September 2008 Town Meeting
After all the happiness of having them with us, in the wind-up of the Wobbly, on the docket for the town meeting, the kids had one more surprise for us. James went up to the front of the room, swinging his hands, grinning like the used-car salesman he once was long ago. Maybe years of Buddhism had made him forever merry, like the Tibetans. Anyway, he said, 'Before we get into the Wobbly, Geoff Gregory would like to share with us – Geoff.'
Geoff got up out of his chair and sauntered up to the front, sitting on the edge of table. I half expected him to say 'My name is Geoff and I am a jerk,' There was so much of the Forum ingrained in him. It made me smile.
'I'm not here to speak on my own behalf, but I will do my best to be enrolling.' That got a laugh. 'Thanks.... Most of you know me. Some of you have known me since before I was born.' He looked about the room at Maggie and Joe, James and Betsey, Mike and Karen. 'My sister Sassa and I have had a great time being home with you all this weekend, and for our family, it has been very special.'
George, beside me, clamped his hand on my leg. He raised his head, with a wistful expression. I too, knew what was coming. Geoff went on,
'Thirty-four years ago, my parents came here, very young, very innocent and idealistic, full of a vision about how they wanted to live, about how life could be; peaceful, loving, co-operative. They would be the first ones to tell you that they hadn't a clue what they were doing. They were just operating on belief in each other and in God. They came out here to live in a way that most of us couldn't tolerate today –' He glanced over at James, who was laughing. ' Okay, I daresay that many couldn't tolerate living that way back then.' He paused.
'When I was a kid, there was no question in my mind about having no electricity to speak of, no television, no hot showers, no hi-fi stereo. It was just the way that we lived; taking baths in the kitchen while the bread was baking, and running out to the john outside in minus 5 degrees in the winter. If you wanted a shower, you had to go out to the cold one outside. Nice in the summer, but not in January.' He smiled. 'I'm not going to tell you that I walked twenty miles uphill in the snow both ways to school, because you know better. But we did walk to town, every day, and came home and watered the garden and the roof and did whatever other chores there were.
'That sounds like a hard life, but I tell you that we were free. In our hearts and our minds and in what we could choose to do and be. There was a lot of love and openness and a concern about being genuine and communicative with each other. And we really could express ourselves openly, even if it was not always with love.' He looked over at George, 'Dad, I want to thank you for letting me know when I was an asshole.' There were more laughs, and George smiled, shaking his head. 'God knows I needed it.' He looked back at the group.
'Our parents inspired us, they really did, and I think that they inspired some of you, even if other people – their own families – thought they were nuts. They came here with a vision, and they lived it, they still live it. They didn't just talk about it. And that's what Wobbly's always been about – living your vision for your own life. Now, sometimes, a vision can be at odds with society, maybe even for a long time. But eventually, society catches up. The ideals that they live by are commonplace today, and even our ordinary life catches me by the heart when I am out there in the world. Ma, I can't ever see zucchini bread in Starbucks or go into a Jamba Juice without thinking of you.' There were more laughs at this, including from George. 'But there are deeper and more important things, like ecology and respect for the presence of God in every person, like knowing that we really are all one together, and what you do comes around to you again.
'Well, on behalf of my sister and our kids, - ' he waved Sassa up from her place in the front row with Jack, 'I just wanted to say how grateful I am to my parents, and to all of you...' He paused dramatically here, and his voice caught when he spoke, 'because today is their 35th anniversary, and I think that is pretty remarkable in this day and age. They're still leading us by example.' He looked at Sassa. 'Mom and Dad, we love you very much, and we want you to know that all is very very well.'
Well, that made us both laugh and cry, and there were cheers, and James came up to give the kids a hug. Then he turned round and motioned for us to stand up. We did, and there was laughter, for under his tweed jacket Geordie was wearing the shirt Geoff gave him for his 50th birthday, which read 'I'm Not Dead Yet.'
'You didn't know what we were looking at up here,' James said. 'And just so you know,' he went on when the laughs and well-wishes had died down, 'There's a cake at the back – and it's vegan.'
At the singsong after the cake was cut, we were in fine form, all of us, with Sassa and Geoff joining in on mandolin and uileann pipes. It was just old times, until Joe looked at Mike and Mike said, 'Right, now all you boys and girls, I want you to clear the floor for something special. 'Geordie, I've known you thirty-four years and you always complain that you never get to dance with your wife, so this is for you: Longways, Mary Gray.'
The old band broke into 'Reynardine', one of our old songs, and it took my breath away, for it was 'our song'. George was teary too when he looked at me, and took my hand to lead up at the top of the room.
'Come on, darling girl, this is ours.'
'One evening as I rambled amongst the springing pine
I overheard a young woman converse with Reynardine
Her hair so black and her eyes so blue her lips like ruby wine
And he smiled and gazed upon her
Did the sly bold Reynardine
'She said young man be civil, my company forsake
For to my good opinion I fear you are a rake
Oh no my dear I am no rake, brought up in Venus’ train
But I'm searching for concealment all from the judge's men
He kissed her once and he kissed her twice till she came to again
Then modestly she bade him, pray tell to me your name
'If by chance you should look for me, perhaps you'll not me find
For I'll be in my castle, enquire for Reynardine
Sun and dark she followed him, his eyes so bright did shine
And he led her over the mountains
Did the sly bold Reynardine'
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