WNC Highlands Celtic Festival

When Greg took so ill, we made the very painful decision to pass production of the WNC Highlands Celtic Festival into the capable hands of Highland Brewing Company. Along with that decision came the realization that my band, Marcille Wallis & Friends, must be taken out of the lineup as well.

But sometime after Greg passed, I decided to go to the festival, just as a spectator. And Matt joined me for the trip, hoping to sit in with Rathkeltair for a few sets. We both wanted to see the continuation of the festival that we'd worked on since its founding.

On Saturday, we learned that a transportation mishap caused one of the bands to cancel. Although not a formal member of the planning team, my mind immediately went into Festival-Organizer mode: What should be done to fill the hole in the performance schedule?

It's nice to have friends who are as crazy as you are! I suggested to Matt that we put together a pick-up band, to which he readily agreed. Next we enlisted other friends -- vocalist/guitarist Trevor Tanner of the band Rathkeltair, percussionist Nick Watson, also of Rathkeltair, and banjo maestro Scooter Muse -- and I pitched our idea to Highland sound man, Jay, who thought it was a great idea. Next, I put it out to Facebook and Twitter land -- what should we name the band? My friend Peggy Bowe suggested "Henry's Clan," after my dog Henry, who is jokingly referred to as the CEO of Celtic Heritage.

So Henry's Clan was born, and it was so much fun! We played a few instrumental sets from the Marcille Wallis & Friends catalog, sang a few songs from Trevor's repertoire, and judging from the happy smiles, I'd say we gave a right good account of ourselves.

I'm already looking for an opportunity to have Henry's Clan make another appearance!

Here are some more photos taken at this weekend's festival:

And one very poignant photo, memorializing Greg:

On Politically Correct Speech, or, as I like to call it, Being Polite

Read on without fear, my friend!  This note will not discuss political belief, sexual orientation, or guns.

Instead, it will involve Brussels spouts and boiled peanuts.

Brussels sprouts are a fairly polarizing topic in the food world.  I've never met anyone who didn't have a strong opinion on Brussels sprouts.  Of course, I am unaware as to where many of my friends stand on the issue of eating Brussels sprouts; for me, it's not a condition of friendship, and it's just not a topic that comes up frequently in conversation.  Why would it?  Unless Brussels sprouts are on the menu, it's a bit of a non-issue.  But bring up Brussels sprouts, and reaction is strong and swift.  For the record, when it comes to Brussels sprouts, I guess I could be labeled a "hater."  I've read nutritional reports on how beneficial they would be in my diet, and I've been told that I'd really like them if they were prepared properly.  I'm tired of experimenting with eating Brussels sprouts, however they are prepared.  I just don't like them.  But I fully support your "right" to like them.

Boiled peanuts are another somewhat polarizing topic.  As with Brussels sprouts, most people have a strong taste for them, pro or con.  I am a little more likely to know where my friends stand on boiled peanuts, though, again, the like/dislike of boiled peanuts is not a condition for friendship.  I have also noticed that the taste for boiled peanuts is closer to a regional thing, with Southerners more likely to express preference for them than non-Southerners.  For the record, I am a HUGE fan of boiled peanuts.  I've never read any nutritional reports on boiled peanuts, because I don't care.  There have been times that I've bought boiled peanuts that proved not to have been prepared "properly" -- that is, by my standards.  But I do like them, and fully support your "right" not to like them.

So, how do Brussels sprouts and boiled peanuts figure in to "politically correct speech," which I believe is often confused with "being polite?"

"Brussels sprouts????  Ewwwwww."  vs  "Brussels sprouts.  Not a fan." 

"Boiled peanuts.  Slimy and disgusting!"  vs  "Boiled peanuts?  Eh.  Never cared for them."

"Gross!!!!  Why in the world would you eat that nastiness???"  vs  "I'll pass.  You go ahead and help yourself, though."

You don't have to eat anything you don't want to eat, and you don't have to believe or be or own anything you don't care to.  Whether it's pickled pigs' feet or political belief, okra or sexual orientation, garlic or guns ... It is possible to express an opinion, even a strongly-held opinion, even a studied and long-held and deeply convicted opinion, without using language that insults others who do not share your opinion.  That's not political correctness.  It's merely ... not being rude. 

