November10, 2023 Dear colleagues and friends of the spirit, Thank yous to Randy Williams and Cheryl Hood. I am not a musician. I live with one. Stuart has accelerated his musical interests since retirement. He goes out to play three times a week and those are just the group rehearsals. (He participates with penny whistles, voice, tenor guitar, guitalele, and ukelele.) In addition, he joins in public performances, regular on-line and in-person jam sessions. Our dog, Daisy, and I benefit from frequent practice concerts. I consider myself a semi-groupie. I enjoyed listening with something else in hand to do (a book, embroidery, keeping time, talking). My mother used to quote the Biblical “make a joyful noise” as to what she, and I, were called to do. I have been told shut up in sing-a-longs before now. To quote the native American reflecting on William Penn’s speech, “ I love to hear where the words come from”. My first hint at appreciating instrumental music was the introduction to “Fantasia”, “picture action going on to this sound”. Sung words, multimedia presentations and drama speak to me. I dance twice a week for exercise and joy. The music for this almost always has words from “I love me” to “we are made of what the stars are made of”. My almost-guilty pleasure is listening to the “Sunday Morning Gospel Hour” while driving to Quaker Meeting. And I have other interests which, as best I can tell, may meet the same needs in my life. I am a reader. I am a journal writer/illustrator doing “Art Journalling” for the past five years. I am involved in family and friends/Friends caregiving. And I find Quaker Worship, Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business, and our Committee work lifegiving. What pleasures and tasks sustain you? Mary Hampton