Sunday, November 28, 2010

Gratitude for All




Why is Thanksgiving my favorite holiday?


It’s about gratitude, which makes for a salubrious attitude.


It’s about friends, it’s about connecting over great food.


It’s about great questions like the one Orlando asked at our feast: “What do you appreciate about your mother?”


And as usual at Soundcliff (our home), it’s about poetry, music, improvisation, and everyone contributing a course. The meal usually starts at 1 p.m. and flows until 10 p.m., including breaks for hikes, conversations, and fun sharing.


Because several folks have inquired about this year’s menu, here it is:


Cocktails: Hard and soft cider, carrot-ginger juice, Chai, Ginger Tea, Margaritas, white wine

Pu-Pus: Cheeses, Belle’s homemade chicken liver pate, smoked eggs, chips with salsa, artichoke & cabbage dips (by Tom and David)

Oysters: Raw on the half-shell & cooked with Indian palak, parmisan & cream (Malcolm)

Salad: Fresh greens (spicy mustard, lettuce, cilantro, parsley, brocolini, etc.) with triticale berry mix topped with crab cake (Malcolm & Stephen)

Bruschetta: French bread with cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil (Whitney)

Turkey: Roast brined garlic turkey (Gordon) with Sequoia’s cranberry relish and candied yams, garlic mashed potatoes, triticale salad, shaved brussels sprouts with almonds

Mead: fabulously fermented one-year-old mead (honey wine) by Tom

Dingle Sticky Toffee Pudding: an amazing cake with toffee and vanilla whipped cream (Chris)

And dessert all through the days: Michael Hathaway’s lime-coconut bars and cardamom lemon cookies.


*

Among the readings:

WHAT IS MY HEART’S DESIRE?

A beautiful quiet place in Nature, self-sustaining,

Where loving people pass their time in inspiration,

Do what’s needed, living well, mastering skills

As we help each other heal this world,

Preparing still richer worlds for all who care to share:

Where The Magical breathes in every heart

And reflects through all our faces, eyes and limbs,

Where Love and Wisdom have been discovered to be innate,

Where there’s time for wit and fun,

Where work and play and reverence are one,

Where we appreciate ourselves as Divinity that’s manifesting,

Where we create – live out – explore

the full, full wonder of our destinies,

Where we – serenely or ecstatically –

Where we – yes – truly walk in beauty

All the days of our lives.

- Michael Hathaway

**

Around the table: Chris, Michael, Sequoia, Whitney, Gordon, Tom, David, Orlando, Malcolm


And of course, from James Broughton:


Sing Out for Eros


You on your seat there

sit up and sing out

Sing Out for Eros

Love is unbelievable

so it must be believed


Believe your own loving

your passion and folly

your incredible hopes

Praise the marvels of

joy tube and love pump


If you must feel tortured

respect your misery

and be happy about it

Only the nonsensical is

at east with the Absolute


Listen to your angels

ripening your secrets

Come to beautiful terms

with the god in your body

with the body of your god


Share flesh with others

Wake love Make love

Clasp hearts Exuberate

And never look back till

you are far out of sight

*

Blessings to all for a holiday season with plenty of time for rest, introspection, wit, fun, and joy.