After PeterFest

It will take some time to come down from the highs of yesterday's PeterFest.  It was a day of memories, music, meetings, and old friendships and new.  I met Peter when he was the director of Hassle House in 1980.  One former co-worker came all the way from Florida to be here.  

Family and friends came from afar, too, and so many people from all walks of Peter's life.  

In past years Peter would sometimes read the accomplishments of his peers in Duke Magazine and say, "I am such a slacker."  Yesterday, if anything, proved that Peter was anything but a slacker.  In fact, one acquaintance came up to me to say, "I can't believe all that Peter has done.  I am such a slacker."

PETERFEST PART 1

(Photos courtesy of Dan Way)

This was what we called "The Service," held at Peter's beloved Schley Grange Hall just 4.5 miles up Schley Road beyond the farm.  The hall was packed, "SRO," as Peter loved to say about music venues (standing room only).  

Peter's sister, Karen, thought to bring Peter's guitar to remind us that he would have been there, picking along with the others.  

Peter's college friend Marty Ellin was a most excellent emcee.  One of Peter's former band members told me today (they were practicing here) that he thinks Marty has another calling ahead of him when he gets tired of being a lawyer.

The Service alternated speakers and music.  Below is the Doc Branch Band doing one of their two songs.

 Peter's life-long friend Evan Rashkoff hit the perfect mix of who Peter was...caring and funny.  Evan's wife, Clare, and I talk about the times we've come into the room when these two were on the phone laughing so hard they might fall off of their sofas.

Other speakers for Part 1 included Julius Jenkins, from Peter's VA Writing Group, Taylor Ellerbee, family friend whose writing about the farm and the pond moved Peter deeply, Anne Montgomery, Peter's friend from the Schley Grange, Peggy Sexton, former co-worker, Mary Spradlin, from Peter's extensive volunteering with the Red Cross, David Ginzberg, Peter's uncle (also able to make us laugh),  Geoff Hathaway, music buddy and close friend, and Ebeth Scott-Sinclair, who had worked with Peter on many music and volunteer endeavors.

Besides the Doc Branch Band, playing "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Sittin' on Top of the World," the other musical acts included Peter's former bands - Green River Band playing a song Clarence Clemmons taught them ("Savin' Up") and"The Flashbacks," playing "Knocking On Heaven's Door," and "Stella," a 7 woman acapella act with Jennifer Evans, singing a rousing "Up Above My Head."

Thanks to Sharon Van Horn who brought food and drink for the musicians, to Gayle Dauverd, Marty Ellin, and Jeremy Collins for set up and take-down (there may have been others I don't know about, so thank you, too).  Thanks to my daughters and sons-in-law, and to all of the speakers and performers who made this first portion of the day such a tribute to who Peter was in this world.

PETERFEST PART 2

(All but first and last two photos courtesy of Dan Way)

First-off, after much gnashing of teeth, the day turned out beautiful.  It was partly-cloudy, which shielded the musicians from the hot sun.  It was warm enough, and despite reports of heavy rain showers all around us, not a drop fell at Down Yonder Farm until after the guests left.  That's because there was an invisible dome over the farm, I am convinced.  Today, Sunday, has rained all day.  We hit it just right with the weather, as with everything else.

This is Red's Rhythm, the band Peter performed with until his death.  Stacey wrote a song for our 30th Anniversary and performed it (to my tears):

I know a place where we can meet, behind the barn where the air is sweet.

The bees go by, sing their lullaby for you and me, after all these years beneath the tree.

I’ll always be the one to love you.  I’ll always be the one to hold you.

Whether the sun comes up or the rain falls down on us, I am yours.

RR also performed a song Peter had requested, Tracy Chapman's "Say Hallelujah

Say Hallelujah
Throw up your hands
The bucket is kicked
The body is gone

Dry your eyes
And stand upright
Put a smile on your face
He wouldn't want us to cry

The sun will rise
The stars will shine
Turning day to dusk
And night to dawn
We'll pass on
But until that time

Say Hallelujah...

This was the scene taken from the porch of my writing studio.  We learned that we can hold a mini-music festival in the back yard.  What a scene!

