Marion's other busking tour

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:28 PM

Still mulling over the windstorm, Marion visit!

A few quick trips outs for gigs, lots of driving to/from Shreveport, a taste if the SONS OF HERMANN HALL jam session in Dallas - and a rather poorly attended show at MacHenrys in Foth Worth - but all were fun none-the-less, and glad that Marion got the chance to play a bit for the folks in Dallas, Fort Worth and Shreveport Louisiana! Next time they hear her songs, they'll say - "hey, I heard that girl in Dallas, Fort Worth or Shreveport."

Marion has a bag of fine original songs, she's toting around with her, y'all - I hope as her tour progresses more Mudcatters will get to hear them. On her visit here, we talked a bit of songwriter technique and traded a few songs and recodings.

A very enjoyable visit, Marion! All the best for the rest of your trip ...

... and thanks very kindly for the gift. It was very thoughful of you and is most appreciated! But that's another thread.

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 09:47 PM

But that's another thread.

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 10:31 PM

I told Marion about Old Town, Art--I'm glad you'll be able to take her over there. My little hand-drawn map was without much detail except the intersection of freeways and a square for downtown, a square for Old Town, and a note about the Sheraton hotel as a good landmark. I also told her about an artist I patronize when I'm in Albuquerque--his name is Lorenzo Coriz, he's from Santo Domingo Pueblo, and he makes wonderful silver and tourquoise jewelry. I have several of his pieces. His wife usually sells on a blanket on the street in the square in Old Town. (I'm not saying anyone has to buy anything, but you might enjoy taking a look at his work.)

I strongly suspect that the Mudcat network offers overall a more stable and safer trip than Marion might have experienced without all of these folks along the way. It was nice to play a part in this approach to music and travel, to be able to offer a bed and a hot shower and a place to putter for a couple of days. Ours wasn't the most concentrated musical venue along the way, but we were all energized by both her music and interest in seeing the area.

Come again, Marion!

Maggie (SRS)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: open mike
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 04:00 AM

marion--too bad your albuquerque stay was so short..i have loads of musical friends there from Paltalk. they wouldhave loved to jam with you or feature you on a paltalk room broadcast, or offer hospitality..
well, Happy trails to you and good travelling to you!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 10:36 PM

After a few unsuccessful attempts to hook up with Artbrooks, I am visiting him today while passing through Albuquerque. After a look around Old Town we had a lazy afternoon, good supper, and little jam with wife Jen and the kitten.

SRS said, I strongly suspect that the Mudcat network offers overall a more stable and safer trip than Marion might have experienced without all of these folks along the way. No doubts at all about that. I'm glad you could make it on Saturday.

Oh, and my knapsack weighs 26-29 pounds, depending on how much food and how many songs I have in it at the time. I know this because they're constantly weighing it at the bus station. And I was irritated by the loss of my cash and makeup bag - but I realize that I might have paid a lot more in tuition for that particular lesson than I did.

Now I'm really off to the Grand Canyon.

Love, Marion

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: JedMarum
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 11:04 PM

God Speed, Marion!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: artbrooks
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:42 AM

And Marion and Jenn even let me "play" my bodhran without breaking it over my head or running screaming from the room! A very pleasant, if brief, visit. Ya'll come back soon!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 07:23 PM

Jus' confirmation, Marion, fir Tuesday... The P-Vine and I will be home from Savannah Monday night and I will be available to pick you up at Dulles Tuesday any time after 10:00 am. Leave a message on my home phone aand I'll be lookin' for a guitar case and a Marion at the 1st "arrivals" area...

Looking forward to it...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Deckman
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 07:35 PM

Marion, "bride Judy" and I were just talking about you. She mentioned what a pleasant guest you were and how wonderful it was that you graced our house! Best wishes, Bob and Judy

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: artbrooks
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 11:25 PM

Bobert, Marion is at the Grand Canyon (or, at least, that's where she was heading when she left here) and may not have internet access. It might be a good idea to leave a phone message as well.

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Genie
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 01:10 AM

From: Allan C. -
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 06:11 PM

As for licensing, Marion generally relies upon guerilla tactics. If she is asked to move on, she does. So far it seems to have worked out okay. I don't know how it is in Ft. Worth, but in Dallas, a judge ruled that no license is required because "...it is not considered to be an income producing enterprise."

