This Christmas I flew to Boston, then drove
to my mom's home in East Longmeadow,
Massachusetts. There I joined Marti, who
had gone to the States the week before to
help her dad celebrate his 80th birthday in
Charlottesville, Virginia.
While in Massachusetts (and in upstate
New York) Marti and I enjoyed what
amounted to a weeklong party with
family and friends . . .
On December 19 I shared a cab to the airport with newlyweds
Tracy and Bryan Walters. My destination: Mom's!
My contented mom burns one down in our honor.
After a happy reunion with Mom, Marti and I headed west.
On our drive we encountered a woman with antlers.
We finished our Christmas shopping at an outlet mall
in Lee, Mass.
We continued down the road to one of our favorite towns:
Stockbridge. It looked positively Rockwellesque in the snow.
At the Country Store we bought maple sugar
candy for our friends in Barcelona, who
had sent us delicious Spanish turron
for the holidays.
Marti and I visited the venerable Red Lion Inn, where
we warmed ourselves by the fire and checked out
the beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
The Berkshires seemed dreamlike on account of
that frosting: Route 23, near Catamount ski area.
We arrived in Woodstock, New York, my old stomping
grounds, in time for lunch at Joshua's . . .
. . . with longtime friend Marc Black.
The Funky Sex Gods, Marc's new band,
would be playing a special Winter
Solstice concert that evening at
the Colony Cafe.
A highlight of the concert: Mimi Paturel's a capella
rendition of Joni Mitchell's "River." The inimitable
Betty MacDonald performed a tasty jazz set accompanied
by pianist Warren Bernhardt and drummer Eric Parker.
Marc in action. (That antler thing is really catching on.)
The Funky Sex Gods: Dance Steps Included.
The Sex Gods played "Karen & Betsy," which features
former Blues Magoos bassman Michael Esposito on
screeching bicycle tire. (Mike owns Woodstock's
ultra-cool bike shop: the Old Spokes Home.)
Midnight in Woodstock, after the concert.
For certain individuals, Christmas shopping
never stops. Even if it's only window
shopping!
Next morning I drove by the Bearsville Apartments,
where I lived from 1973-1976. My little loft
studio was upstairs at the far left.
Across the street from my apartment: Albert Grossman's
Bearsville Records, Bearsville Theater and Bearsville
restaurants, including my favorite: The Bear Cafe.
Before leaving Woodstock Marti and I dropped by the
Colony, where my bride gave Santa (Marc) a lap dance.
Colony proprietor Harry with Susan, Marc's wife.
Marti with Susan and Mari, Harry's wife.
