NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER, 2006

October has to be one of the most beautiful months of the year in western North Carolina. It reminds us of how grateful we are to be surrounded by the colorful bounty of the mountains’ fall foliage getting itself ready for winter. This month the café presents a mixture of performers new to us as well as some old friends:

OCTOBER 5 – MORWENNA LASKO & JAY PUN. This duo from Virginia presents a unique combination of exquisite violin and guitar.

OCTOBER 7 – MICHAEL RENO HARRELL. There is nothing new to say about Michael except that we love his songs and stories.

OCTOBER 8 – JONATHAN BYRD. Part of our new Monthly Sunday Night Concert Series. Tickets are $15 per person.

OCTOBER 12 – CHRISTA DECICCIO. Wonderful singer/songwriter from Knoxville.

OCTOBER 14 – THE CARPENTER ANTS. Their “old style rhythm & blues, gospel soul & country funk” music fits the title of their CD, “Ants in Your Pants”.

OCTOBER 19 – KEN & JOAN PITZER. This West Virginia duo returns with their Appalachian-flavored music.

OCTOBER 21 – HIGH WINDY. Fine bluegrass band here for the first time.

OCTOBER 26 – DAVE POTTS. He won 1st place in the folk/Americana/roots category at the 2005 International Acoustic Music Awards.

OCTOBER 28 – LUMBAR FIVE. Soulful, rootsy rock and roll band from Chattanooga.

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If you missed Chuck Brodsky in the first performance of our Monthly Sunday Night Concert Series, you should spank yourself. It was a perfect evening of remarkable music with a quiet “listening” audience appreciating it. I believe that an audience like that inspires a performer and often produces an evening that encourages him/her to reach beyond the normal parameters of a performance. All this

is to say that you should not miss Jonathan Byrd on October 8th (see above).

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Annie Proulx (“Brokeback Mountain” among many other writings) is one of my favorite authors. She has said, “life is not always a question of doing what you like but a matter of doing the best you can with what you’ve got and who you are.” I was reminded of this when I spoke at the recent memorial service for my oldest friend who had died of cancer. We had been life-long friends and I had to think about how this was able to happen because we were totally different in so many ways (e.g., politics, faith, etc.). I think that it is at least partially because we were never anybody but ourselves when we were dealing with each another. What we were is what we got. We cherished each other far more than we did our differences (except that they often added considerable spice to our conversations). In other words, we did the best that we could with our relationship. And it was enough.

We all know that this is one of the things that we are called to do with our lives. One of the perks of getting older (and there aren’t all that many) is that I understand that much better now. It affects how I have chosen to live my life and I how I want to be with those who are important to me. Maybe it will yours, too.

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A friend sent me these wonderful signs:
On a dry cleaner’s sign:
“Drop your pants here and
you’ll receive prompt attention.”

A sign at a McDonald’s:
“Parking for drive-thru service only.”

On a convenient food mart:
“Kids with gas eat free.”

A sign at a train station somewhere in the Orient:
“For restrooms go back toward your behind.”

On a store called Babies & Children:
“Buy 2, get 3 free.”

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Quote of the month: “Life is so difficult. How could we be anything but kind?”--Jimmy Carter

Robert Seiler
Purple Onion Café