Fill to me the parting glass
Oct. 29th, 2006 07:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradToday was beautiful.
I got there around 9:15 to help direct traffic since we weren't sure what the turnout would be and if people were familiar with backstage where they would have to enter. After about 10 minutes, Sally and Marvin arrived and Sally relieved me of my duties so I could go in and set up.
Although we had noted no food, some either didn't hear or felt we needed something and brought some light odds and ends. It was exactly the right amount. We also brought copious amounts of trash bags. A number of people (on my request as well as on their own) brought wine. Red wine, but no merlot...Dan was allergic to merlot, so we didn't want to have anything he didn't like. There were a few scotches of quality and some non alcoholic ciders. As the group was large enough, it was agreed to move the event to the Dragon Inn, just down the hill. Joe and I opened a few of the red bottles to breathe, and we began.
The circle just formed and Glen, Dan's son, began to speak. He said he didn't want anything morbid or sad, but to share memories and the like with each other and to know that Dan was not to be held sacrosanct so the sillier and more embarrassing the stories, the better. Well, that opened some lovely floodgates.
Stories began to pour out of everyone. How he stuck out his tongue, how he hated making "those goddamned mugs," how his house was gorgeous, but cluttered beyond belief, how he didn't actually have food in his house because his kitchen was filled with woodworking items, how he selectively heard, how disorganized he was, how childlike when he danced, how the doctors had decided he wouldn't be able to walk again after last years accident, yet he did, how he loved art and quality, how museum curators more than one time would find him laying under the furniture on display to see what it looked like, how he could talk himself into getting to the back sides of the museum to see items like no one else was ever able to with an appointment years in advance, how with only a few moments of discussion he could convince people to help him with his research, how he loved beautiful women, how he loved great food, how he loved life.
Shane spoke for the Greenmen and the four members of the grove sang a verse for Dan, as Shane spoke, the wind picked up, as if Dan was really responding. It felt very good.
After over an hour of stories, Glen suggested we all get a drink. We gathered our mugs or glasses or goblets, or, if we didn't have one, the paper cups and filled our glasses. Before that, Johnny F. asked that we all gather in a circle, which covered the entirety of the bottom open section of the Dragon Inn and held hands, breathed together, and offered an ohm. In the silence, the wind picked up through the trees again. Glen drank from his father's mug. A chianti was given to a few people (after my white sweater decided it wanted to wear some of it), and every other red (except merlot) was handed out as needed.
With Glen's permission, I knew there was one more "toast" we needed to do, so I asked everyone to make sure they had a glass with something. I told the group that I wasn't sure I would be able to do this alone, so if they knew the words, which I was sure they did, to please join in. Together, we raised the Parting Glass to Dan.
Afterwards, we drank and ate and enjoyed each other's company. I was informed of the actual history for the Parting Glass, which amused me greatly. Then, Joe O informed people that if they wanted to buy a mug, goblet, or shot glass (or one or two of the other things) that they could come over and buy something. To say the response was a bit overwhelming, given how small the group was (about 50-60 of us), would be an understatement. I stood by Joe and Holly and made sure they were able to get everything and no one walked out without seeing them. I became a human calculator and by the end of the short spree, I could have made almost any sale in that booth and known what to charge.
Afterwards, most people left and we cleaned up the Dragon Inn so no one could have known we were there, or so I hope. I do have some spoons and I think (unless it fell out in my car) a pie server...I have to see if it's still there or if it got lost. Glen asked for a few of us to go back to the booth to help him inventory what was there. It was both solemn and humorous. There were a few items that had been held for family, both blood and spiritual and some were either dispensed today or just informed for later.
I had never really noticed all the signs that were on his walls. While we had been finishing up earlier, one was read aloud and I told Holly, if that was being sold, I wanted it. It said:
"The bond that links your true family is not blood -
but respect and joy in each other's lives"
Another voiced an interest as well, but when it was finally pulled down toward the end of the inventory, when most had left, it was handed to me. It WILL be going up on my wall this week. I'd do it tonight, but I think it's a two person job, so I will be calling my "family" to help.
Dan was the merging of two of my families, my faire family and la Famiglia, my family at Dellarte. When I first saw Glen, Dan's son, and we had a moment to actually hug hello, I think we both held on a little tighter than we would have normally. There was such a great comfort in that simple gesture.
At the end, there was a small group of us who went to dinner at Squisito's, one of Dan's favorite restaurants. There, the manager, who knew them well, pulled out a bottle of wine and sat us down (sadly, it was merlot). Without us asking, food appeared on the table. When he came to take our order, we didn't get menus, we just described what we wanted and it appeared in moments. We all got espresso and gelato to finish the meal (except for Marvin). It was finally time to leave, we said our goodbyes with many hugs and headed our several ways.
I will miss the Master Joyner. I will miss his appreciation for lost arts, for great laughs, and for true family.
To my "family" here now, I love you all for what you are to me and who you are for each other. Thank you.
I got there around 9:15 to help direct traffic since we weren't sure what the turnout would be and if people were familiar with backstage where they would have to enter. After about 10 minutes, Sally and Marvin arrived and Sally relieved me of my duties so I could go in and set up.
