reunion at last

2019 marks my 50th school reunions. I attended two different secondary schools, so my first reunion was in September, and my next one is Oct. 18-20. In between, I'm off to Europe for a month.

I flew to Dayton on 9/10 and stayed with my sister, who also attended Walnut Hills, in Dayton for a week, and on Friday the 13th we went to Cincinnati, and listened to the school's 80 piece chamber orchestra, and there were about 80 of us. Afterwards, we had after school snacks! After that, we checked into our hotel, and got ready for the bar party at the Banks down by the Riverfront. After we parked, we walked across the street toward the river, and watched a lovely sunset, swung on the swings, and hung out with the Reds mascot:

Cathy tired early, but I stayed another two hours, and had a ride back to the hotel with two fellow alums who were staying at the same hotel.

On Saturday, we went back to school for a very good pancake breakfast, which was followed by a tour of the school.

Walnut Hills High - Sursum ad Summum
Yes, it's five times the size of Monticello! When I attended, there were around 2000 students.
There are now 3000 students, and 6000 on the waiting list!

Cathy and I skipped that, and instead went to Burlington, KY to have lunch at the Tousey [one of my all-time favorite eateries] House.

Although I had my 30th reunion shirt, I really liked our new one, and wore it to lunch.

After that, I really wanted to see the poster exhibit at the Taft Museum. We were both surprised how much the place has expanded, and how beautiful it was.

One of my favorites.

This is one of the original printings on silk!

Saturday night was the big dinner and party at Memorial Hall. Leeds gave both of us a ride to it from the hotel, and at the event, I ran into Camille Bush, who used to sit in front of me in home room. She joined us at our table along with a grade school friend of mine, Chris Dux. Dinner was a buffet, and then they chose 8 of us for a trivia contest, and Leeds, Bernie [another grade school friend of mine], and I were chosen as contestants. I was chosen because I'd been a member of the Latin Club! They had a fabulous 60's band, and a great Motown band, and lots of Graeter's ice cream and other goodies for dessert. The dinner was over around 11, and there was an after-party that was supposed to run till 2 am, but the three of us skipped that, and went back to the hotel.

On Sunday, we woke up early, checked out, and ran around like crazy buying Skyline chili dogs, White Castle burgers, and a 6 pack of Graeter's ice cream for our 60's Clifton reunion party from noon - 4 pm. We were ecstatic with the turnout of 30-40 people. Others brought Hitchin' Post chicken with all the sides, and lemonade. We also had Schoenling Little King ale.

Mount Storm Park in Clifton

My sister Cathy, Dan, & Bernie [we used to play Monopoly in grade school].

At both reunions we decided 10 years is too long to wait, and plan to meet again in 2024!

Off to a good start. Will try to keep up with myself.

Kim Currie Remembrance

Seems like a long time since I've posted here, and I'm already behind on writing about this year's European trip, but I wanted to write about a dear friend of mine who died on Sept. 24th, and whose memorial service will be held tonight [Oct. 5th] in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.

Kim Currie [?I never knew her birthdate] - Sept. 24, 2019 Original Bad Girl

[That's what's written on the candle in runes]

Tonight is Kim's memorial in Etobicoke, Ontario. I remember her home there well. I'm sitting in my apartment in Kaunas, Lithuania writing this and meditating on my lost friend's life.

We met in the 80's at a WicCan Fest at the old UniCamp site. We were thrown together [literally] when the guys we were staying with found out that their 'significant others' had now decided to attend over the weekend. We had no idea!

Jim and Andy came and told me to pack up all my things and that they were going to move me to a cabin. The same had happened to Kim. We became friends instantly.

The last time I saw her was last summer at Fest. She had picked me up at the Toronto airport, and we stayed at a hotel overnight, and Ashley picked me up the next day. I thought we were close to her, but no, everyone was actually closer to Hamilton. Kim didn't come with this time, but the last time we were at Harvest Fest, our lewd, rude, and crude event was 'pin the penis on the pin-up guy' we had posted on the door of the 'B' [is for Bad Girls] cabin.

My fondest memories of her are her delicious Rose Mead, and ALL of the lewd, rude, and crude events. I still have the buns, boobs, and balls impressions made with poster paints on paper. I remember the lewd limbo; and when it was Isaac Bonewits turn, instead of shouting, "Isaac take your clothes off," we screamed, "Isaac take your hat off!"

I stayed with her during the Gaia Gathering in Toronto, and we all went to some Asian fusion bar, and sang and sang, and on the way home, I saw this elephant table in the hallway outside the W.C. and asked the owner if it were for sale? "$20?" I paid him, and Kim's boyfriend at the time carried it back to the car. It stayed at Kim's in Stouffville until my sister Cathy and I drove up from Dayton, OH for the Tribal Hearth gathering in February, and it now sits in her living room along with the 'Bad Girls' lava lamp, just next to the front door. We always had great fun together. When I was there in June, we had planned to meet on the American side at the casino in 2020. I was supposed to fly in to Buffalo and meet her there.

Now the only place we might meet again is in Freya's Hall. Goodbye, Kim, I'm really going to miss you!

-Prudence Priest, Oct. 5th, 2019

p.s. The photo is of the candle I'm burning for her during the remembrance ceremonial.

This side says 'KIM' in runes.

Lithuania Day

Just had to share this beautiful translation:



Labas visiems, 

I wrote about everything today, but I forgot to remind you that tonight is the time when Lithuanians worldwide will be singing the National Anthem, Lietuvos Himnas. This takes place at 9 p.m., EST. Lithuanians everywhere will be singing! Grab your tri-color Lithuanian flag and get outdoors and sing as loud as possible, so that your voice echoes with the words of freedom around the world. Sorry I am giving you such short notice.. 

