October in Salem, Massachusetts
Michael Gleason
the month of October my family and I participate in a charity fund raising
event in Salem (Massachusetts) called "Make-A-Wand". We give children a
posterboard star stapled to a straw, covered with glue and they get to put
glitter on it. We then add some ribbons and, for a $1 donation to charity,
they have a "magick wand". We have been doing this for over a decade.
Every year we ask for volunteers to help us out, and every year we get half
a dozen or so. Some of them actually show up. This year I am extending the
invitation to much more than the local community, To that end, I would like
to ask members of this group living in the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
Hampshire area to consider joining us.
We ONLY operate on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from about 11am until
about 5pm, and we only ask that our volunteers work a two-hour shift. You
don't have to be a Witch, Wiccan, Pagan, or Magickian to help out. You
simply need to enjoy being around children and encourage their creativity.
Our "rules" for the volunteers are simple: 1) Dress conservatively. We
don't want to scare off potential wand-makers. 2) Be positive with the
children (especially the younger ones). Praise their efforts. 3) Don't try
to convert people. We get some adults (okay, we get lots of teens and young
adults), but we are there for fun and to raise money for charity.* 4) Don't
bash any other members of the community or any of the stores in town. By
the same token, don't praise particular stores.
*If they have questions about your religious beliefs, feel free to answer,
although we try to restrict that kind of conversation to when we are not
busy with the wand-making. If we get enough enough volunteers, we will
designate someone to handle the "Ask-A-Witch" segment and, so long as you
are willing to put in part of your shift on the wand table, we will try to
make sure you have an opportunity on the other end (if you want to do it).
IF you have any questions, would like to volunteer, etc. please drop me a
line at gleaso...@comcast.net and put "Salem in October in the subject
line.
Baird Stafford
"Michael Gleason" <gleaso...@comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>
> Every year we ask for volunteers to help us out, and every year we
> get half a dozen or so. Some of them actually show up. This year I
> am extending the invitation to much more than the local community,
> To that end, I would like to ask members of this group living in the
> Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire area to consider joining
> us.
<sigh!> I wish I could go, even if it means leaving the warmth of late
summer in Florida for the frigid New England autumn. For one thing, it
would mean that the Dowager had passed beyond my care and
responsibility....
<snip>
Blessed be,
Baird
Yowie
news:sb2dnfxcopG_5j3V...@comcast.com
> As some of you folks may know, as well as reviewing books and CDs,
> during the month of October my family and I participate in a charity
> fund raising event in Salem (Massachusetts) called "Make-A-Wand". We
> give children a posterboard star stapled to a straw, covered with
> glue and they get to put glitter on it. We then add some ribbons
> and, for a $1 donation to charity, they have a "magick wand". We
> have been doing this for over a decade.
> Every year we ask for volunteers to help us out, and every year we
> get half a dozen or so.
<snip>
If only I could, Michael, if only I could.
Yowie
Gale
<snip>
>
> <sigh!> I wish I could go, even if it means leaving the warmth of late
> summer in Florida for the frigid New England autumn. For one thing, it
> would mean that the Dowager had passed beyond my care and
> responsibility....
Ah, Baird, you sound like a thoroughly exhausted caregiver. Having my
mother, mentally sharp as she remained, in our home the last two years
of her life was at times fatiguing and occasionally exasperating. I feel
more than lucky that I was spared visits to assisted living facilities
and all the elements of anguish the particulars of your visits and your
task must bring you.
Wishing you the best as you continue carrying a much heavier duty.
--
Blessed Be,
Gale
original fiction, poetry, reviews http://www.capjewels.com
"Progress which pursues only the next invention, progress which pulls
thought out of the mind and replaces it with idle slogans, is not
progress at all. It is a beckoning mirage in a desert over which stagger
the generations of men." -- Loren Eisley, _The Firmament of Time_
Kerry Weaver
A word of warning though: even though it is August 11, 2008, every
hotel room in Salem MA is booked for the entire month of October.
Blame it on high gas prices.
(WFXT, Channel 25, 5pm today.)
Don Hilliker
<gleaso...@comcast.net> wrote:
Ah, would love to go, have not been east since I got out of the
millitary in 1990. I am betting that AT&T will have issues with my
taking any time off, and I know that that is late in season for
northern mi so my lovely lady of 18 years come november (one day who
knows, we might even have the christain ceremony and become "legal")
will be working 6 days a week and would have very sharp words to say
about my going east again without taking her for the tour I have told
her she will have one day. Aside from that, with diverticulitous
(sp?) it is very hard for me to travel since while it is a very common
condition, it is not one of the current PC food allergies (almost as
bad as big boy taking the surgar free pie off the menu to add a nut
free item).