LOL, Allan. Seems that judge has a good handle on the truth!

Anyway, Marion, I like your strategy! :-D

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 08:23 AM

Thanks, artbrooks. I about to leave for Savannah myself and won't be home until Monday. We left it that she would leave a message on our answering machine so...

... we'll see what we see.

Yo, Marian. Either way, I'll be available on Tuesday to pick you up and have the double decker bus/turned guest cottage available for you.

Bobert

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:36 PM

So how was the "Big Ditch," Marion?

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 10:13 PM

Bobert here...

Ahhh, we have been delighted to have Marion with us for the last couple of days. Today was the first good spring clean up day and she jumped in like a trooper and cut back lirope until I thought she's drop. Then we all went to Sheppardstown, WV for dinner, came home and she and I traded songs and jammmed and had some nice musical fun.

Sweet, sweet girl.

Bobert

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 11:02 PM

You "jammmed?" You didn't "jammmm" instead?

So Marion, tell us about the Grand Canyon, and how was your trip BACK across the U.S. If you draw a line on your map for every leg of this trip, it's going to be dark with long black lines zigzagging across the continent.

I agree with your assessement, Bobert.

SRS

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 11:43 PM

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 11:52 PM

Yup, that's quite a grand Canyon all right.

I went on a 3 mile hike below the rim (Bright Angel trail, for you canyon connoisseurs) and had a great time. The hostel I was staying at didn't have lockers so I ended up bringing the fiddle with me, and I'm really glad I did. I took several music breaks along the trail - there's some fine acoustics down there - which led to some kind words from other hikers and requests to play again, and I even made some money without putting my case out. I met a woman who said she studied voice in college but never sang anymore, and talked her into singing Ave Maria into the canyon. Cool stuff. I'm so lucky to play a fiddle.

Busked and meandered my way east - in Flagstaff I was playing Ashokan Farewell and someone came and told me that he was Jay Ungar's cousin. I stopped again in Albuquerque but had just a couple of hours, so I went and played at the Kimo theatre. The bus ride from Oklahoma City to Dulles Airport, Virginia took me through three Springfields.

So... I ignored Greg Stephens' warnings and have come to visit Bobert and his wife whose name is not really The P-Vine. Yesterday Bob took me to see the famous Harper's Ferry (where the Potomac and Shenandoah meet). Today we did some gardening and jaming, with me trying to pretend that I can do blues.

I'm becoming very conscious of the time left on my American bus pass ticking away...and I have a number of real-life friends to see here in the northeastern quadrant of the country. I have a date with Big Mick, and I'm going to try to work out a quick visit to meet M.Ted, but I think that'll probably be it for Mudcat meetings on this trip.
I'm soon on my way to Champaign, Illinois for Easter.

And as for that judge in Dallas, I like his conclusions, but his rationale is way off. Busking is most certainly an income-producing enterprise. He's just saying that because nobody would tip him to stand on the sidewalk and make rulings...

Happy Easter, Marion (Blue Ridge mountain, Almost Heaven)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 03:59 PM

Marion,

This afternoon I spotted my first tarantula of the season. I cleared out a brushy area beside the garage and disturbed one that was average size, about three inches long with the legs. I'll put a pile of bricks back in a corner so critters can find shelter there and perhaps this spider will stay in that general area. Right now she's hiding between a few bricks on the driveway. From now until October if you come through Fort Worth we should be able to find one for you to see.

SRS

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 12:32 AM

Marion,

Tonight I sent Jeff (Pene Azul) three photos of your visit here with us. I hope others you've met in your travels have had their cameras handy and have some to share. If when you get home again you set up your own page of "Marion's Busking Tour Photos" we'll happily direct Jeff to copy or move any or all of them over there. Our creek isn't as exotic as the Colorado of the Grand Canyon, but the camera was handy.

We can also mail you some hard copies.

Maggie (SRS)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 01:19 AM

Photos are here.

Sorry to be hogging your thread! I hope you'll tell us more about your travels soon!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 05:57 PM

Charming pictures Maggie, thanks for posting them! Bob

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 12:41 AM

Thanks for the pictures, Maggie! And give each of the tarantulas a hug and a kiss from me...

