my own drum

The Gathering was now in Day 6, and I had not yet taken any of my trade items to the Trade Circle. Today was to be the day. After spending the morning helping out at Loving Ovens, I spent an hour or so lounging with some newfound friends, then I went to my camp to organize my trade items. Inside my tent was confusion and chaos. I gathered my trade items, and decided that my djembe was ready to trade. I faced the prospect of toting that heavy drum on my back, and did not relish the idea.

As I'm nearing the Trade Circle, I passed a camp on the side of the trail where a brother was doing his drum craft. Someone from there yelled after I had passed, "Hey brother, do you want to trade that drum?" I took a couple more steps.. did I just hear that? I turned, and there was someone standing there, looking at me. Again, he spoke, "Do you want to trade your drum?" I said to him, "It's a possibility. What do you have to trade?"

He began to tell me about a camera that his wife wanted to trade for a drum. He didn't have the camera with him, and she was also not there. I told him to go and get both, I would wait beside the trail. A short time passed, and he returned with a Canon Power Shot A 610 digital camera. I looked it over and ensured that it worked. I was somewhat familiar with the camera, I had been using its smaller brother, the Power Shot A410, for the last couple of years in my work as a webmaster.

The camera was sweet, small, and lightweight. Just what I was looking for in a trade. So we negotiated the trade, and sealed the deal with a handshake and a hug. She never arrived, but I did see her later, and we also shared a hug. The trade was complete.

The images that I've linked since July 2007 were shot with this new camera. I've got more to learn about it, and I have a plan for its use. More about that, later. For now, I'll say "Rainbow Tarot"

Peace

A link to some photos. Click on the Title so see them. If you have a slow connection, well, it will take a while. Practice patience.

Here are more photos, mostly at the Arkansas home where we all met and shared out good will after the gathering. There are also a few more gathering photos. One of these I'll be able to take to time and properly caption each photo. Until then, I guess, just enjoy.

Peace.

I've noticed that I have not posted an entry for some months. Alas, the job was stressful, the energy was strange and powerful, and, and, I just wasn't into writing.

At the end of June I departed from North Idaho and headed south, to Arkansas. The 2007 Annual Gathering of the Tribes was scheduled for July 1 thru July 7, in the Ozark National Forest. In leaving Idaho, I was leaving behind a job of 5 years, primarily as the webmaster for a large incense web site. I had no intention of returning.

I was living in a motorhome in Idaho, but it was not running, and I could neither afford repairs or gasoline to drive it. So I gifted it to a young couple seeking a place to live. They can, at least, park it on a small lot with utilities available and call it home. That's what I had been doing. No phone, no pool, no pets.

I'll try to write more soon, about the gathering, and about what the future may hold. One thing is certain to me right now; being homeless and without a job is not nearly as bad as it sounds. Fact is, I'm having a great time. So come back to see what may be revealed next.

Rainbow Wedding Video Playlist