fronds & wands

 

guimauve wands

Dear Reader,

I am back at my Job, and it crowds my letters to you right out.  I'll be done this week, though, and then it is back to the regular demons:  Ennui, Apathy, and Insecurity.  They will keep me from writing too, as often as they can, and so will the dread and dire condition the world is in.  Am I promising you more?  If it sounds like maybe, you got it in one!

I have things for you, though, and so let's get on with the dispersal!

Fennel fronds.  This is delicious, you should try it tonight!  If you like it, you should check out other wonderful things that Coco Larkin Cooks.  I have made a brussels sprouts recipe, a pasta recipe, an egg dish, stuffed cabbage:  All of them worthy.

Here is Arooj Aftab, once, twice, three times.  

You can go here, too, if you like.  These are really good, but only if you like gummy, chewy, marshmallowing sugarstuffs.  What I mean, is that these are candies to appeal to your inner child, and you may have so much outer adult that you will taste only toothache and longing.

PS  The French people, whom you might think of as sophisticated and refined in their outer adulthood, ils adorant les guimauves.  History and a recipe, right here.  

a path

 

Illustration by Gustave Doré.

Dear Reader,

I hope you know that I want the best for you; I hope you know that I care that you see long and far and for ever, because I want to see that way too.

It might be that you find that seeing so far leaves you wondering what you have done.  It's not a problem, that was then, it is always a mulligan, a do-over.  So do-over endlessly; there is no penalty.

Here is an essay saying a lot of things that I think are the best; that I think you should know, the better to see long and far and for ever.

And now, let's go again to Grandmother's house, and see what can be done with the Wolf and The Woodcutter.  We can whistle this tune, while we walk.

I would, if I could

 

Dear Radio Dodo Heads,

If I could, I would give you Autobahn every day.  Only a few tunes are good enough for daily use; here is another.  And this one.  

Write to me, at the usual place, folding your letter and weighting it under the large granite cobble; tell me which is your favorite.  Or better yet, add to the list.

Play it Right.

 

Dear Radio Dodo Listeners,

What do you like best?  This or this?  Write me at the usual address in Pueblo, Colo., and let me know, won't you? 

three

 

Dear Today,

I have another trio of songs for you.  My DJ played them in just this order some time ago, and I have been planning to give them to you here.  They constitute a marvelous totality which I know you will enjoy!

Make it Easy

Go Home

Holy Lighter

PS

Maybe you can't get enough, maybe?  Of Go Home?  Here are six more; if you only allow yourself one further, take the last one, and write me and tell me you were not overcome by the beauty of those voices.

1

2

3

4

5

6

800

Dear Lucky Eights,

Sometimes I wonder why I am telling you these things.  I guess it's a sort of whistling in the dark, but I don't want to just entertain you; although, that will do in a pinch.  Would we have loved a life working as a Tele Skater Girl?  I wonder.  The old things always look so good when you are sitting here in the now with your plastic devices and your instant, cord free communication.

I heard a fellow on the radio some years ago talking about working to live versus living to work, and he said that when people made the joyful hobby they had into their livelihood, the fun quickly drained out of doing it.  I ask myself very often if that is how I would feel, looking out at a large rink full of 8 year olds having skate birthday parties on a Sunday.  I try to imagine the difficult customers I might get; Drunks maybe?  Frat boys?  Inline booted hockey hellions?  What about when the roof leaked all over the wood floor?  Would I still find joy in skating everyday to songs like this one, which would be my actual job?   I sure hope I get to find out one day.

A film to celebrate the 800th day of skating:

All you'll be is sound.

Dear Tuning In,


Here it is, your song for today.  It's really something- play it a couple times, I know you will come to love it.