After leaving Bobert's I went to Champaign Illinois to see a college friend and her family. We went to Easter mass, went to a town called Arcola to stare at the Amish, and played with her two-year-old.

Next I came to Virginia to visit a couple who I knew when I lived in Egypt ten years ago, so we have been eating lovely Egyptian food and talking nostalgically.

Today I made a daytrip up to Maryland to see the enigmatic M.Ted, where I had lunch with him, met his kids, hid his dishes, and traded some songs. He let me in on the real secret to playing blues; I just wish I had visited him before Bobert.

I said in my last post: but I think that'll probably be it for Mudcat meetings on this trip. Falser words were never spoken. My Egyptian friends and I are planning to attend Jed Marum's concert at Fortunato's place on Friday. Also, Deckman has suggested I come to Seattle when a party is planned for Alaska Mike's visit... and it looks like I'll be able to make it to that as well.

Love, Marion (Sterling, Virginia)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Bobert
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 09:01 AM

I'm sorry, Marion. You seemed such a fine musican I didn't think that you needed that 1-4-5 chord stuff, but at least, now you know our littke secret... Jus' funnin' wid ya, girl. The P-Vine says "hey" and we hope all is well with you...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:41 AM

No no no... 1-4-5 is the secret to playing country, gospel, bluegrass, old-time, Celtish, rock, folk, pop, and Bach.

The secret to blues is to sing nonsense syllables in your head while playing.

So I had a good time in the DC area. Learned to make stuffed grape leaves; I'll have to try that at home. Then off to a house concert/song circle to see Jed Marum again and to meet several of the FSGW crowd, including Catters Ferrara, Bill D., Fortunato, Gorgeous Gary, and Claymore. I was surprised and moved to hear Claymore sing an anti-war song as a tribute to Rick F., and I wanted to tell Rick about it.

Now I'm in the Boston area to see a college friend and his family.

Love, Marion (Framingham, Massachusetts)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 09:45 AM

I thought I should pop in and let you know that our Marion arrived safe and sound in Kalamazoo (birthplace of the Gibson instrument line and the adjustable truss rod), Michigan yesterday about 12:30 PM. I picked her up, and she filled me in on all the wonderful hospitality she has received. I must tell you that it is great to see her again. We have crossed paths in the Toronto area on 4 or 5 occasions over the last few years, including a night that she joined us around the table in Paul Mills backyard. She did several songs that knocked me out then. I think my fellow Beef Brother Jed and I both became enamored of her singing that night. Since she arrived yesterday we had to go and visit my sound guy in a physical rehab facility. Over the Easter weekend he was assaulted and suffered a closed head injury, and is there for rehab. He is also the fiance of Natalie who plays fiddle in my band. So Marion and I grabbed her fiddle and my guitar and headed to the hospital. Marion and Natalie alternated on the fiddle and I backed them, as well as sang a few songs. Then Marion and I headed home, had some time with my family, and then promptly adjourned to the living room and played songs back and forth until midnight.

Hopefully today I am going to convince her to head to Lansing with me to visit Elderly Instrumments. I don't think she believes that there is any shop as good as the 12th Fret in Toronto. I agree that the 12th Fret is one of those special shops, but there is only one Elderly .... :^) HEY ... it's my bias, leave me alone, willya!!!

She has sang a number of her own compositions for me, and I must tell you that I am very impressed with where this wonderful woman has gotten to, instrumentally as well as with her songwriting. I think she will be around this Folk movement a long time, and given the interesting life she is living, we will hear many fine songs from this wonderful person. She seems to have just the right combination of curiosity, empathy, and downright niceness. Mix that up with the ability to write a lyric and turn a phrase, well the outcome is obvious. Stay tuned.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:42 AM

Hi gang. I am nearing the end of my visit to Big Mick. As he said, we've seen each other a couple of times before, but we haven't really had any quality time till now. I am enjoying the company of Marylou (sp?) and Ciara and the cat, and learning lots about Irish history, band politics, and unions. And of course we've found lots of stuff to sing to each other. Mick has quite a repertoire of powerful true-story songs up his sleeve. Now I've got to find some Bill Gallaher to listen to. Thanks for your kind words about my songs, Mick.

Next stop is Seattle - the bus doesn't go to Alaska, so Alaska Mike is coming to me instead. And I will visit again Deckman and Bride Judy, who are some of my favourite people.

