Dear Friends,
I'm still in Asheville.
Every "things to do in Asheville" recommends the drum circle on Friday night at Pritchard park. It's usually in the top three things to do. Plus, people who've visited or live there will tell you. "You must go!".
They are not wrong.
I arrived downtown a bit early so I went to another must see place. The Woolworth Walk. They have the original soda fountain inside. The rest of the place is art. There are two floors of different artists. It's amazing. I'm so grateful there are artists in the world. They bring color, beauty, and drama.
Now, it's time to head back to the park. It's a bit early, 5:30 and the drumming doesn't start till 6. Except today they kind of started early. Well, the few that were there. The drummers grew as time went by
I'm still in Asheville.
Every "things to do in Asheville" recommends the drum circle on Friday night at Pritchard park. It's usually in the top three things to do. Plus, people who've visited or live there will tell you. "You must go!".
They are not wrong.
I arrived downtown a bit early so I went to another must see place. The Woolworth Walk. They have the original soda fountain inside. The rest of the place is art. There are two floors of different artists. It's amazing. I'm so grateful there are artists in the world. They bring color, beauty, and drama.
Now, it's time to head back to the park. It's a bit early, 5:30 and the drumming doesn't start till 6. Except today they kind of started early. Well, the few that were there. The drummers grew as time went by
This is the finest people watching place around. I mean that in the very best way.
The drum circle is like a tea kettle. It starts out tepid. In this case tepid is kinda amazing. The drumming begins. There's a few people gathered. They are swaying a bit, bopping their heads, a bit. One person starts dancing. I'm guessing she is there all the time. She knows everyone.
More drummers arrive, the swaying is putting out more energy, more dancing, everyone is bopping their heads. The tea kettle is warming up.
The drum circle is like a tea kettle. It starts out tepid. In this case tepid is kinda amazing. The drumming begins. There's a few people gathered. They are swaying a bit, bopping their heads, a bit. One person starts dancing. I'm guessing she is there all the time. She knows everyone.
More drummers arrive, the swaying is putting out more energy, more dancing, everyone is bopping their heads. The tea kettle is warming up.
More people join the dance floor, children, a couple of girls with hula hoops who were pretty good. There was a contortionist who introduced herself with a head stand. A couple of guys twirled unlit fire batons. Cue the dude on stilts ribbon dancing. Good Golly, Miss Molly we now have a full blown spectacle.
Man, I love me a spectacle.
There are a lot of drummers in attendance now. The tea kettle is bubbling getting ready to boil. I'm playing my legs, bopping my head and really feeling the drums when a lady in the drum circle brings me a drum.
I teared up. Why? All my life when something special like this happens I tear up. I'm kind of nervous to tell you why, but I'm gonna anyway. It finally dawned on me it's because I'm being seen. Really seen. Whoever, whatever the situation it's when I'm being me. Just me and nothing else, and somebody sees me.
It's powerful.
I tend to see the not enoughness in myself. You see there's a lot of things I'm not good at.
The people watching stopped while I drummed for two hours. It's one of those times when you just are. I know it sounds a bit woo woo. Perhaps it's what meditation is. I don't know.
Man, I love me a spectacle.
There are a lot of drummers in attendance now. The tea kettle is bubbling getting ready to boil. I'm playing my legs, bopping my head and really feeling the drums when a lady in the drum circle brings me a drum.
I teared up. Why? All my life when something special like this happens I tear up. I'm kind of nervous to tell you why, but I'm gonna anyway. It finally dawned on me it's because I'm being seen. Really seen. Whoever, whatever the situation it's when I'm being me. Just me and nothing else, and somebody sees me.
It's powerful.
I tend to see the not enoughness in myself. You see there's a lot of things I'm not good at.
- I don't have a good singing voice.
- I don't have great fashion sense.
- I don't have a good sense of direction.
- I can't read music.
The people watching stopped while I drummed for two hours. It's one of those times when you just are. I know it sounds a bit woo woo. Perhaps it's what meditation is. I don't know.
The tea kettle whistled announcing it was at a rolling boil. I snapped out of the trance and looked around. This place was packed. Everyone danced in their own way. This experience is special. I notice a couple dancing next to me. They are in the moment, and guess what? I'm making music for them. They are feeling the beats. My only hope is they name their baby Kelly. ;)
With warmest regards and rum pum pum pum,
Kelly
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