Possum Family Singers

Over the weekend I drove to the desert for Scruffy’s Mom’s 80th birthday party, carrying his ashes.  There I met with his sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, childhood friends, and on Sunday we took a long hike to the ridge above his Mother’s home, where he lived with his Mom, Dad, and four siblings.

We had a beautiful scattering, up the trail to a little hill with junipers and jackrabbits above the valley, a panoramic view of the Tehachapis, the Saddleback Buttes, Rosamond, the Antelope Valley where he grew up and played in the wild desert. It was dusk, and a murder of crows was skeining in the thermals, saying this is the place  .  .

The sun was setting as we finished, the weather was perfect.

As I drove out of town this morning, I shot this view from the road of the little hill where we scattered the ashes.  So beautiful, really.

time for you to do what is in your heart possum

you are a beautiful light

scatter the ashes of your best friend

to all the corners of the earth if you must

paint the wind and the dust

his mighty wings will take it up into the starry skye

like the night she sang goodbye

and twinkle in the night to hover

above a ravine where howling at the moon

dance the possum

in the fire light

–poem by Celu

July 4 2011 at the BBRR J4FEST

Through dogbite, frostbite, mange and missing leg, possums carry on.  Yes, we will be at the Starry Plough, every Saturday happy hour, 4-7, or more likely 5-7 PM (except the second.  Possi don’t do seconds) .   We cry sometimes, without our fine Falsetto, we stumble without our steady rhythm guitar- it’s freakin’ sad here- but on we trundle, on and on we sing, merrily, in fond memory and devotion.

Muffy said he came to her in a dream, we were all around the campfire, singing as we do, and Ann was singing La La Means I Love You.  Steve took the second verse, and we were miffed, then we all adjusted.  It’s the Possum Way!  And then the third verse   .   .   .  was not there, and Matt said “The third verse isn’t written yet” and it wasn’t.

Wonderful spontaneous event today, miraculous and healing–So many memories of this sweet, kind, generous, funny being, a great comfort to everyone to be a part of that community, so sad not to hear his magical voice.  Such a gift, gone too soon.

Originally Possum was in a band with Celu and Steve called Silver Kittens, ’cause we were kinda cute but kinda old !

Fluffy, Possum, and Scruffy Kitten

Here are photos from an early gig, a benefit for the New School of Berkeley.  Our fiddle player Dash said   “Steve was so kind and encouraging, a lovely musician and a pleasure to play music with.”   Thanks, Zanny!  for the photos

I am sad to report the loss of our beloved friend Steve Soliah on Saturday Morning  due to a stroke.

Friends and family may gather Sunday at the Starry Plough for stories and songs from 12n-3pm

There will be a memorial service as yet to be scheduled

On our CAMPING TRIP to the Delta this weekend i tried a dessert i had tested once before with mediocre results.  TOASTED PEEPS.  I tried ORGANIC marshmallows once, and they just melted.  Peeps, though, have guar gum or something that helps them maintain their peeepy profile under mild immolation.  They are, however ersatz, marshmallows.  We found 10-packs of orange peeps at Lira’s Market in Rio Vista.  I checked the website, but I have not found a toasted or s’mores recipe using actual toasted peeps.  I believe I am the ORIGINATOR.

Here is the recipe-

One peep, skewered on a two-tined wiener fork, side-to-side, so the base is facing down.

Hold gently above hot red coals, not open fire, so that the base is slowly warmed to softness, near melting.

Turn over and heat the upper peep profile until it is quite warm and soft.

Eat carefully-enjoy!

I have been involved in a mentorship program, Uplevel Your Life, for the past 49 days, 7 days x 7 weeks-  So far suddenly “shed” (one option for my Word-For-The-Year) two thankless gigs and possibly the Vampire Albatross Co.–The Universe says YES–in their place, a great, focused performance at our local Pub, our regularly scheduled appearance has slowly, sneakily returned to the original time slot–Happy Hour 5-7 PM Saturdays.  So cool, I still have posters with that time on them.

Word gets out, socialist snackers stay late, early arrivers for the night bands come to claim tables, and suddenly, SRO, electric enthusiasm, little kids playing ukeleles, a stuffed fishbowl-tipjar, and an extra pitcher of Liberty Ale appears.   Dancing to The Man Who Sold The World–let’s pull that tune out and dust it off.   How is it I have so much fun, so many dear and talented friends, and come home with more money than I started with?   Possummagical!

Down at the Bucksnort Inn in downtown Forbestown CA, the Possum Family Singers are recording their latest album “Down at the Bucknort Inn in downtown Forbestown, CA”