $5.95. I had an Asian chicken wrap with peanut sauce, and it was DEEE-vine! Went back over to the Caffe, and hit the ground running, the line was out the door, and the cups were lined up in a row of 15, waiting for drinks. Mary came in for the morning shift, and Suzanne finished out the day. Thank GOD we had 2 people behind the counter!


Ron was also busy at PSR, but it was much more fits-and-starts, so he and Sadie had a fairly mellow day. And of course there always HAVE to be people who cannot read signs.............Forcing us to become the hard-assed Bike sign Nazi's to uphold the rules. (I mean
really....wouldn't you think that putting up a sign that BEGS you to move your bike would do the job???? Hell no.)

Here Comes.......

TOUR DE LOPEZ!

POWER OUTAGE.....

Last night the power was out for three hours, in five Northwest counties. here's what it looked like:
















We played Rummikub by candlelight....... (but you can't see us, 'cause the power was out!)

A Slow Thursday at the Caffe!

ON these "pre-season" slow weekdays, we have to really work hard to keep ourselves amused.....
....such as deciding to take pictures of ourselves taking pictures of ourselves....well you get the idea...however lame it may seem, it makes us laugh, and that's what counts!


I love this poster for the Lopez Farmer's Market. Of course it didn't win the poster competition, too edgy for staid ol' Lopez, but it should have!
It was created by Lopezian Matthew Rabel, and we have them for sale at the Caffe for $6.00 each, a steal if you ask me!

IT WAS A PERFECT DAY....

For big ol' cups of bittersweet hot chocolate, Cafe La Boheme style! (photo by Tracy Cottingham)

KIRA IS BACK...(and there's gonna' be trouble)

Yippee! Kira is back on the deck, so ya' better watch out! After recovering from her shoulder surgery, Kira had her first day of work at Holly B's. today. We set up an unofficial meeting of the "Tourist Trash Talk" Society with Kira, myself, and Odin from Bucky's so we could ALL get up to speed on the daily doings of "The Deck".And needless to say we are all committed to hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil, for the rest of the season! (yeah.....right.)

What a tough two weeks!

I've been pretty out of touch, we've lost two more long-time Lopezians. Last week, it was our beloved Peter Bennett a.k.a. "Petah". That was an unbelievable shock, and Glenys, his wife of 55 years is needless to say, absolutely devastated. I am so sad, Peter was one of the kindest funniest men I've ever had the pleasure to know. He was kind of like every one's favorite British uncle. His Passing has left a huge void in our community. His memorial is this Sunday, and I've been asked to speak....I just hope I can hold it together to be able to do so.

Then just two days ago, we heard that Sharon Blake had passed away. We have known her kids, Shawni and Johnny since they were small, and her partner Wallace, and we love them all. What a tragedy. She was very young.

More signs of spring on Lopez Island....The weather has been unpredictable, cold and cloudy one minute, and 20 minutes later the sun is out and it's 65 degrees. Go Know. The trees are finally starting to green up and that is a relief. Ron brought Sadie out for a walk over to the Cafe and she had a good long drink and promptly fell asleep on the deck.

LUNCH AT BUCKY'S

A really terrific Chicken Teriyaki burger with those amazing fries (yup......it IS the kosher salt!)

A MOODY MONDAY...

Today was one of those typical April days, where the weather was all over the map. Cold and a bit dreary, but with lots of sun breaks, and magnificent cloud formations. Also today was the anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln, so a few of us met down at the KLOI/Radio free Lopez studio. to enact a commemorative reading.















The reading is based on a piece currently being performed by Sam Waterston in honor of Lincoln's 200th birthday. Our director was Carol Steckler, one of the founders of KLOI, and she provided a partial script. The readers were myself, John Hammond, Rhea Miller, with Carol reading the narration. If you wish to hear this piece you can do so at: www.kloi.org , and look under the show on Monday called "Community Calender. Carol assures me that the full audio of the program will be posted soon!

Ty Returns!

Another great surprise today was the return of Ty Hirss, (a.k.a TyBo, TyKwanDo, and Ty one on!), Holly B. and Andre's oldest son. Now we know the party can REALLY begin! Ty spent the winter in Aspen teaching skiing with his 2 brothers, but comes back every summer to help in the Bakery.

Welcome home Ty, we've missed you, and are glad to see you back once again!

MORE SIGNS OF SPRING......

Woke up this morning to gray and dreary signs....and yet........everywhere are increasing signs of Springs arrival on Lopez Island. Right outside our front door is this planter featuring a curious porcelain figurine of a male ballet dancer we found at the dump. Surrounding him is a planting of Vinca, which today decided to burst out into bloom!
Jumped in the Rover to head into the Village, and Lo and Behold, the flamingoes have returned to the Island! For a few weeks they took up residence in front of Holly B's and Caffe La Boheme, but last night mysteriously migrated in front of Grace Church. Clearly a blatent attempt to muscle in on the whole Pascal Lamb, Easter Bunny thing.

Ron had left the house early this morning, so I ran into him walking Sadie, right in front of the field where the new Lopez Village Market will be built this spring/summer.


Pulled into the parking lot at the Caffe at about 9:30 or so, and another surprise! Claire and Will Dennis, two of my favorite people in the world, are here from California! Their parents have had a summer home on the island for over 20 years, so I have known both these fine young people since birth. Claire had three friends in tow, all part of the very first official "road trip" to Lopez without the parents! (remember those days???) Claire is off to Yale next year, and astonishingly, Will has shot up to about 6 feet tall, towering over both myself and his sister. I have been warning Claire to be nice to him for a few years now, 'cause one day soon he was going to be tall enough to kick her ass! Well, let me just say that this morning, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth....if you catch the drift!

Later on in the day, The DiBona Girls came to the deck to have their first almond butterhorn of the season, washed down with cider and chocolate milk. The pastries were almost as big as their heads, but both Ren (R.) and Kai (L.) managed to polish them off >>>









Lorrie Harrison and Julie Van Camp at the Caffe discussing Julie's upcoming book tour, for the release of her new Historical Memoir called "Searching For Ichabod". Lorrie has written a number of non-fiction pieces, most notably "Kindred Spirits" the profiles of 32 islanders that came out a few years back. I'll post more on Julie's wonderful new memoir as the release date approaches.