Native American Flute

I recently started playing a Native American Flute (NAF). Historically, NAFs are played by improvisation. I read music and have never improvised. I’m trying, but all my melodies sound very WASP-ish. I am white, after all . . .
There are flute circles made up of people who play the NAF, just like there are drum circles. I recently attended one and it was amazing! First, the setting was the Nature Center of a metropark, a beautiful log and stone structure. We met in the birding room, which has 3 sides of windows perched right on the Huron River; it’s outfitted with lodge-style furniture and a nice fireplace. The acoustics are great, too.
I was expecting everyone to show up and play their flute, like happens in a drum circle. I didn’t realize that NAFs become addictive after you obtain the first one. Everyone (but me) had at least 6 different flutes and some people had nearly 20! There are all kinds of them and once you learn to play them, it seems you want to make them.
The people were all so nice; the organizer, Karen, said that everyone who plays NAF is nice. One of the guys kind of took me under his wing; apparently, he had trouble overcoming his past traditional musical education when he started, so he had lots of tips for me. People showed up with drums, too, just to keep everyone in sync.
I’m excited to learn from these people!

Michigan's YMCA Camps

I'm working towards getting my certification as a lifeguard. Taking the class requires some pre-course tests, some of which involve swimming underwater for longer than I can hold my breath, so I'm training towards that goal. Besides getting a free membership when you work (even part-time) at a YMCA, I'd also like to spend some of my summers working with kids at summer camps.
Michigan has a lot of YMCA Camps all over the state; they are usually owned by an individual branch or by the combined branches of a single metro area. YMCA's from four different states own camps in Michigan! Most of them were built in the early 1900's and they contain beautiful old log structures perched alongside some crystal-blue lake. They really are beautiful places to spend a vacation, besides the fun of mentoring kids for a couple weeks.
I would likely start at Camp Storer, located in the Irish Hills area and owned by the Toledo metro YMCA/JCC. This particular YMCA Program is special for a couple reasons. The local Jewish Community Center has partnered with one of the area branches, adding religious and cultural diversity. Another great thing about Toledo's YMCA/JCC network is that a membership is good for every branch. In most programs, you have to join an individual branch; making you a "guest" at any other branch. This serves to keep people from the 'hood in the 'hood, and I'm happy that Toledo's Y Leadership is truly practicing the Judeo/Christian principles espoused by "Corporate YMCA."
The picture is from Camp Nissokone, owned by the Metro-Detroit YMCAs, located in Oscoda. The hospital where I work actually rents this camp for a week every summer to hold session for kids who are transplant recipients. I may vounteer there, too.
My first attempt at the lifeguard testing is Monday. Wish me luck!

Inauguration Day

Twenty years ago, I went to Bill Clinton's first inauguration. I was so lucky to be able to attend. My aunt was a guest on a bus trip sponsored by a Michigan State Rep for whom she had campaigned; I got to tag along with them.
D.C. was jam-packed and it was really exciting to be a part of it. I'm from a really little town, so most cities are exciting to me, but Washington during an inauguration is amazing. Of course, we were just part of a throng of people, so we couldn't see the festivities that well. Eventually, like many others, we got cold and went to a lounge to watch the rest on TV with some drinks.
There was a State senator in our group, too, and some folks quickly figured out that we got better service if we addressed him, loudly, as "Senator." We even got to attend an inaugural ball.
Regardless of your politics, it's fun to be a part of an historical tradition that brings together so many people. It's a wonderful memory and I had a great time, but I'm glad I'm not freezing in that crowd today!

Routine Reestablished

Yep, it’s been quiet here lately. It’s tough to reestablish a habit, ya know?
In the meantime:
• I put down one of my oldest pets, Mama Kitty. She had a good life and brought me much happiness.
• I suddenly find myself reconnecting with my property. I have lots of ideas for the house and yard and I’m fascinated with yard décor. This weekend, I placed the pictured St Francis statue to oversee my pet cemetery. He’s just one of many new items for the yard. I don’t know where this is coming from, but I did recently decide against relocating, so maybe I’m just recommitting to my home?
• I’m all out-of-sorts with the holiday closings of the rec centers at work. I keep showing up in a bathing suit to find the pool closed!
• A Facebook friend is chronicling the illness, death and responsive grief of her husband on her page. I commend her openness, but I’m so glad I wasn’t on FB when I lived through it.
• I LOVE January! The promise of a new start in a new year is so invigorating! I’m still working on my resolutions.
• There will be no trip to Treasure Island this year; I’m in financial recovery mode from Morocco and saving to see the lavender fields of Provence in June. I’m on a serious budget! (Except for yard décor, that is . . .)
• In the absence of a full-blown vacation, I need a road trip.

