Last Saturday was the opening for Heaven and Earth IV: Rootbound at Carkeek Park. It was also our first scheduled date for performance at the Orchard Room. And it was one of the coldest, wettest June days we’ve ever had here in this cold and wet part of the country. All of the musicians we could reach cancelled Friday night because of the weather forecast.

Saturday morning the clouds started to lift. We even saw some blue sky. So Lara and I packed up a pop up tent, chairs, rugs, hot tea, and everything we would need, just in case. It started raining on my way to the park. By the time I arrived it was coming down hard. As I loaded in it started coming down harder. Lara got a couple of calls from musicians. The singers really wanted to be there but those coming on buses couldn’t get through because of the Rock and Roll Marathon. It just wasn’t meant to be.

Sigh.

Still, Regina showed up to see the installation and Joan showed up to talk about the orchard. We hung out, talking, laughing, being outside in the rain. The weather began to lighten up and a few friends came by in their rain gear. Some people came by with maps of the installations, exploring the art in the park. I love our people. If we didn’t go out in the rain we’d never go out at all.

Regina and Joan

Lara in her fabulous rain hat and cowboy coat

By four o’clock the sky was clearing and who should come walking down the path but Paul Cheoketen Wagner, the native storyteller and musician who had been scheduled to open the space. As the sun came out he sang, played his flute and told a story. It felt as though the Orchard Room was thrice blessed, baptized by the rain,  blessed by Paul’s music, and witnessed by our community.

It was a perfect day.

Paul Cheoketen Wagner

blue sky!