Posted by toni-s on: Wed 13th May, 2009

Last night, in a lovely antidote to the terrible days of fire and evacuation, the Santa Barbara Chamber Player Series presented two selections in the Fleischman Auditorium at the Natural History Museum.  Trevor Handy played Bach's Suite for Solo Cello No. 3, and Schubert's Octet in F major D.803 was played by Amy Hershberger, Elizabeth Hedman, Heiichiro Ohyama, Jacqueline Greenshields, David Young, Michael Grego, Judy Farmer and Jenny Kim.

I allowed myself to feel the cool, fire-free breeze at the Natural History Museum, and irrespective of reality, to imagine the helicopters swinging their red buckets through the air, circling to the Bach Bouree and the Schubert Menuetto.  

I hope that the music, in some way, signaled the finale of this destructive fire, and a homecoming for some, and courage and rebuilding for those who sadly lost their homes.

The concert season finale will be May 19th at 7:30 at the Lobero Theatre.  You will hear a World Premier of Romance for Cello and Orchestra by Gordon Chin, Cello Concerto - Frederich Gulda and Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Beethoven.

Tags: chamber players, fire, santa barbara, Bach, Shubert, Lobero Theatre, Chin, Gulda, Beethoven, May 19, 2009

Posted by toni-s on: Sat 9th May, 2009

A few weeks ago, almost like a prelude to the Jesusita Fire, we had a small home fire caused by a faulty vacuum cleaner  My husband found the fire in clouds of thick smoke, put it out with a garden hose, and called 911.  The firemen came, made sure the fire was out,  bashed in a wall, knocked some of a ceiling out, to be certain that we would all be safe after they left. They were businesslike and calm as we watched them work. They were solicitous and thorough asking and answering questions.  

I went in to the hall where it started after a few days and most of the shock had passed, when the smoke was mostly cleared out, and the walls were still black and there was what was left of my Hoover melted on the tile floor.  The fire had also burned a small desk in that hall, coated family photos with soot, and the one thing I couldn't find was a little old brass bell I had brought home from a trip to England as a memento.  I pushed around in all the fire residue, moved wood and soot and I couldn't find the bell.  I guessed that it had gone the way of the other contents in that hall, incinerated and coating the walls.

A couple days later a fire engine pulled up my drive again, and three handsome and kind firemen jumped down from the cab and walked towards me, one with the bell held out in front of him.  I didn't even get their names, I said thank you, they said I was welcome and they went back to work.

Even when all the world seems to be on fire, and ESPECIALLY when it seems that way, there are always moments of reprieve when people act in kind and generous ways for no other reason than complete kindness.  I am so touched by that particular act, and all of the other acts of generosity between people during the Jesusita Fire.

I know of people taking in friends who were ordered to evacuate, helping each other in so many kind ways, from taking time out to pass out masks, to volunteering to help at the shelters.  People have saved animals, taken in horses, dogs and cats.  We get to see the very best of our neighbors at the worst of times.

Thank you to all people and organizations who went out of their way to help someone in need.  It is a thing of beauty!

Posted by toni-s on: Wed 6th May, 2009

Posted by toni-s on: Wed 6th May, 2009