Women's Cooperatives

While in Morocco, we saw lots of Women's Cooperative businesses. Although citizens do enjoy a good quality of life, there doesn't seem to be any provision for the assistance of folks who are on the fringes of self-sufficiency, such as disabled or widowed people.
Most of the people on our tour were women and everyone seemed to really want to support these cooperatives. While bargaining for the best prices is part of the fun of shopping in Morocco, nobody bargained too forcefully at the ladies co-ops.
Call me suspicious, but when we went to a place where Berber rugs are made, I got a little suspicious of the Women's Cooperative schtick. See, the men did all the talking. The men did all the bargaining. The men had all the contact with people. Meanwhile, the ladies were sitting in the corner, behind a loom, unsmiling. (See her behind the loom?)
Frankly, I wasn't even expecting to SEE a man in the women's co-op; I'm sure they don't work there for free. Besides, if I were a Muslim selling goods to westerners, I think that "Women's Cooperative" would be a perfect marketing term . . .

Medinas in Morocco

In a number of cities, the oldest part of town is a walled fortification called a medina. Medinas have narrow, twisting “roads” which were designed to confuse and slow invaders. You can’t help but get lost in a medina; it’s part of the charm. This is an overview of the medina in the city of Fes. This medina, from the 9th Century, was my favorite part of the trip.

Most of the medinas have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Despite the tourists, preservation societies, and media coverage, life in the medinas is much like it was a thousand years ago.
You never know what you will see in a medina. Here, a man carries his “groceries” through the streets.

A medina resident takes his bread to the community oven for baking.

Musicians in the medina.

A square within the medina.

Some medina streets are jammed with people. Others are nearly deserted.

Moroccan Culture

Well, Sarge & I are back from Morocco. I think I was in awe the entire time.
Seven of the ten days in Morocco were part of a tour, for which we had a local guide. Mohamed is from a remote mountain village in the Middle Atlas Mountains. He is divorced, a dedicated father and a practicing Muslim. Despite his interaction with people from around the globe, his life is still a simple, rural mountain life; he washes his clothes in the river and is in great physical condition (despite his claim that “I want to be fat”). Mohamed’s assistance was invaluable, but the best part was having someone to question about cultural differences. Here are some that stood out for me:
Blondes – The men in Morocco were fascinated by blondes, regardless of their level of attractiveness. Blonde women ARE attractive, period. Mohamed elaborated further when I asked him if Moroccan women resented blonde women because of this. He said that it wasn’t a reflection of how attractive the men think Moroccan women are; they just want something different. He also readily admitted that most Moroccan men don’t want to marry a blonde; they just want to “be with her.” He shared his translation of a Berber saying which states that if you eat couscous and more couscous and more couscous, eventually you will get bored with couscous.
AIDS – I asked Mohamed if AIDS was a problem in Northern Africa. He replied that, “In my village, they don’t really believe in that.” As we talked more, I realized that this was a literal statement; they don’t believe that AIDS exists. They think it’s a big sham. It also became clear that Mohamed shared this view. He said he had never seen evidence of AIDS; nobody in his village (which is small and remote) had ever tested positive, so it must not exist.
Wedding rituals - Mohamed relayed that it’s important in his culture to marry a virgin the first time you marry. After the first wedding, it doesn’t matter, but the first wedding should be to a virgin. He told about the tradition in which the new couple show a cloth stained with the bride’s virginal blood to the family, the wedding guests, and the community. To everyone, in other worlds. He also said, “When there is no blood, there is problem.” It seems, though, that it’s just the tradition that is important, not necessarily the virginity. As Mohamed said, “But, if you have nice husband, you can kill a chicken.”
US Congress - Mohamed was talking about President Obama, for whom we heard endless praise in Morocco. He said that it seemed that Obama hadn't been able to solve our country's problems. I explained a little about our two-party system and the Congressional gridlock it has created and how this limits a President's ability to implement plans. Mohamed immediately determined a reason: "That's because your Congress is all Jews."