Although we had noted no food, some either didn't hear or felt we needed something and brought some light odds and ends. It was exactly the right amount. We also brought copious amounts of trash bags. A number of people (on my request as well as on their own) brought wine. Red wine, but no merlot...Dan was allergic to merlot, so we didn't want to have anything he didn't like. There were a few scotches of quality and some non alcoholic ciders. As the group was large enough, it was agreed to move the event to the Dragon Inn, just down the hill. Joe and I opened a few of the red bottles to breathe, and we began.
The circle just formed and Glen, Dan's son, began to speak. He said he didn't want anything morbid or sad, but to share memories and the like with each other and to know that Dan was not to be held sacrosanct so the sillier and more embarrassing the stories, the better. Well, that opened some lovely floodgates.
Stories began to pour out of everyone. How he stuck out his tongue, how he hated making "those goddamned mugs," how his house was gorgeous, but cluttered beyond belief, how he didn't actually have food in his house because his kitchen was filled with woodworking items, how he selectively heard, how disorganized he was, how childlike when he danced, how the doctors had decided he wouldn't be able to walk again after last years accident, yet he did, how he loved art and quality, how museum curators more than one time would find him laying under the furniture on display to see what it looked like, how he could talk himself into getting to the back sides of the museum to see items like no one else was ever able to with an appointment years in advance, how with only a few moments of discussion he could convince people to help him with his research, how he loved beautiful women, how he loved great food, how he loved life.
Shane spoke for the Greenmen and the four members of the grove sang a verse for Dan, as Shane spoke, the wind picked up, as if Dan was really responding. It felt very good.
After over an hour of stories, Glen suggested we all get a drink. We gathered our mugs or glasses or goblets, or, if we didn't have one, the paper cups and filled our glasses. Before that, Johnny F. asked that we all gather in a circle, which covered the entirety of the bottom open section of the Dragon Inn and held hands, breathed together, and offered an ohm. In the silence, the wind picked up through the trees again. Glen drank from his father's mug. A chianti was given to a few people (after my white sweater decided it wanted to wear some of it), and every other red (except merlot) was handed out as needed.
With Glen's permission, I knew there was one more "toast" we needed to do, so I asked everyone to make sure they had a glass with something. I told the group that I wasn't sure I would be able to do this alone, so if they knew the words, which I was sure they did, to please join in. Together, we raised the Parting Glass to Dan.
Afterwards, we drank and ate and enjoyed each other's company. I was informed of the actual history for the Parting Glass, which amused me greatly. Then, Joe O informed people that if they wanted to buy a mug, goblet, or shot glass (or one or two of the other things) that they could come over and buy something. To say the response was a bit overwhelming, given how small the group was (about 50-60 of us), would be an understatement. I stood by Joe and Holly and made sure they were able to get everything and no one walked out without seeing them. I became a human calculator and by the end of the short spree, I could have made almost any sale in that booth and known what to charge.
Afterwards, most people left and we cleaned up the Dragon Inn so no one could have known we were there, or so I hope. I do have some spoons and I think (unless it fell out in my car) a pie server...I have to see if it's still there or if it got lost. Glen asked for a few of us to go back to the booth to help him inventory what was there. It was both solemn and humorous. There were a few items that had been held for family, both blood and spiritual and some were either dispensed today or just informed for later.
I had never really noticed all the signs that were on his walls. While we had been finishing up earlier, one was read aloud and I told Holly, if that was being sold, I wanted it. It said:
"The bond that links your true family is not blood -
but respect and joy in each other's lives"
Another voiced an interest as well, but when it was finally pulled down toward the end of the inventory, when most had left, it was handed to me. It WILL be going up on my wall this week. I'd do it tonight, but I think it's a two person job, so I will be calling my "family" to help.
Dan was the merging of two of my families, my faire family and la Famiglia, my family at Dellarte. When I first saw Glen, Dan's son, and we had a moment to actually hug hello, I think we both held on a little tighter than we would have normally. There was such a great comfort in that simple gesture.
At the end, there was a small group of us who went to dinner at Squisito's, one of Dan's favorite restaurants. There, the manager, who knew them well, pulled out a bottle of wine and sat us down (sadly, it was merlot). Without us asking, food appeared on the table. When he came to take our order, we didn't get menus, we just described what we wanted and it appeared in moments. We all got espresso and gelato to finish the meal (except for Marvin). It was finally time to leave, we said our goodbyes with many hugs and headed our several ways.
I will miss the Master Joyner. I will miss his appreciation for lost arts, for great laughs, and for true family.
To my "family" here now, I love you all for what you are to me and who you are for each other. Thank you.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 01:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 02:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 03:34 am (UTC)Doc
no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 10:30 am (UTC)Thank you
Date: 2006-10-30 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 12:25 pm (UTC)Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 02:27 pm (UTC)Lemme know.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 02:36 pm (UTC)Thank you though.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-30 05:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-31 01:43 am (UTC)Hey.........
Date: 2006-10-31 01:48 am (UTC)A Bheanachd
~Suzanne
no subject
Date: 2006-10-31 02:42 am (UTC)May all of you find comfort.