On Friday morning, I had an appointment for my hair. I love getting my hair done. My cousin is my hairdresser, and she is a gift to the world. Allison is compassionate, funny, and she does good hair. I get to catch up with her about family. We have a good time and end each session with a hug. In and of itself, that would have made for a good day. On Friday, I got my hair cut summer-short or bring-out-the-funky-earrings-short.
Feeling a bit more breeze on my neck and having had my hug, I ventured around the block to Earth Rhythms, a drumming store in West Reading. They were having a djembe sale. My son plays a djembe in his school African drum and dance group. I am a drummer wannabe. Our church has drumming circles which I have attended in the past with both of my kids when they were tots. I must admit that my sense of rhythm is creative--shall we say. I get it going for awhile and then I add an extra beat sometimes--perhaps matching my caffeine-induced heart palpitations. But I drum with my joy and it seems such a healing thing to do to send blissful vibrations into the world. My son said he doesn't really want a drum, but I got a good price, so I bought one for myself. (He can borrow it.) It has purple trim around the head and swirling designs carved around the base. Next month when we go to our vacation spot on the top of the hill, I am going to play my heart out. Who knows. Maybe I'll even take a drumming lesson or two.
With the wind on my neck and a drum in the seat beside me, I set out for my final destination of the day--a cheesemaking workshop based on products from New England Cheesemaking Supply (featured in Barbra Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle). The workshop was sponsored by Radiance, where I give my journal writing workshops. I got a new book on making cheese, sat around a beautiful kitchen with other cheese lovers to learn to make chevre and fromage blanc. We chopped herbed, rolled out balls of cheese, and laughed. Then when it was time to eat, I got a plate with multi-grain crackers and the cheese, poured a lovely little California Viognier and retreated to Sarah's blooming gardens and herbal labyrinth. I talked to a sheep farmer/knitter from Maryland and to some folks who are starting an organic vegetable farm. Sarah lent me a book called Everyday Sacred by Sue Bender which is about art and begging bowls and being open to spirit in all its forms. It was one of those days that was a little jewel for the senses.
I imagine circles. My head of hair. A drum. A wheel of cheese. A garden labyrinth. A bowl. Mandalas of celebrations--all of them.
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