# 160 - May 27th, 2009

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin...First I want to send my very best wishes to Bridget Reilly, Laddie Kalinowski, their lovely daughter, Quinn, and loyal dog, Jake, who next week are leaving the Valley, where they have made their home for several years, and are moving back east to be closer to their families both in Ohio and New Jersey. Many of you may know them as they have been very popular on the Valley’s social scene – they like a ‘good drink’ - and have thrown numerous wonderful parties and social gatherings during their stay here. Laddie has been a Valley electrician, working with Bryan Wyant for much of the time, whilst Bridget has been at Meyer Family Cellars in recent years. The gain of Quinn’s grandparents’ uncles’, aunts’, and cousins’ will certainly be many Valley folks’ loss. Hummingbird and I will both miss their kindness, generosity, humor, sense of what is right and wrong, social awareness and skills, and a special friendship very much indeed. May peace and happiness be with them...
With this in mind I have no choice but to make the Quote of the Week these wise words from St. Thomas Aquinas who said, “Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.”...I would only add another relevant phrase which I cannot attribute to anyone but it’s very appropriate in light of the fact that Bridget and Laddie often provided us with some wonderful goodies – “In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips”...
On Saturday night I headed down to the Navarro Store for the Hansen and Raitt show, the latest in the summer-long Live Music series held in the Deep End. There was a crowd of over one hundred people and it was certainly the best atmosphere of the series so far. These events attract all sorts of Valley folks, from representatives of The Old Families (Pardini, Pronsolino, Hulbert, Gowan, etc), to the Veteran Hippies (Captain Rainbow, Buckhorn Bob, Dee Dee, and friends), to Winery folks (Bob Klindt of Claudia Springs, Jill Derwinski of Brutocao, Sharon Sullivan of Roederer), to several Rancho Navarrians, a smattering of Valley-Dwelling Urban Refugees; a few bedazzled Brightlighters, and of course the Deep Enders themselves, led by the King of Dance, Tommy Hopper. Set amongst the towering redwoods and with Pablo on the bbq grill, the excellent music was actually just one of many reasons to make me think, “It doesn’t get much better than this”...
Sunday afternoon came around all too quickly and I had barely recovered from the previous evening’s activities when I found myself at the Lion’s Club Tri-Tip BBQ to benefit the ElderHome in Boonville. It was held in the lovely Redwood Grove at The Fairgrounds and once again a good turnout of Valley folk was in attendance, although it was not as busy as last year...With Grill Masters, Olie Erickson, Justin Clarke, and Kevin Lee, taking care of the important business, the Lions Club Crew serving up the fixings, and the Bowman Family on the beer and wine bar, the event was a success and I can only point out that this was certainly a case of “snooze you loose” for those who missed it...
Not much room or time this week but we must squeeze in some important Public Service Announcements for the upcoming week...Tonight, May 27th, it’s the monthly gathering of the Independent Career Women (I.C.W.) and if this is the first you’ve heard about it then you’re too late to sign up on this occasion. I did not receive an invite once again and I really must check in with Postmaster Joe in Philo as to why it failed to arrive... Then tomorrow, Thursday 28th, the Anderson Valley Lyme Group will show a new documentary film on lyme disease at 6:30 p.m. in the Live Oak Building in Boonville. Free admission and very informative.!!... This coming Friday and Saturday, May 29th and 30th (also on June 5th and 6th), the A.V. Theatre Guild will be presenting their 2009 production at The Grange. It’s ‘A Thurber Carnival’ featuring the works of James Thurber in several skits under the direction of the inimitable Rod Basehore. All shows are at 7pm and I urge you to support the Guild’s efforts to bring even more culture to the Valley...Finally, on Saturday and Sunday, 9am – 3pm each day, it’s this month’s Barn Sale under the expert stewardship of Gloria Ross at The St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville. There are lots of bargains to be had and whilst there are no more Holcomburgers these days (Bill has “retired’) there will be a guest grill chef serving food from 11am to 2pm each day...
I should go now – I’ve got to see a man about a sheep...Be careful out there; think good thoughts; stay out of the ditches; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle...May your god go with you...Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net