“Life Is What Happens When We’re Busy Making Plans…”

25th July 2002

It seems like only yesterday I was standing in my living room with Rep. Barbara Lee, raising $$ for her successful primary campaign. This week I found myself at a gathering in San Francisco listening to Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. You remember him – he’s the one who courageously backed “civil unions” in his state. It seems he’s decided to run for President of the United States and intends to bring his progressive, pro-choice point of view to the national stage. These are two political campaigns that are giving me hope in at a very dark time in America.

At the same time, I have had many adventures since last I wrote, so that I’ve actually had little time to reflect and report them here. Where to start? Well, first take a deep breath, Marg.

Here are a couple of photos from the recent National Women’s Music Festival in Muncie, Indiana. I attended the very first National Women’s Music Festival in 1974 and each return visit since then has been just as inspiring and energizing. I had such a great time this year, listening to women from all over the country sharing their versions of Women’s Music: all genres, all attitudes, all women writing and performing in the key of LIFE! The production values (lights, sound, stage management) were excellent. Had I not spilled a whole bottle of water over my cellphone at the soundcheck, my festival experience would have been perfect. This festival, which has launched so many women artists’ careers in the alternative music scene, continues to be a valuable breeding ground for new generations of strong young women in music as well as a showcase for the best of women’s music as it exists today. Many thanks to the women who have held it together year after year against all odds.

Undoubtedly the most remarkable thing that has happened in my world has been my growing involvement with the labyrinth. As a result of a simple act of gratitude, I have begun to work with this extraordinary entity, both as a musician as well as a facilitator. I will write more about this soon…

Onward and Outward!