Brightest of blessings
don
Don Hilliker, Intricate Articles
http://www.intricatearticles.com
Baird Stafford
Gale <gal...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Baird Stafford wrote:
> <snip>
> > <sigh!> I wish I could go, even if it means leaving the warmth of
> > late summer in Florida for the frigid New England autumn. For one
> > thing, it would mean that the Dowager had passed beyond my care and
> > responsibility....
> Ah, Baird, you sound like a thoroughly exhausted caregiver. Having my
> mother, mentally sharp as she remained, in our home the last two
> years of her life was at times fatiguing and occasionally
> exasperating. I feel more than lucky that I was spared visits to
> assisted living facilities and all the elements of anguish the
> particulars of your visits and your task must bring you.
She has pretty well gone on ahead and left the motor running, I'm
afraid. I broke down in her presence for the first time last week, but
it didn't really matter - she wasn't really there to notice. The SO was
home and, as always, accompanied me on my visit to her, and he *did*
notice. I thank the Gods daily for him: he lends me strength.
> Wishing you the best as you continue carrying a much heavier duty.
Thank you, Gale.
Blessed be,
Baird
Michael Gleason
non-availability of rooms in Salem (most of them are booked by the end of
November for the upcoming year), which is why I asked for folks who are,
relatively, local. That way, folks can drive in and volunteer without
needing to worry about accomodations. That's also why we only ask for a
commitment of a couple of hours. People can come to Salem, do some
"touristy" things, put in a couple of hours with us, and still have time to
grab a meal and do more "touristy" things before going home.
So, if you are "local" (MA, RI, NH) consider giving us a couple of hours.
Thanks.
Mike
storm
> In article <gx2ok.8157$XT1.6...@bignews5.bellsouth.net>,
There are few things harder than a death watch. But the Crone will
relieve you both in Her time. Meanwhile, love and sorrow are both
precious possessions. Treasure what you can and feel the supporting
thoughts wandering from here in Colorado and so many other places.
Blessed Be.
-storm
storm
is a specialty of mine. Everybody's wand is unique and special. And
the occasional educational opportunity makes sense to me as well.
But more than distance keeps me from being there. I tried visiting
Salem once. Made the mistake of visiting a few museum places. It
wasn't my sisters in Wicca in anguish, but there was still too much
anquish. Went to Laurie Cabot's store and didn't get any better.
Just too much pain. This was many years ago and maybe I would shield
up differently, but the memory haunts me still.
Had that reaction once when a friend insisted I accompany her to
Alcatraz. All I could do was wait at the pier for the next boat off
the island. No place for an empath, that's for sure.
But good luck in your efforts. You have found an excellent thing to
do on so many different levels. Congratulations.
We have, in a couple of camping taught kids to make there own
rattles. Two paper plates facing each other, throw in a few dried
beans and staple the plates together. Decorate generously. Presto,
the kids get to join in on the drum circles with their own hand-made
instruments.
-storm
Baird Stafford
<179bfd75-ca76-496d...@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
storm <st...@frii.com> wrote:
> There are few things harder than a death watch. But the Crone will
> relieve you both in Her time. Meanwhile, love and sorrow are both
> precious possessions. Treasure what you can and feel the supporting
> thoughts wandering from here in Colorado and so many other places.
Thank you, too, Steve. I do know of and appreciate very much the
strength that is flowing in from all over the world - including, unless
I miss my guess, many who lurk here but do not post (in other words, I
don't recognize many of the auras accompanying the offerings).
And to all of you I say, thank you more than I can reasonably express
without degenerating into the purplest of purple prose.
Blessed be,
Baird
Baird Stafford
<a1874925-259a-4354...@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
storm <st...@frii.com> wrote:
<snip>
> But more than distance keeps me from being there. I tried visiting
> Salem once. Made the mistake of visiting a few museum places. It
> wasn't my sisters in Wicca in anguish, but there was still too much
> anquish. Went to Laurie Cabot's store and didn't get any better.
> Just too much pain. This was many years ago and maybe I would shield
> up differently, but the memory haunts me still.
> Had that reaction once when a friend insisted I accompany her to
> Alcatraz. All I could do was wait at the pier for the next boat off
> the island. No place for an empath, that's for sure.
Then do *not* go to Andersonville....
Blessed be,
Baird
who still gets the shakes when he thinks of his afternoon there.
Dicon
"Baird Stafford" <ba...@newstaff.com> wrote in message
news:baird-B9BAB8....@news.giganews.com...
Dear Baird,
I don't really know "about" Andersonville" in America.
I am crap at British history as well. What is it about the place please?
