Apropos Sara's May Day Post, here are some recollections from Judy in an email she sent Janna and I this morning. I'm posting on her behalf.
Good Morning Girls,
Over the years since I was a young person, May Day has developed into various meanings. May Day if your in trouble at sea. May 1 if you celebrate world communism. Rabbit on the first day of each month if you deal in the good luck theory. May Day if you like to dance around the May Day Pole. May Day if you gave May Baskets to your childhood friends. As a kid I thought that was a great day.....originally, at least in Hardwick, the baskets were filled with candy piece. Mother said that they used to fill the basket with spring wild flowers....I guess in Hardwick there weren't many wild spring flowers, just wild kids glad to be out because it was spring! As to the basket itself, it was made from colored paper, colored or white paper napkins and, lucky Anderson kids, we often had old wallpaper sample books. The basket might contain little Tootsie rolls, jelly beans, carmel corn candies, little wrapped carmels either carmel or chocolate, popcorn, or piece of gum. I hated to get or make paper napkins baskets....you put the candy in the middle, gather the extra sides and tie with a piece of string, yarn, or if your really rich, ribbon. Very common! The idea was to take the basket to your friends house, deposit the basket at the front door, knock on the door and then run, hoping the recipient wouldn't be fast enough to catch you and give you a kiss. If I remember correctly, we girls would some times get to wear lipstick. Of course, the chaser wanted to catch you and you might like that if, even at that young age, you had a crush on that person and/or they were your "best friend". The other siblings might have different remembrances, however these are mine. Oh yes, I think we took great personal pride in getting the MOST baskets. Remember to tell you about Halloween next October. We did it differently in Hardwick.
Also last Sunday evening, Marj and I attended the Dave Brubeck and Ramsey Lewis program at the Hult. Brubeck played for one hour. He is almost ninety, walks slowly onto the stage, but when he sets down to play the 'old magic' is there. The audience gave him a standing ovation even before the Brubeck group began to play. I had never heard of Dave Brubeck until I met Lyman and at the time, I thought that kind of music was something only art majors liked. The sax/flute player has been with him for over 19 years. Bobby Milletano (sp) is so very heavy, I kept wondering how he could master enough breath to play long notes without breathing. I noticed that much like track long distance runners, he was bending over when he finished his solo features. The drummer was good, I guess, but as Mom used to say, "he looked very bored." Brubeck created the need for me to come home and get out all of the 29 Brubeck CDs we have and I have been listening to at least one at night on my wonderful xmas gift. Ramsey Lewis is 73, thin and impeccably dressed. He has a trio: big bass, drummer and piano. Lewis started playing the piano when he was nine and played at church. He does some great versions of gospel music...If your in Chicago on June 21st the group will be playing with the Turtle Island group. His drummer was a delight...very animated and creative. He did music and/or beats that made his percussion instruments talk. The fast tempo was a blur. His head danced and he smiled and seemed to be enjoying the entire process very much. I would suspect that this maybe the last time Brubeck plays in Eugene. Worth every penny of the ticket.
On with the day and "Rabbit" to all.
Love, MOM
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