So Zum Gali Gali Rubber Stamps went to the Celebrate Newton crafts sale yesterday. We didn’t pull in as much business as we had at the same event last year, but it was a very successful day for us anyway.
We were right next to where the musical groups were performing.
First on was a flute septet, including one bass flute. They had a beautiful sound — the bass flute was almost like a cello — but some balance problems. It took almost all the way through the first chorus of “Jingle Bells” before I recognized the tune. They did a French Christmas carol, “Il est nee, le devine enfant” that I remembered from singing with the Tamalpais High School French Club 45 years ago (! scary !). Yes, I do still know all the words.
There was a high-school jazz group that was really good, especially on “Caravan” and a song I was sure I had on an old LP — I thought Bobby Timmons, maybe Horace Silver. When they were done I looked at a music stand, and, sure enough, “Moanin'” by Bobby Timmons. It was a Bobby Timmons concert at Howard University when I was there on a student exchange program for a week in April 1962 that got me interested in jazz. My date, Violet Cameron, was jumping up and down in her seat with excitement over the music. I thought, this is a pretty cool girl, and if she likes the music that much there must be something to it. I never had a lot of jazz records, but I listened to the ones I did have when I was studying math in grad school.
There were two a capella groups. They also tended to have balance problems — the harmony parts didn’t let the melody through in lots of places — but it was really nice to have the music there. Both groups did the ’50s Rock ‘n’ Roll song “Lollipop”.
The best part was seeing people. The Phys Ed teacher from Lincoln-Eliot, someone Arlene was close to at work, was there with her baby girl. A co-worker of mine and fellow bicycle commuter from Dragon was there. Felter Susan Tornheim gave me advice on how to get those mittens to felt, if I want to try any more but I don’t think I will. Best of all for me, Melba, my walking companion from when I worked in Waltham, had come with a list of stamps she wanted. I hadn’t seen her since my old company moved to Burlington in July.
And, besides lots of stamps, we sold two pairs of knitting needles. I have a big stash now, birch, cherry, walnut, and teak, if anyone’s interested.