Thanks,
Jackdaw
Pete (aka: Farts In Circles)
> storm <st...@frii.com> wrote:
I tried visiting
> > Salem once. Made the mistake of visiting a few museum places. It
> > wasn't my sisters in Wicca in anguish, but there was still too much
> > Alcatraz. All I could do was wait at the pier for the next boat off
> > the island. No place for an empath, that's for sure.
>
> Then do *not* go to Andersonville....
>
> Blessed be,
> Baird
> who still gets the shakes when he thinks of his afternoon there.
Add Gettysburg and Fredricksburg to that list.
Not to mention, "Seccond Cold Harbor."
Oh,... and if you're ever in the "Holy Land," stay away from
MASADA! ;)
Pete (aka: Farts In Circles)
Well...
If I'm not at sea during any part of October I'll GLADLY show up for a
few hours on a weekend!
I'll try to let y'all know once I find out my schedule for next month.
Baird Stafford
<5fa02f29-f455-448d...@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
"Pete (aka: Farts In Circles)" <lordt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Add Gettysburg and Fredricksburg to that list.
I've not been to either of those battlefields, but I had no problem at
Vicksburg. Masada might bother me, but I seem not to have difficulties
at battle sites where all combatants were there of their own wills.
Blessed be,
Baird
Baird Stafford
"Dicon" <richar...@virgin.net> wrote:
> Dear Baird,
> I don't really know "about" Andersonville" in America.
> I am crap at British history as well. What is it about the place please?
POW camp in the State of Georgia (the one that has Atlanta, not the one
that's presently full of Russians) dating from the US Civil War, in
which the inmates were starved, beaten, provided with no medical care
and otherwise abused. Not a pleasant place to visit. Having been
there, I have *no* ambition to visit Auschwitz (sp?) or any of the other
Nazi concentration camps....
Blessed be,
Baird
Dicon
away time. The visitors visulisations and the "how awful" factor has a lot
to play in the vibes.
YGMV ( Your grue' may vary.)
Jackdaw
Dicon
OK, yup, I can see why.
Luckily, the only P.O.W camp around here was the Italian one in an orchard
in Llanrwst. Theye went out to work on the land during the war, and were I
guess well treated. It couldn't have been that bad, because quite a few
stayed on after the war and married into the community.
I't a football ground for the school now.
Jackdaw
Gale
<snip>
>
> YGMV ( Your grue' may vary.)
Sounds a good place to start -- since the occupants of this planet
universally feed on the flesh of the dead, in one manner or another,
every inch of living space is steeped in death. The flavor or atmosphere
of a place gathers from its elements of suffering and death, but also
all the other flavors imbued over the past 4 billion years.
Thus, IME, our reactions to a place will be created by particular,
rather than general, sensitivities: a graveyard may produce a sense of
transcendent peace (as I have felt in more than one rural cemetery), or
gentle melancholy (Thomas Gray), or discomfort (as I felt in Westminster
Abbey). A streambank may produce a sense of perfect belonging (as I
would feel walking Elk Creek in West Virginia, or visiting the home area
of my genetic parents, Big Flint, West Virginia. Or it may carry the
energy of newborn life (a mountain stream). Or it may be a different
stream entirely.
But what is of particular note, while all those flavors, the negative
and the positive, reside everywhere -- our minds taste certain ones in
certain places, with each of us perhaps attuned to a different (slightly
different or radically different) flavor in a given place. The
impression lies in both the place and its beholder, and is produced by
their specific interaction.
Again, all IME and, I guess, therefore also IMO. ;-)
Baird Stafford
"Dicon" <richar...@virgin.net> wrote:
On battlefields, yes. At POW and concentration camps where atrocities
occurred, I think perhaps not: the emotions were not only too intense
but lasted for too long easily to leach away. At Andersonville, I was
aware of the visitors' "how awful" reactions, but there were underlying
strata of emotions, as it were, fused not only into the walls of the
"fort" but into the very ground beneath one's feet. These were far
older and much more, erm, unsettling.
> YGMV ( Your grue' may vary.)
As I said in another post, it does for me. Battlefields don't bother
me, or not the three I've visited (Vicksburg, Concord and Breed's Hill
in Boston - the latter being famous mostly for the order, "Don't shoot
'til you see the whites of their eyes!").
Blessed be,
Baird
storm
For different reasons I add to the list the Winchester Mystery House
in San Jose. The other places mentioned are not problems for me
because of death, but because of suffering and pain. The Winchester
House is, to me, a monument to pain and insanity. You can google it.
It is a tourist attraction, of all things. Then again, so are the
other places e have mentioned. What a strange pattern that people
are drawn to places which have that kind of shadow.
-storm
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