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Revelations : Reading the flow of reminiscences and
reflections in this forum has just been so great ... I find
myself looking forward to the arrival of the next posts.
It's also had the effect of stirring some dormant memories I
thought I'd share....
Arriving in Monterey for my assignment to the Army Language
School,I experienced a mild brand of culture shock that had a
profound and lasting impact. I chose a lovely afternoon for an
introductory walking tour of the downtown area,specifically Alvarado
St,which I was enjoying immensely due to the unfamiliar mildness of the
Autumn weather. But there was something else ; I
was receiving smiles and spoken greetings from total
strangers,so often that I began thinking it must be a state holiday or some
other kind of celebration. Instead,I soon realized that this was the
California style,something totally different for a 20-year-old New England
native who'd never been far from home.
Describing the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake,the
psychologist William James referred to this spirit when he said,"Not a single
whine or plaintive word did I hear from the hundred losers whom I spoke to.
Instead of that there was a temper of helpfulness beyond the
counting."
Since I was already embarked on a quest of improving as a
musician,it had become routine to find people to jam with. And so it was that
through a pickin partner in my student company who had friends off-post,I soon
met the illustrious Donald S.Andrews. Don was attending MPC and living in
Pacific Grove,but soon found lodging at the Williams 'ranch',where I thereafter
spent most of my free time.
When I met Cynthia and her family,and then the Prices,the
Doners, Nancy Carlin,the Marcuses and others in the Highlands,the welcoming
atmosphere replicated exactly what I'd felt that day on Alvarado.
There were other things to learn about,like eating artichokes
and avocados, jack cheese and pippin apples,a glass of wine with
dinner,conversation and guitars by the fireplace...everyday life for West
Coast folks,but a new world for the New Hampshire boy - to which I should surely
add Point Lobos,Nepenthe,Santa Cruz,and Big
Sur.
Connections : Playing with Mimi,Richard and Joan,meeting Mark
and Cathy Spoelstra, jamming with Don and his surfin bud Dave Bradley....these
joyous encounters paved my path to the Bay Area music scene when I returned to
California after the service. Heading back to Carmel was the plan,but I landed
first in Berkeley to visit friends ; within a few days,Mark called me from SF to
tell me that Dave's bro Hank Bradley was in a band who needed a harmonica player
to help them finish their album for Vanguard. That was it - for the next three
years I was with Berkeley's own Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle
Band,playing the coffee houses,clubs,ballrooms and rock festivals - the great
adventure of my musical life thus far.
Regardless of venue or
circumstance,however.....anything I've done as a performer/writer has a thread
running through it that's tied inextricably to the Williams
household and the wisdom,resilience,humor,patience and
kindness of Cynthia.
The magic of those days is a magic that stays.
Brian Voorheis
@Greg - The issue of email address vs.name is nothing I'm
worried about if it's too touchy to resolve. Things can remain as they were,and
continued thanks for your efforts. =BV=
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