My self-styled spa weekend
Posted by Carolan Gladden at 9/7/2009 8:40 AM 
Categories: Music, Health, Ideas, Surprises, Experiences
Categories: Music, Health, Ideas, Surprises, Experiences
On Friday I checked into my old favorite Kona Kai at the end of Shelter Island and walked miles along the bay, sweating in the hot sun, with a late lunch at funky Red Sails Inn. Walked back on the meandering path along the marinas, admiring the m
yriad sailboats and yachts at anchorage, then hit the fitness center, tried out my backstroke in the pool, then relaxed and finished reading Elliott Tiber's autobiographical "Taking Woodstock," the funniest, most poignant and moving book I've read in a long long time.After a night's sleep, at 6:30 it was more walking, another gym workout and then to savoring a little of my favorite apple pancake at the Original Pancake House. (Actually, the original Original is in an old house in Portland, where I'm from.) At last home I re-watched all 3 hours of the Woodstock documentary and let it totally sink into my psyche. I wish I had been in touch with the times then -- it's only now that I understand how much those 3 days of peace, music and love meant to the world. And oh how I wish the idealized beliefs would return ...
On Sunday after a quick workout I took in a morning showing at Landmark La Jolla of Ang Lee's movie "Taking Woodstock," based on the book. It's interesting but includes little of the festival music, plus Elliott is portrayed as a cute slim guy -- when over and over in the book he kvetches about being fat and ugly and how he got that way. The movie definitely retains the humor of hiis meshuga immigrant Jewish morther and the mishigas of their weird El Monaco motel. But it's unnerving to be in an audience of 6 -- count them -- and I'm the only one giggling/snickering/laughing/guffawing.
Final event, an early evening jazz fest at Humphrey's Backstage Lounge, with some great jazz and fine funk. Also shared a table and conversation with a young Black man dedicated to helping kids at risk and fun to boogie with.
Today, 3 pounds lighter (mission accomplished!) and in a mellow mood after my adventure, I can say that for me the absolute highlight of it all was the incredible drum solo in the inimitable Carlos Santana's blistering "Soul Sacrifice" by Michael Schirieve (then age 19) -- transcendant minutes preserved for all time in film and sound.
Ahhhh ...
Played: 16 | Download | Duration: 00:11:35
Positively,
Carolan
This is great. It is refreshing to hear a blast from the past.
Reply to this