Love, Marion (Gun Lake, Michigan)

Why 12th Fret is better than Elderly:

1. I can walk to 12th Fret from my place a lot faster than you can drive to Elderly from your place.

2. The Taylor 314 I purchased at 12th Fret is way better looking than the equivalent model displayed at Elderly.

3. There are fewer instruments at 12th Fret, so there is less sympathetic vibration when you try an instrument, and therefore you get a less misleading impression of the instrument's voice.

4. Laskins.

5. 12th Fret is half a block from a wonderful little Ethiopian restaurant.   Again, you have to drive if you're going to combine a trip to Elderly with a trip to the Tuba Museum restaurant.

6. 12th Fret doesn't carry string instruments, so there's nothing to distract your focus from playing with the guitars.

7. At 12th Fret a lot of the instruments are displayed too high for me to reach and I have to ask for help. This creates a conversation-opening opportunity, allowing me to network with other musicians (the tall ones, anyway).

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 10:57 PM

I hope some of you other folks have cameras around when Marion visits. It would be nice if we could add photos to what is linked above and change the name to "Marion visits Mudcatters in the U.S."

Get Clickin'!

SRS

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Deckman
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:26 PM

Marion ... As we've been communicating: "Bride Judy" and I are looking forward to your return vist. And, with my new hip, I'm in much better health and spirits than your last visit. That Monday, if you want, I'll show you some of the more beautiful areas of Snohomish County ... I have to drive around a bit that day and check out several projects. And, as you know, that evening, we're going to a gathering in Seattle where you'll meet "Alaska Mike" and re-new your aquaintence with Don Firth. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:37 PM

Bob,

So many places to choose from! Do you plan something like the Mountain Loop Highway (a full day, at least) or simple trips like around Everett and Marysville and out to the rez? Take her by my Dad's old house (222 Priest Point Rd, as if you didn't remember) and you'll be astonished at the changes.

The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Hike Mt. Pilchuck. Visit Snohomish antique stores. Drive up to Steven's Pass. That's no small feat, deciding on what beautiful areas of Snohomish County to look at! Geez, I'm making myself homesick!

SRS

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Deckman
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:44 PM

Hi Maggie, you need not remind me of 222 Priest Point Drive. I know the place very well. It's full of very wonderful memories.

Actually, I've got two jobs going right now, one on Lake Bosworth close to Granite Falls, and another up in Sultan. Reggie Miles lives in Sultan, and he plays the magical saw, so maybe I can get them together. I'll keep you posted.

By the way Maggie, you should have seen the glaciers todays up by Mt. Index. Simply glorious! I'm sure you've been up on them all. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:54 PM

Got our Marion on the bus and she is on her way. We enjoyed her visit very much, and I especially enjoyed sitting at night and swapping songs. I recorded the first of our two person sessions on my MD recorder and will enjoy revisiting the time often.

Marion is a helluva cook, in case you didn't know. She made a vegetarian enchilada dish tonight that was to die for. I then packed her in the car and took her to observe me coaching my U12 girls soccer team. Her comment, delivered in her marvelous understated Canadian way was, "Looked like fun but they forgot their sticks. Do they do that often around here?".

If you get a chance, have her sing her Underground Railway Trilogy. Wonderful stuff from our talented friend.

We greatly enjoyed her company and look forward to doing it again. The one regret is that I didn't get a chance to take her to my hill and sit and let the old Low D whistle have its way. We will do that the next time.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 11:14 AM

Hi gang! Well, I've really learned my lesson about saying silly things like "but I think that'll be it for meeting Mudcatters on this trip." I picked a town to take a break on the way to Seattle just because someone I met in LA happened to tell me he liked a restaurant there... when I mentioned it to Mick, he said, "Well, you know who lives there?"

So here I am visiting Alice of Montana for the day. I expect to do a little embroidery thread shopping while she works on voting the bastards out, then do some jamming with her and her son. I love the Samoyed too! Almost makes me stop missing Jed's puppy.

Sounds great, Deckman. My current project is a song set in Washington and I'm going to try to have it ready on time to sing you...

SRS, XOXOX

Love, Marion

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 12:42 PM

Salut mes amis.

So I had a good time in Montana - Alice's reputation as a singer is richly deserved - and she kindly sent a batch of her gourmet caramels with me for the Seattle gathering.