Or you can refrain from passing judgment.  That's an option too.

Labeling

Read on ... this note isn't about what you think it's about ... though I imagine it will ruffle some feathers.  I'm going to talk about the recent spate of articles dealing with Introversion/Extraversion that have been circulating around Facebook.  Many of the headlines for these articles begin with the phrase "How to Deal with" or "How to Understand" an Introvert or an Extravert.

I'm starting to grow weary of seeing these, and it's mostly because the point of view of the article is all wrong.  Personality tests were never meant to be taken in order to put the onus on others for figuring out what we need; rather, they're for insight and understanding into ourselves, to help us figure out how to get what we need.  And even at that, the quick analyses we get from a 5-minute test on the Internet don't tell the whole story.

I've taken a real Myers-Briggs test, and I'll bet a lot of you have, too.  But there's a lot more to my personal label of INFP (Introverted - Intuitive - Feeling - Perceiving) than a quick test can convey.  I'm "distinctly" Introverted (as opposed to Extraverted) but not "strongly" so.  I'm only "moderately" Intuitive, meaning that I tend to value thinking over hands-on experience while still relying quite a bit on information that comes from the senses (see, hear, touch, taste, smell).  I'm only "moderately" Feeling, which means that I put slightly more emphasis on personal concerns than on impersonal facts.  I'm only "moderately" Perceiving, which means I slightly favor a flexible and adaptable lifestyle, but obviously still value structure.

Truth is, we ALL have the characteristics of both Introverts and Extraverts; we ALL use Intuition and Sensing; we ALL both Feel and Think; and we ALL have at least some preference for both Judging and Perceiving.  And that's part of my weariness with of the labeling.

I don't want to dwell on the Myers-Briggs labels, though.  (If you want to understand a little more about the Myers-Briggs test, there's a pretty decent article, tracing its history and its place in the world of psychoanalysis, linked below.)  Of just as much concern are the labels ADHD, OCD, and the rest of the alphabet soup of labeling.  It may be very helpful to know what labels apply to you, but the important thing is: These labels are to help YOU in figuring out how to interact with the world; they are not meant to tell the world how it must accommodate you.  That is an important distinction that a lot of us seem to be missing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/myers-briggs-does-it-pay-to-know-your-type/2012/12/14/eaed51ae-3fcc-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html

The Story Behind "Journey to Heaven"

So many have been enchanted by this photo, taken in the Shenandoah National Park a few years ago. Here's the rest of the story:

Greg and I -- and our faithful dog Maggie -- were on the road constantly for about 10 years, but in all that time we didn't have much "true" vacation time. Sure, we got to see and do some really beautiful and interesting things, like the time we got to see Michigan's Tahquamenon Falls ... which we caught en route from a music festival in Evart, Michigan to an art fair in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. More often, we sped past historical monument after park after attraction, promising ourselves that eventually there'd be time for a proper visit. One year, however, we found ourselves with an "off" weekend between New York's Dutchess County Fair and Stone Mountain's Yellow Daisy Fesitval. So we treated ourselves to a week's vacation in Luray, Virginia, conveniently located more or less en route from New York to Georgia.

The campground we chose was off the beaten path. It afforded great vistas almost all around; I imagined what a wonderful place this would've been, back in the day, to build a fort, because you could see anyone approaching from below for miles before they actually reached you. The only part that didn't have a view was a sheer rise up to the Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail.  We were so far away from bright city lights that, on a cloudless night, we clearly saw the innumerable stars of the summer sky, and even the Milky Way. Talk about a getaway!

One day we visited Luray Caverns; another day we ventured into Washington, D.C. Greg's first-ever visit to our nation's capital. True touristy stuff. Mags and I even put in a few miles along the Appalachian Trail. Greg elected to stay behind on that day, leaving us gals to our own adventure.