Valio Lietuva! 
Liuda 

The Lithuanian National Anthem ("Lietuvos Himnas") is usually sung at Lithuanian gatherings throughout the World. There will be no better time than tonight to perhaps rededicate ourselves to the ideals set forth in Lithuania's "Lietuvos Himnas". I know of no other Anthem as beautiful and lyrically more meaningful than is ours. 

"Lithuania, my homeland, land of heroes! Let your sons & daughters draw strength from the past. Let your children follow only the path of virtue, working for the good of their native land and for all mankind. Let the sun banish all darkness from Lithuania, with light and truth always guiding our steps. Let the love of Lithuania burn in our hearts And for the sake of our country, let unity blossom." 

Translated from the original by Vincas Kudirka 

Art Update

Finally finished my largest [18" x 24"] painting ever of the Dene
River in Scotland. I'll be entering it in several shows.

Here it is unframed:

 Framed:

 When I was leaving Scotland, my friend Faracy Moon Grouse gave me a hand-detailed print of "Persephone" which I also framed:

I gave her a copy of my hand-detailed print of "Mycale" [the Mother
of Gemini]: She was the first witch who was documented for 'drawing
down the moon.']
The photo is of another copy of the print. I often sell them at art events
I attend. Will start on my Lithuania and Sweden travels as soon as
I can catch up on everything else.

May 1-3

Found a few more photos from 4/30, but as you can see, the quality is not what it should be:

Performers at the fire arch.

More performers. That's George taking pictures to the left of the blue birdman.

Nice view of Edinburgh from the top of Colton Hill.

5/1

Arose before dawn to gather the May dew, and then slept in. Leaving in two days so I went to the Botanic gardens and Art Museum.

Just loved everything in this photo.

Purples all over

One of many waterfalls.

There are so many scotches in Scotland, but didn't have much room in the suitcase and still have 3 weeks to go in Lithuania. I was walking back on Clerk Street and found the last bottle of this and brought it home.

Laughfrog

 That evening Faracy had a few friends over for Bealtine, and they did divination, and we drank wine and had potluck finger foods, and then I suggested we listen to "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harem, followed by a screening of the perfect movie for May Day, "The Wicker Man." Happy May was had by all.

5/2

Last full day in Scotland. Faracy took me thrifting and sightseeing again, and to one of her favorite places, the river Dene. I'm working on a composite painting of these five photos. We had cappucinos and steak sausages for dinner. I gave Faracy one of my paintings, and she gave me one of hers. Then I packed like crazy for my flight to Lithuania tomorrow afternoon. 

Dene Folly

Dene gate

River Dene

Walpurgis

Faracy had told me they celebrated May Day on 4/30. Now I get it. The event we went to started at sundown on Walpurgisnacht on Colton Hill. We arrived around 6 and found a great parking spot right away. It was a short walk to the gate and then up the hill with thousands of others to bring in the May.

That's Arthur's Seat behind us, and the Moon rose in that dip above and between us.

Faracy was kind enough to lend me a purple, heavy wool coat. It was cool, and as it grew darker, it grew colder, too. My pictures could not capture all the entertainment and views in the dark. We had stunning views of Edinburgh and its surroundings from the top of Colton Hill.

This was one of the stages. [That's Arthur's Seat through the pillars.]
There was a bonfire site, and other event areas, and at least 100 performers.
 Excellent food and drink vendors.

With a Full Moon rising over Arthur's Seat, they crown the May Queen and King around midnight and then head from Colton Hill to Arthur's Seat for a May Day party.

We ran into a photographer who knew Faracy, and took some photos of us. His name is George Cairns, and he takes lovely photos of us and of Nature.

We stayed till midnight, but left before the rush, and had an easy time returning to Gladstone Terrace. We did not go to the after party. Here are two photos I took in her flat.

Faracy told me her grandfather has had her painting like this since she was a child.

Faracy's flat has really high ceilings as you can tell from her curtains.
I was shocked! They're a Wm. Morris print, too. She said they were there when she moved in.

 

4/28

4/28
Arose early for me and went to the Museums of Scotland. Hard to post all the photos, but these were my favorites in their genres.

My favorite museum piece of the whole trip. It was the only one you weren't supposed to photograph, but I took it anyway.
It would make a great jigsaw puzzle.

It's an ale hall after all.

Best stained glass.

Pictish stones

Superstitious

Where J K Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books

Public Library in Edinburgh

Library Ceiling

After a long exploration of the Scottish Museums and surroundings, I stopped here on Clerk Street for a proper
 afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea at family shop on Clerk Street

Cost all of 10 pounds

While I was on the way back to Faracy's, I found a duvet and pillow case for 4.5 pounds of William Morris' 'Pomegranate' pattern. It's one of his oldest designs, circa 1864.

Pomegranate Pillowcase [by Sanderson's]

 I also found a space heater there for 8 pounds, but wasn't sure it would fit in my suitcase. 

4/29
Went back the next day and bought the heater. It weighed less than 3kg and would not take me overweight. Faracy picked me up and Matty took the heater back to the flat for me while we went out charity shop shopping.

The ones left behind.

Went to over 10 stores, but didn't really find much. Did buy a jet necklace for 2 pounds. All that shopping made us peckish, so we went to a cute fish and chips place full of schoolboys, and enjoyed a classic UK dish. Next, on to the Secret Garden for onesies and perrenials.

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View of patio seating and plants. We enjoyed hot drinks inside and then off to pick up daughter, Maddy, and start BBQ.

Family BBQ : I could see my breath, but the sausages were really delicious. I said good night. After all I have a long event on Walpurgisnacht.