Here I am again at Deckman's house. He seems like a whole new person now that he is recovered from his troubles, and Judy is charming as always. He said that he would take me along to work the next day and give me a tour of the Pacific northwest on the way. Privately, I didn't see how that would be possible - but it turns out he was right, a half hour drive was enough to see the Cascades, the Olympics, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Rainier. However, there seems to be a theme going on here - after watching Big Mick pretend to be Mr. Tough Guy Coach, I got to see Deckman pretending to be a deck man - but all he did was go and look at the deck for five minutes, then leave again. Heck, I could have done that myself.

So off we went to Seattle where Don and Barbara Firth hosted a potluck and hoot for Alaska Mike's visit. Mike did a very funny new song about the Iditarod. Next day, Reggie Miles took me to the Pike Place Market to show me around. I did some busking by myself, and with another guy I met there, as well as playing the straight woman for Reggie's novelty blues routines. We attracted a lot of attention as a saw/fiddle duo too.

I've mentioned that I was planning at this point to meet up with a friend from Ottawa and take a roadtrip to the Redwoods and Badlands parks. Unfortunately, she had to cancel on me for health reasons. So it seems that the Nelson house in Everett is both my first and last stop in the USA. I'm heading back to civilization this evening. I'll try to get a newsletter written and posted today, too.

Love, Marion (Everett, Washington)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Amos
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 12:53 PM

Well, sweetie, give our regards to civilization, and tell them the barbaric southern hordes send greetings...

A

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: open mike
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 12:57 PM

thanks marion, what with travelling with you on your adventures and keeping up with kendall and sorcha I am exhausted!! How about that Reggie??!! I look forward to the thursday night paltalk sessions because
he usually stops by and saws at us for a while...or graces us with some of that marvelous slide guitar work of his!! did you see miken again this time around? he may be on the mend . Glad you were able to enjoy the seattle hospitality again...happy trails!!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:01 PM

He leaped on his horse and rode madly off in all directions:
Marion's newsletter #4, February 28 to April 28

Hello friends, comment allez-vous? Here is an account of the last two months on a long and convoluted trip through the states. This time I knew better than to have an itinerary in mind when I started out, and just went where the spirit directed (to Texas, mostly).

I spent leap day on the bus south, watching the snow melt and the grass turn green, and I've had wonderful luck with the weather all along. If it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out in the woods. After quick stops in Dallas and Lafayette, Louisiana, I went to Pensacola to see Bruce and Susan and had an idyllic couple of days in the woods fiddling all day and singing all night. I also observed their pottery studio - you should all go and buy all of their pottery. From there I worked my way to the Pacific, including busking stops in Houston (where I walked right, I did not quarrel, I did not fight), in El Paso (where I learned that the busking spot I've had such good luck in is in front of a house of ill repute), and in Santa Barbara (where they must spend a fortune on public landscaping, but the result is very pleasant).

I spent a night in LA to see Jill and Joel and pick up Charlie (my travel guitar). Then I went up to an area on the coast south of San Francisco to stay with Nancy and visit Bev and Jerry. One of Nancy's dogs loved to lick toes but I noticed that he had the good sense to wait till I had taken the first shower before going after me. A real highlight of that time was going to the coast to see dozens of baby elephant seals lying on the beach waiting till their time to hit the sea. (Also in the animals-I-don't-see-every-day department: I have had chances to see pelicans, egrets, fire ants, and a deceased Portugese man-of-war).

From there I crossed the south again, with San Antonio being the most interesting of my busking sites - the Riverwalk and the Alamo are really something to see. I visited Maggie and her children in Fort Worth, and went to the "Cowgirl History Museum." After leaving there I had an interesting day trying to busk in Birmingham, where nobody walks anywhere, but people driving by waved me over to give me a tip, or jumped out of their cars and dodged traffic to come over to me.

Next stop was a small town in North Carolina, visiting Dani and her family and eating at her restaurant, the James Pharmacy. You should all go and eat there. Her friends had an equinox party and I was astounded by the number of old-timey musicians in attendance at a private party. It seems like most of the time I'm the only fiddler at a gathering - but at this party there were at least a dozen fiddlers, never mind the pickers. In other North Carolina moments, we were at a gardening store and I was surprised to see a big pile of rocks on sale for $150. I guess we really take things for granted, living on the Canadian shield where we can get rocks for free. I also did a bit of hiking in a state park, where I found thousands of dollars worth of rocks as well as a little six-year old boy whose parents had gotten lost.