But my favorite part of our little vacation was a drive along the Skyline Drive and into the Shenandoah National Park. It was a very foggy morning and we found our sightseeing somewhat limited. We still managed to sneak in a "dog friendly" -- and "somewhat-out-of-shape-people friendly" -- trail that led to the remains of a pre-National Park-era farm. Due to the fog, we missed promised views of Signal Knob and the Shenandoah Valley, but thanks to the fog it was peaceful and still ... so still, in fact, that we had a long staring session with a large buck who, though somewhat startled, did not run from us even though he was fewer than 100 paces away. Those are the moments you cherish -- even Maggie seemed to realize that it was somewhat magical, as she did not bark or even strain much at her leash.

I look back now to realize just how magical that experience was, and I feel blessed. There are many, many memories of our years on the road, but it seems that memories of these quiet times are the ones that I cherish most.

Tartan Day 2015

Had a good time at Tartan Day today!

My band has been such great support to me throughout my grieving process so far, and today was no different. I can't even begin to explain how much I love these people.

They make me laugh with goofy antics.

And when it comes down to playing music, they are all business.

Too bad I didn't get a picture of Ann and Cal Lloyd today and maybe a photo of Kate dancing. Pure class, all three of them.

March Madness -- Smiling Through The Tears

Huge thanks -- HUGE -- to my band-mates, for getting me through the toughest time of my life ... you smiled, you made me smile, and together we created happy memories for our audiences, even as our own memories of March Madness 2015 will be bittersweet. Kate Valley, Don Pigeon, Matt Miller,  and Ann & Cal Lloyd: I love you! 

Thanks, too, to Rob Adolph for being our wonderful sound support, and thanks to Tam Smalling for merch sales and everything else. I am sure Greg is smiling -- Long Live Celtic Heritage!

To Memorialize Greg

Hey friends, letting you know I’m doing fine. Carrying on, just the way that Greg wanted me to do.

In his last few days, as we faced the reality of his passing, I asked Greg, “You know I’m not a flowers kinda gal. Is there some charity or something that you’d like people to contribute to in your memory?” Without hesitation, he named New World Celts, as they too have a mission to share Celtic culture. When I contacted our home chapter, New World Celts - (Asheville Chapter), they said they’d been considering establishing a scholarship in his honor/memory. Obviously, it was meant to be!

When I shared this with Greg, he was immensely pleased. A scholarship, for the exploration and study of Celtic music and dance. I can think of no more fitting tribute to a man for whom music was not just an interest, but a passion and indeed a way of life.

So it’s with great pleasure that I call your attention to the Greg McGrath Memorial Scholarship Fund. New World Celts, Asheville (NC), a chapter of New World Celts, a USA 501c3 charitable corporation, will administer the fund. (For those unfamiliar with the New World Celts, their mission statement appears at the end of this note.) I’ll be involved with the scholarship every step of the way. Details, including announcement of a selection/steering committee, eligibility, and application process will be forthcoming. I’m very excited about this! Though it’s a big task, I’d love to name its first recipient by summer’s beginning.

You may send and make donations payable to:
New World Celts Asheville Chapter
P.O. Box 1681
Asheville, NC 28802
attn: Greg McGrath Fund

Or, if you prefer, you may donate online. Here's a link to the tribute page found on the Celtic Heritage website; from there, you can follow the link to a secure donation site:
http://www.celticheritageproductions.com/mcgrath.htm

Thank you all, for all that you have meant to Greg and me, both personally and professionally.

Mission Statement of the New World Celts: To promote awareness of the outstanding contributions and history of the Celtic peoples in the formation and continuance of the New World. To provide a forum for the exchange and promotion of Celtic cultural information between the Celtic Associations of the New World; To act as liaison for coordination of and assistance to these Organizations. To provide a vehicle for charitable donations to promote Celtic culture in the New World in the areas of Cultural awareness, music, dance, athletics, re-enactments, and other areas deemed appropriate by the International Execute Committee. To support all Celtic cultural non-political, non-religious, non-racist organizations that espouse the same high ideals as ours, regardless of whether they are Scots, Irish, Galician, Manx, Welsh, Breton, or Cornish. To perpetuate Celtic Culture and history in the New World. To provide a fraternal atmosphere for members.