Back at the farm the music unfolded more like a jam/festival though all the songs that Peter requested (and a few of mine) were sung.  These included Money Honey (Flashbacks/Billitones) , Stand by Lynn McGee and the Monarchs, Saw her Standing There and Stop Draggin' My Heart Around by Red's Rhythm, Savin' Up and Passionate Kisses, by Green River Band, No Woman No Cry by Rachel Stern Parting Glass by Stella, and Elija Rock by Jennifer Evans and Rick Keena.  Members of Mobile City Band jumped in for Money Honey, and Mary Rocap sang Save Somebody.  Look for some of Mary's writings about Peter in future posts.  These were among so many others!  Thank you all, and please send corrections or additions.

We missed having Harvey Arnold with us to perform Every Mornin' and Wish I Was a Catfish with Billy Stevens.  We also missed Bubba Norwood, who couldn't be with us.  We might have to have a PeterFest Part 3 to get those acts in.

Jessie and Amanda each sang a song , Guilty and Stand By Me respectively, and then they coaxed me up (before a much smaller crowd) to sing Late In The Day, which I'd practiced a bit with Jessie.  Like the Tom Paxton song I shared on the "Scattering" post, the words of this song have haunted me, and I've sung them nonstop since Peter died:

Late in the day when shadows start to play

On my backdoor and up and down this alleyway

I think back on the times with your hand in mine

We sat talking low...late in the day

It seems you never know a good thing till it goes

Slippin' through your fingers...that's just the price I pay

For being my own man and doin' the best I can

Now I'm alone without a plan...late in the day

Now I pour whiskey, break the ice

Put my feet up and close my eyes

I try hard to listen to what my heart might say

Try to find the rhyme to take me back in time

And be with you here...late in the day

...My life is still the same

My lips still call your name

And my heart can't hide the pain

Late in the day

Here's a version of a young Tim O'Brien performing his song: Late In The Day

I am going to attempt a few additional thank yous for now for those that made the time here on the farm possible, but I know that others pitched in that I didn't even know about, and of course there is a chance I'll overlook someone, but here goes.

First, every time I woke up in the wee hours of the night, frantic over PeterFest details, the following day I got a phone call or email from a very competent person who said, "I've cleared the day for you...what do you need?"  The first of these was Sharon Van Horn, who was mentioned above for her contribution at the Grange and here for stocking the "Green Room" with food and drink for out of town guests and musicians/speakers.  

The second was Meg Williamson, who has contributed heavily to the success of many of our family events (Amanda and Alejandro's wedding, Peter's and my 30th Anniversary party) and now this.  She and her mom, Sandy, coordinated the food for the participants.  Many, many of our guests brought something to share as well, and we thank you so much for your contributions.  

The third call came from Oriana Galardi-Este, dear friend who has helped with many other events including Jessie and Matt's wedding and "the Gathering" we held shortly after Peter's death.  Ori floated between Sharon and Meg's endeavors, and stayed late to clean up afterwards.  Rick Lonan, Gauld Dauverd, Marty Ellin, plus Taylor and Dylan Ellerbee were on clean-up crew as well.  Our audience was a tidy bunch and so helped make the job do-able.  I know there were others...

One of Peter's mottos in life was, "Always thank the sound man."  Well, usually the sound guy is a guy and that is true this time as well... I know that Geoff Hathaway, Jay Cunningham, Leon Patillo, and Scott More had a lot to do with the flawless sound we had at both events.  If there were others, please let me (and the world) know.

If Peter were able to witness the events yesterday he'd be so pleased.  If he were composing this post he'd tell you who wrote every song that was sung, when, and on what label it was recorded.  I'll spare you those details but if someone wants to compile them, I'll post them! 

 What I WILL compose and post, later, is a list of the musicians in each group.  Each person gave so much of him/herself to make this event what it was.

Late on Saturday morning I was alone at the farm, raking the last little bit of debris from a seating space, when the air got still for a moment, then picked up into a little swirling wind that brought down the maple tree seeds...

The seeds pinged off of the nearby tin roofs and for a moment I thought it was raining.  And then I felt, rather than heard, Peter say, "You're work is done, and this is going to be great."  

With that I went in to shower, get dressed, and head up to the Grange.  And it was... it all was great thanks to this incredible community that Peter created.

--Susan Gladin