From there, naturally, I started west again, making a quick and boring stop in Atlanta. I then had a longer stay in Dallas with lots of visiting and busking. There seems to be a real shortage of fiddlers in Dallas (course they're all in North Carolina, I guess): while busking I got requests from various people to come and play at a restaurant, a church, a school, some creepy guy's place, and a wedding. I felt like Fiddler Jones. I visited Allan, who has also done a fair bit of travelling the continent and meeting Mudcatters so we had lots of stories to trade. Since then, he has announced that I was a bad influence on him: he's quitting the job and buying an RV to spend a year drifting shiftlessly about North America. Next I went to visit Jed Marum, who I know I've mentioned to some of you: he's a folkish singer-songwriter I admire very much, so it was a real treat to trade songs and talk music with him, as well as tagging along to two of his gigs and sitting in with him a bit.   The other thing is that he has a whippet puppy, and as Greyhound stations are full of promotional posters with pictures of greyhound puppies, and whippets and greyhounds are actually the same thing, I find myself missing his puppy whenever I'm loitering in bus stations, which is of course almost all the friggin' time. Anyway, you should all go buy all of Jed's CDs.

Continuing west - made a daytrip to Albuquerque to busk and visit Art and Jenn, then off to Flagstaff. Albuquerque and Flagstaff are both on old Route 66, which I've wanted to travel on since the first dozen times I read Grapes of Wrath. From there I went to see the Grand Canyon as a daytrip. I spent most of my time on a below-the-rim hike (Bright Angel trail). The interesting thing was that I ended up bringing Rocinante - I hadn't wanted to, but the hostel I was in didn't have lockers and I'm very protective of my fiddle. But it turned out to be a real blessing to have it along. I played several times while taking breaks - the acoustics down there aren't half bad - and this led to many kinds words from the other hikers and requests to play more, and so the cycle continued. I met a woman who had studied voice in college but claimed not to sing anymore, and I persuaded her to sing Ave Maria into the canyon. And also, although I didn't put my case out, I made enough playing on the trail for dinner out. I finished the day feeling that I'm very lucky to be a fiddler.

So eastward ho again. Short stops in Casa Grande AZ, Las Cruces NM, and Oklahama City. Next I visited Bob and Eve who live on the Blue Ridge mountain in West Virgina and are younger than the mountains if not older than the trees. Bob took me to Harper's Ferry, which is where the Potomac and Shenandoah meet and is just full of history. Next I went west to spend Easter in Illinois with Paula, Dan, and their little red-haired boy, and trade old stories from when we lived in Ste. Anne de Bellevue. We went to Arcola to stare at the Amish, and I purchased some linen in a little non-electric Amish store for my next embroidery project.

Next I went east again to see Brian and Marcelle in Virginia, and we had a great time trading old stories from when we lived in Egypt. Marcelle showed me how to make stuffed grape leaves; I'll have to try that at home. They came with me to a house concert in DC where Jed Marum was played and where I met several of the local Mudcatters. Also, I went up to Maryland to spend a day with Ted, talking guitar and long depressing historical songs. Next stop was Boston to see Bryan, Jenn, and their stairstep of children and trade old stories from when we lived in Montreal.

From there I headed west (saw that coming, did ya?) and went to Michigan to visit Mick and his family. I tagged along with him on a hospital visit, music store pilgrimage, and soccer practice, and spent lots of good time trading songs and gossip. From there I made a day stop in Montana, where I visited Alice and ate the gourmet caramels she sells. You should all go and buy all her caramels.

Last stop in the US (which also happened to be the first stop way back when) was Everett, Washington, visiting Bob and Judy. Based there, we went to a jam in Seattle where I was reacquainted with Don and Barbara, and also met Mike Campbell, a Mudcatter and fine songwriter who was visiting from Alaska. I also went into Seattle with Reggie Miles to check out the busking scene in the famous Pike Place Market, and to jam along to his clever and bizarre music.

