Packing and Hammer Dulcimers

As Mr. M. and I were packing a blanket and a few snacks to take to the outdoor concert featuring my friend the National Hammer Dulcimer Champion, I realized how packing is really what makes a vacation. Laying on the grass, listening to my friend play, I reflected on three things. First, I reflected on the days when I had a good shot at becoming the National Hammer Dulcimer Champion. I never got my shot in the big leagues only because I left my dulcimer on a Greyhound bus on a spontaneous trip north to tend to my bean farms along the banks of the Rogue River in Oregon. Then, laying there, I realized how privileged I was to know and be friends with the National Hammer Dulcimer Champion. Even just to know one of the top 100 hammer dulcimer players in the nation would be a treat, but to know the national champion!!!! And not only to know her and see her in concert, but to be her friend! The third thing I thought about as I lay there with Mr. M., listening to the sweet sound of the hammer dulcimer wafting in the warm summer evening air, was a day trip to the beach I had several weeks ago. I thought about how packing had really made that day a day to be remembered. Having to plan and pack for that beautiful beach day made that one day at the beach feel as refreshing to me as if we had gone on a week-long vacation. Oh, that day! We layed in the sun, played in the water, layed in the sun some more, walked a little, and then had a nice bonfire where we roasted hot dogs and made s'mores. (Actually one person and one person only was in charge of the s'mores, and she deserves the title of National S'more Making Champion.) I could go on about that great beach day, but I have to pack to go up north to tend to my beans.

I have added a picture of my friend the National Hammer Dulcimer Champion to my Flickr pictures.