books
Cosmic Scholar The Life and Times of Harry Smith, the Filmmaker, Folklorist, and Mystic who transformed American Art, by John Szwed. I have long been fascinated by Harry Smith and his Anthology of American Folk Music.
Harry used to ask everyday: “Have you been creative today?” page 334
This book offers a comprehensive look into his life and work, including childhood in Bellingham, Anacortes, and Portland. This is one of those books that few will read, about a life most have never heard of, but a life that has influenced us all in profound ways.
He was exploited but he didn’t care. He said he would be famous when he was dead. page 190
Smith’s Bellingham “J” Street home (blue)
The Wager, a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, by David Grann.
Empires preserve their power with the stories that they tell. Just as critical are the stories they don’t… people tailor their stories to serve their interests, revising, erasing, embroidering, so do nations. chapter 26
The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard by Kate Robards. Enough family dysfunction to fuel a psychological thriller for reading on a dreary, rainy day.
The Exchange Yep, I read the new John Grisham book. And let me tell you, it was another John Grisham book. Interesting characters, twists and turns of complex legal proportions and a, predictable, happy ending.
music
The Mount Baker Theater November 1. Patty Griffin and Hayes Carll. I have long wanted to see Hayes Carll live. And, I have really wanted to see his wife, Allison Moorer live. When Hayes was announced I hoped that just maybe Allison might join him. She did and it was amazing. Patty Griffin followed with excellent backing musicians and a set mixing new and old songs. It was so great to have this show in Bellingham.
Holiday special #1 - Saw Over the Rhine at The Triple Door in Seattle (maybe my all-time favorite venue). They have a trilogy of albums for the winter/Christmas season that is truly different. The Darkest Night of the Year, Snow Angels, and Blood Oranges in the Snow are all worth a listen as the darkness sets in.
May the decrease in my capacity for doing be offset by an increase in my capacity for being. Comment on turning 70 from Owen, a friend of Linford Detwiler, quoted at the November 9 concert in Seattle
Holiday special #2 - The Andy Williams Christmas Album (the red one!) is an enduring treasure. I hold memories of sitting over a heat vent in our living room, looking out the front window, the tree lights blinking, and this album playing on our J C Penny’s console stereo.
viewing
The Golden Bachelor If you know me you know I love observing cultural shifts and twists. TGB is something of a new coming out party for my generation, warts and all. I cringed, laughed, shook my head, and sighed. It is the proverbial train wreck I couldn’t turn away from watching. Why Michelle is hot on 'The Golden Bachelor’ is a great listen as Michelle Cottle, New York Times opinion columnist, chimes in.
All the Light We Cannot See True confession, I did not read the book. Tried, didn’t finish. The Netflix mini-series was a gem. Long enough to tell a great story, short enough to, well, to not feel long. Great acting, including newcomer, Aria Mia Loberti, drew me in and kept me involved.
Tried the new season of Fargo, gave it two episodes and let it go.
pods
Michael Budde: Is War Ever Just? (No Small Endeavor podcast). I have always been drawn to a prophetic voice. Budde says the things that stir deep within my soul. Of course, I need to remember we all love a prophet when they are talking about “other people.”
Reclaimed, The Forgotten League. I can never get too much Negro League Baseball history. This series, told by the granddaughter of player Norman “Turkey” Stearns, includes the broader cultural impacts, the transition to the Major Leagues for Negro League players and more.
Mobituaries season 4 and it just keeps getting better. Mo Rocca is a treasure and I am a fan. Episodes on Jim Thorpe and Peggy Lee are priceless.
Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen True crime at its best. International intrigue and a rogue agent within the FBI.
Scrooge, A Christmas Carol My love for the Dickens story is rooted in my childhood, especially the 1938 and 1951 movies. In middle school my class did a version in a radio play. I heard about this and had to listen. There are times where the dialogue and story telling are stretched to support the sponsors (not so hidden) message. But all in all a nice holiday listen.
random (f)acts
Parting picture from one of my favorite Bellingham locations.
And next month, my picks for 2023.
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Andy Williams Christmas forever!