Hmm, this got pretty long, didn't it? I'll try to write sooner next time. So here ends my trip to the US. Four months, but I didn't meet half the people I wanted to, and there were so many more things that I wanted to see and to do and to have done to me. I'll have to do this again next year, I suppose. I must say, though, that I'm rather relieved to see the back of Greyhound US. I kept thinking that my opinion of them couldn't get any lower, but they kept finding new ways to express their contempt for bus riders. You shouldn't all go and buy Greyhound US tickets. So... back up north tonight to spend two months waltzing my Matilda around Canada.

With love, Marion

Fiddler Jones
by Edgar Lee Masters
from Spoon River Anthology


The earth keeps some vibration going
Therein your heart, and that is you.
And if people find you can fiddle,
Why, fiddle you must, for all your life.
What do you see, a harvest of clover?
Or a meadow to walk through to the river?
The wind's in the corn; you rub your hands
For beeves hereafter ready for market;
Or else you hear the rustle of skirts
Like the girls when dancing at Little grove.
To Cooney Potter a pillar of dust
Or whirling leaves meant ruinous drouth;
They looked to me like Red-head Sammy
Stepping it off, to "Toor-a-Loor."
How could I till my forty acres
Not to speak of getting more,
With a medley of horns, bassoons and piccolos
Stirred in my brain by cows and robins
And the creak of a wind-mill -- only these?
And I never started to plow in my life
That some one did not stop in the road
And take to a dance or picnic.
I ended up with forty acres;
I ended up with a broken fiddle--
And a broken laugh, and a thousand memories,
And not a single regret.

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Deckman
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 10:35 PM

WHEW .....! Not only did I just read her most recent posting, I also just put her on the bus heading North for Canada. I've known lot's of folks with itchy feet, but I've NEVER met anyone like "Maid Marion." I'm tired just reading where she's been.

We did have a very nice few days with her. And as I told her, last night, her voice has matured in the few months since we've visited, but most of all ... her songs are simply WONDERUL!

This afternoon she sang me her new song about Washington state. She was guided by a vintage story of a true early pioneer. I've always been amazed, and in awe, of those magical persons that can put words on paper and can capture a tale. The thing that Marion is getting so good at, is her almost uncanny ability to capture the "feel" of the times. She has written some songs of vintage periods that you would swear must have come from those very persons who lived there and then.

She's right, we did take a bit of a drive up into the mountains on Monday. I did have to check on a job, but I did NOT spend five minutes there.IT WAS SEVEN MINUTES! As we traveled along, I'd point out various mountain peaks, and rivers, and tell stories about the settling of these areas. I noticed that she was very quiet during this time, but I now know that she was taking it all in with a crystal clear memory. That's one of the reasons that she can write such good material.

So, here's wishing her good traveling. She's always welcome at our home, and she knows that. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Allan C.
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 11:36 PM

Well done, Marion!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 01:05 AM

Bizarre! I resemble that remark! Wait a minute lemme look that up.

bizarre: very odd in manner.

Hmmm, maybe I do resemble that remark!

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 04:28 AM

What a WONDERFUL thread! Thank you all so much for writing here. I have tears in my eyes from reading about Marion, and how she was received by all you lovely people around the States. It renewed my faith in there being big portions of America still filled with wonderful, creative, loving, welcoming folk. Maybe I won't stay an ex-pat forever.

Marion, it's obvious from all I've read here, that you are a unique woman, and I feel privileged to be learning a little about you through the people you have impressed with such warmth and spirit, and TALENT throughout your busking trips. You are a fine example to us all.

Cheers!..xx..e

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 11:10 AM

I hope she'll write a song that gives us a humorous look at what her Grayhound travels have been like! Skewer 'em good!

SRS

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 07 May 04 - 12:00 AM

Hi gang, and thanks for your responses. Since I last wrote I've been making my way across western Canada, with stops in Vernon BC, Calgary AB, Saskatoon SK, and Kenora ON. In the Kenora area (northern Ontario) I saw three bald eagles sitting on branches of a single tree, as well as lakes that still had a thin ice cover. The bus stopped in Blind River, but I didn't see any blind drunks (unless they were being discreet about it). I've put the songwriting aside for a bit and am embroidering like mad to get a present done before my sister's wedding. Now I'm at my mother's place for a few days to reorganize, refuel, and refinance before heading to the Canadian Maritimes.

OK, I have a little speech to make at this time:

Thank you so much to all you wonderful American Mudcatters. The quality of your hospitality was exquisite and made such a difference to my travels. Now, of the Mudcatters I met along the way, there were a small handful who I had some prior connection with - either meeting at a jam in Toronto, or by dialoguing on the same threads. But most of the people I met were essentially strangers to me, as I was to them, but they took me in just because I was a Mudcatter and/or a wayfaring stranger. I believe this generosity is a reflection on the American spirit, not just the Mudcat spirit.   

And I can't tell you how much your hospitality improved my life while travelling. If it weren't for Mudcat, my trip would have been very different, and not for the better (if it happened at all - if it weren't for Mudcat I'd have never met Alanabit and been inspired by the concept of a busking tour.) Since I'm very focussed on songwriting these days (except for doing this frigging embroidery), it was very fun and useful to sit across from so many folk music lovers and hear your encouragement, feedback, and advice.   And being invited into the lives of such diverse people in such diverse places opened up many experiences for me I wouldn't have had otherwise: chances to perform publicly, going seal-watching while working on a song about sealing, going above the treeline in the Rockies, and plenty more. I also had a moonlit walk on the beach with one Mudcat lady and a naked song circle with another; there's many people who wish they could say the same. And of course, the spare beds and showers and lasagnas and other practical gifts didn't do me any harm either.

Needless to say, if you're ever in Toronto...


Love, Marion (Perth, Ontario)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Deckman
Date: 07 May 04 - 12:18 AM

Blessing to you Marion. Bob and Judy

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 04 - 12:24 AM

Well, I enjoyed the hell out of your visit, Marion. Come a-calling anytime!

A

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 May 04 - 01:04 PM

You are a perfect houseguest, friend Marion. And a wonderful lyric writer. You may stop anytime in Michigan, and hopefully the boats will be in.

Thanks for coming, and I hope you enjoyed the Tuba Museum.

Mick

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 09 May 04 - 11:48 PM

Whoops, I forgot part of my speech:

And thank you very much also to all of you whose invitations I had to turn down for reasons of time or geography. I appreciate the offers as well as your patience with all my "Maybe - I'll have to see" messages. You should all come visit me when I settle down too.

I've had a quiet weekend at my Mom's, spending quality time with my good guitar and getting a fresh layer of cat hair on all my stuff. Tomorrow I start out for New Brunswick. I have another seven weeks or so of bus pass, good within Canada. I don't have my route all preplanned; the only definitely scheduled thing is passing through Toronto on June 5 for Rick's memorial. Basically, I intend to spend my time up till then on the east side of Yonge St., and the rest of June west of Yonge.

Take care eh, Marion

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 14 May 04 - 10:58 AM

Howdily doodily neighbourinos. Not too much exciting to report, but I thought I'd check in. I went to New Brunswick to see a college friend who's just a week before her due date so I got to observe the baby kicking. Now I am in Montreal seeing another college friend and my old landlords. Hope you are all well. Love, Marion

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 04 - 11:23 AM

Now that you're back in the north you'll get to go through spring all over again! Lucky you--it's the best time of the year and you're getting an extended season.

SRS

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Marion
Date: 14 May 04 - 11:38 PM

Well, I'll tell you the truth. You know how in the last chapter of Travels With Charlie, Steinbeck wrote that his trip suddenly left him and he made a hasty retreat home? I understand that bit now. Once I had left the states and made my way from Vancouver to the Ottawa Valley, I suddenly found that my wanderlust had abandoned me and that I feel like I've had enough of this. Is settlelust a word? -- my thoughts have turned to what I want to do when I have a home again, and I've started making inquiries about a place to rent.

Having said that, I have another six weeks left on my bus pass, and I certainly don't see myself just throwing it away. So I guess I'll carry on, go through the motions, and see if I get my enthusiasm back. But I'd just as soon not.

Maybe all this means is that I'm finally qualified to write a depressing road song...

Marion (Montreal)

Subject: RE: Marion's other busking tour
From: Dani
Date: 15 May 04 - 04:54 PM

OK, no one else has bitten.....

Naked song circle!? Did that happen after I left Rob's Solstice party, or was that someplace else?

'Cause I would hate to've missed that....

Dani