The other kitchen table I fondly remember is an extended octagon-shaped one that I put together for Rivendell Housing Co-op back in the mid-1970's when I was living in Lansing, Michigan. There were seven of us who had formed this co-op, we actually purchased the building with a joint downpayment and some incorporation documents, all friends who played folk music or at least loved the songs. The existing utilitarian Formica table just didn't cut it.

I wasn't skilled enough at that point to make an oval-shaped table and not experienced enough to realize how difficult an octagon table would be. However, it was easy to draw up the plans. And it was totally nomadic! Although I don't think anyone has ever moved it. The legs were attached to the top rails with dove-tailed joints, and the rails attached to the table top (a box-like structure underneath) with large dowels. The top surface was oak veneer, with solid maple routed molding, and the legs were solid maple. With this type of carpentry you get one chance to do it right, and I lucked out.

The damn thing actually got put together and has worked perfectly for over 30 years. However, I doubt if the present generation of Rivendwellers has a clue about the table's origin. The housing co-op still functions, remarkably after several complete turnovers, with some of its members still working at Elderly Instruments. Every year they send me a Thanksmas card (our reunion special event between Thanksgiving and Christmas) and I occasionally send them tidbits about the early house history.

One of our "house rules" was having at least dinner together and much of the stress of sharing a house with 6 other creative people was eased by our dinner conversations, far better than our more structured monthly house meetings. We were also very good about sharing the cooking and clean-up responsibilities with regard to the kitchen. That kitchen was cleaner than any place I ever lived in prior or since! Maybe that had to do with the large chore matrix taped to the nearby refrigerator door. The kitchen table was also a safe place to hang out with a few housemates late at night, although one did have to take care not to disturb the occupants of the three adjacent bedrooms; that kitchen had only 6 doors, unlike our old farm kitchen!

Some of my fondest memories were lazy breakfasts with performers who stayed at our house after their gigs at the 10-Pound Fiddle. We would load them up with strong coffee, omelets and toast, or homemade granola, and send them back out on the road to fame and fortune. If there had been a late-night after-the-concert party, and there were many of those, the breakfast was more likely to be a brunch. But, you're right, one learns a lot more about performers (and other folks) by sharing food and conversation around such a table.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble