Happy Birthday (Eve), Audrey Bilger!

OK, so I’m kind of anticipating birthdays again here—but I wanted to give a quick birthday shout-out to Robert Frost’s Banjo’s own SoCal correspondent & more importantly, excellent friend, Audrey Bilger.  Audrey’s frenetic schedule—complete with new admistrative job, book deals & her role on the Ms Magazine Blog—not to mention her usual run of publications (on everything from 18th century literature to comic strips) & activities, have reduced her role here—sad for us, blog-wise, but of course as a friend I’m thrilled by all the great happenings in Audrey’s life these days. 

If you’re new to Robert Frost’s Banjo, I’d encourage you to search the label “Audrey’s Writing.”  Some of Audrey’s posts, like her Lesley Gore interview or her examination of whether “Reformed Rakes” make good husbands have been among the blog’s most popular posts all-time—a day never passes that there aren’t “hits” on many of Audrey's posts.  

But I also have some good news for the near future—you won’t be simply reduced to searching for Audrey’s writing amongst the blog archives, because she’ll be participating in the Writers Talk interview series next Thursday, October 7th.  Mark your calendars & stay tuned, because I know that’s going to be an interview you don’t want to miss.  Audrey is one of the wittiest, smartest & most articulate people I know.

& also a dear friend—so happy birthday, tomorrow, Audrey.  Hope you have a great day, & many, many happy returns!

Happy Birthday, Eberle!

OK, it’s actually Eberle’s birthday eve, but I couldn’t wait to post my birthday wishes to my dearest!  Many, many happy returns, sweet pea!

Eberle & I have been together as a couple since 1997—we’ve known each other since 1984, which also makes her one of my oldest friends—& a very good friend at that!  There’s very little question in my mind that some of the most important aspects of my life—in particular, my relationship with music—have been completely enhanced & brought to fruition as a result of my relationship with this wonderful woman. 

& in some ways, music is also a metaphor here, because it’s difficult if not impossible to create good music without trust & communication.  It’s not always easy being in a “creative” couple, but it certainly has been extraordinarily rewarding for me.

Eberle & I will be playing a show at the Alpine Playhouse in McCall, Idaho on October 15th at 7:30 p.m.—it’s a benefit for the Playhouse, which is a rich community resource—& of course you’re all invited!  On Sunday we had our first rehearsal (Eberle will be joining in on exactly half the songs), & it was amazing.  I usually perform the blues as a solo act, but Eberle is able to find her place in that music with such skill & feeling!

As a bit of a celebration, I thought I’d share a song Eberle & I co-wrote several years ago—it’s called “Rubato Kangaroo.”  She plays flute; I play electric guitar.  I know this is one of her favorite songs, & I hope you enjoy it too.

& once again, happy birthday to my darling!



Photo of Eberle by Tim Hohs

Photo of the Week 2/28/10

Fuel Tanks at Long Valley Farm Supply, 2/24/10

&: Happy Birthday to my mom, Bette Hayes, who is 94 years young today! I don't believe she'll have access to a computer until next weekend, but couldn't let such a big event go unmentioned.

Please check out today's post at The Days of Wine & Roses; it's called "My Funny Valentine."

Happy (Belated) Birthday, B.N., & Book Giveaway Update

Friends, I’m here to tell you that I’ve been derelict in my blog host duties! A very key contributor to this blog & a very good friend just has a birthday, & yours truly simply spaced it out—fortunately, B.N. was good-spirited about this oversight.

So please join me in wishing a happy (2-day-belated) birthday & many, many happy returns to B.N., Robert Frost’s Banjo’s own mystery poet & a great friend to me over the space of many years—in fact, I’m very much looking forward to visiting B.N. & her husband Yaakov & their pugs Simon & Olive on my trip east. & thanks again to B.N. for making her beautiful poems available to this blog’s readers.

A bit of news/clarification on the contest. It came up in a comment yesterday that people might be thinking they could only enter a comment on Eberle’s Monday post on Monday itself, & so now a person would be restricted to entering only on the Thursday post. This isn’t the case—you can make one comment entry per post on the Platypuss-in-Boots post for Monday 2/15 &/or Thursday 2/18 (link not available at “press time”) any time between now & midnight tomorrow night. Hope that’s clear. If it’s not clear & you’re interested in the book giveaway, please leave a comment or email me directly at rfrostbanjo@gmail.com.

Remember, comments have to be on Platypuss-in-Boots posts for Monday 2/15 &/or Thursday 2/17, maximum two total entries per person (one comment per post), & the comment really needs to make some reference to the giveaway.

It’s great to see some people express interest in the book, & a few have sold, too, since the giveaway was announced, which is of course really fantastic. Thanks one & all, & good luck both to those already entered & whoever may join them in the last day plus.

Happy Birthday, Sister Beverly!

Today’s the birthday of our dear friend Sister Beverly of Marymount Hermitage, & I’d like to extend a big Robert Frost’s Banjo birthday greeting to her. Sister Beverly is a staunch friend, loyal & supportive—just as one example, she’s come to rescue to my rescue at practically a moment's notice when I was stranded 50 miles away (& up the mountain in McCall) with a cracked head gasket! She is also a deep thinker & a person of strong faith & convictions—yet within that framework, she is remarkably tolerant, & I believe truly follows the rule of Marymount, which is to “receive everyone as if they were Christ.” Tho Sister Beverly & I view the cosmos very differently, I consider her a close friend who has supported me consistently since we first met the Hermit Sisters back in 2003—& not simply when I had car trouble!

Sister Beverly & Sister Rebecca Mary founded the Marymount Hermitage in Mesa (ID, not AZ!) 25 years ago—they just celebrated their 25th jubilee, & Eberle & I were privileged to play music for the very well-attended mass; in fact, the pic at the top of the post shows Sister Beverly & Eberle at the party following the mass. When the Sisters first came to Mesa Hill in the 1980s, they lived in conditions that most of us in the States have never experienced—they hauled water, for instance, winter & summer (both of which tend to brutal extremes on the Mesa) & lived without electricity. Their existence was a true example of “pioneering,” & they persisted under very arduous circumstances.

As a little birthday card to Sister Beverly, I’m including a video of yours truly playing what is doubtless her favorite song from my repertoire—“Froggie Went A-Courtin’.” It’s great fun! Usually I play this on the banjo, but I couldn’t get the banjo not to distort today on the webcam mic; then I realized I couldn’t get the guitar or my voice not to distort either. Finally I played it in a lower key than usual & this seemed to do the trick.

As an aside: I haven’t forgotten about the Halloween Films series—I just got kind of swamped yesterday, & today is hectic as well. All things being equal, I expect to post the next film review on Sunday. Those who are looking for a good Halloween film review, however, might want to check out Jacqueline T Lynch’s write-up of Bell, Book & Candle at the always excellent Another Old Movie Blog. I really like this movie, & it’s always a pleasure to read Ms Lynch’s writing.

Hope you all enjoy this, but most especially Sister Beverly—many happy returns!

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

As you may have noticed, this is quite the birthday season for friends of Robert Frost’s Banjo, & today we celebrate the birthday of our own SoCal Special Correspondent, Audrey Bilger. Audrey’s friendship with Eberle goes back to their Charlottesville days, & included everything from waitressing to Wuthering Heights; they shared a love of women writers & feminist theory, & both share an effervescent wit. I’ve also known Audrey since those days, & since Eberle & I have been together I’ve gotten closer to Audrey & consider her a very good friend: a witty, smart & compassionate person who is always there in good times & bad. She is also, let me assure you, a formidable Scrabble opponent!

Of course, Robert Frost's Banjo readers have been treated to some of Audrey's wit in her contributions to this blog, & I'm happy to announce that some of Audrey's essays in the Women's Art is Women's Work are slated to appear over the several week, beginning with tomorrow's offering intriguingly titled Do You Want to Know a Secret. Given the title, I won't divulge much, except to say it concerns the great British writer, Fanny Burney—an author Audrey is eminently qualified to write about, as her teaching specialty is 18th & 19th century British women writers, & she has published Laughing Feminism: Subversive Comedy in Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, and Jane Austen (Wayne State University Press).

I'm very happy to include Audrey as one of the contributors to Robert Frost's Banjo, but more happy to call her a friend. So: many happy returns Audrey—hope you have a lovely day! & dear readers, please check in tomorrow morning for Audrey's Do You Want to Know a Secret.

Happy Birthday, Sister Rebecca Mary!

I promised a host of Libra birthdays being celebrated on Robert Frost’s Banjo, & here’s yet another (& as an aside—we’re not quite done yet!). Today is the birthday of our dear friend Sister Rebecca Mary of Marymount Hermitage. Long-time readers will remember Sister Rebecca Mary from her turn in the Musical Questions series.

Life takes us to unexpected places, doesn’t it? I’d never have imagined myself being friends to two devout Catholic hermit sisters; but this friendship developed & has continued despite the fact that my view of the universe & its workings differs fundamentally from the view held by Sister Rebecca Mary & her fellow hermit sister (& fellow good friend) Sister Mary Beverly.

Sister Rebecca Mary is without question one of the most deeply spiritual people it’s been my privilege to know. A big part of that spirituality is her ability to listen compassionately & to help others within their own frame of reference. She has helped me on any number of occasions—including some times of actual crisis. In addition, both Eberle & I have thoroughly enjoyed our many “jam sessions” with Sister Rebecca Mary—often we simply pick a musical "mode" & have at it in free improvisation (& with instrument switching!); it’s a very freeing musical experience.

Our musical association with both sisters goes back to when we first met them, playing music with them for their Christmas Eve mass in 2003. Shortly after that, Eberle & I assisted them in a recording project: we helped Sister Rebecca Mary record her songs—with lyrics in Hebrew & Aramaic—as she accompanied herself on guitar & dulcimer. The recordings were professionally mastered & issued on a CD that the Sisters have sold for the past five years; & the sales have been very impressive for a rather humbly produced CD. If you're interested, you can find the CD for sale here, at the Marymount website.

Sister Rebecca Mary’s creative talents go beyond music, however—she’s also written a trilogy of children’s books—the first installment, The Midnight Rose, has already been published, & is also available from the sisters’ website. In addition, Sister Rebecca Mary is a skilled illustrator, painter & jewelry worker—she fashions gemstone rosaries that the sisters also sell to support themselves.

The vidclip below is Sister Rebecca Mary performing her setting of Isaiah 49, accompanying herself on guitar (one of the cuts from the CD). Most of the words are Hebrew, but this is one of the few songs in which she also sings the lyrics in English.

I think you’ll find this song moving—I certainly do. & happy birthday, Sister, & thanks for bringing so much light to those around you!

Happy Birthday, Eberle!!

As you’ll continue to see right here on Robert Frost's Banjo, I like folks born around this time of year; September & October are two of my favorite months, & always have been, & some of the best people I've known have been born this time of year. But of all the wonderful September people I’ve known (both Virgos & Libras, for the astrologically-minded), none has been more wonderful to know than Eberle Umbach.

I’ve known Eberle for a good long while—we first met in 1984 in Charlottesville, at a party at the house of writer George Garrett. We remained good friends throughout much of the 1980s, having many marathon conversations about things ranging from courtly love & religion to the French Revolution & poetry; we sure smoked a lot of cigarettes during those! Ah well.

For various reasons we fell out of touch at the end of the decade, with me moving to San Francisco & Eberle ultimately moving to Brazil where she spent a few years in the interior living on a farm. We got back in touch in 1996, & a whole new phase of my life began—a phase that involved music & country living & the kind of true companionship I’d mostly missed until that time. The subsequent years—despite the ups & downs that inevitably come to us all—have been very happy & filled with amazing collaborations, especially on the musical front, from our first days playing music together in my San Francisco apartment to our most recent show at the Alpine Playhouse earlier this month. We’ve been companions thru a succession of bands, various farming ventures, lots of fun road trips (short & long—practically everything’s a road trip when you live in Indian Valley), & thru good & bad times.

Words can only say so much—so I’m adding a little slideshow I think Eberle will enjoy—& hope you will too. The background music is me singing a very old tune called “Green, Green Rocky Road,” which Eberle tells me is her favorite of the songs I perform; the pictures are ones we took of an old homestead just about a half mile down the road from us. It’s one of Eberle’s favorite spots, & tho it’s dilapidated (even more so now than when these pix were taken!) it still captures her imagination.

So hope you, our wonderful cyber friends also enjoy this little virtual party! Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea, & many, many happy returns!

Happy Birthday, Lana!

It’s been my great pleasure recently to connect with some old & dear friends, & one of them—a friend from my days in Burlington, VT & also for a time when I was in Charlottesville — is celebrating a birthday today.

Best Robert Frost’s Banjo birthday wishes to Lana Bortolot! Lana is a globe-trotting, self-described girl reporter & an all-round great person, with an adventurous & generous spirit, & real integrity. Many happy returns to you!

As Jimmie Rodgers sang (& I believe)

The old pals are always the best you see
New friends you can find ev’ry day [ed. note: not so sure on that]
But they can’t take the place or ever be
Like the old pals of yesterday [amen to that, Jimmie!]

Happy Birthday, Naomi!

A big Robert Frost’s Banjo birthday greeting to my big sister, Naomi Rosenberg! Naomi & her husband Morty make up the core of the eastern contigent along with my niece Jessie & nephew Ethan & of course, my mom. Naomi & Morty have lived & worked in the Boston area since their days at Boston University back in the 1960s, & I think of my sister as a New Englander at heart—perhaps as much as I’m a wanderer thru the country at heart.

My sister & I are different in vocation, too. She is a successful scientist & a college dean, while I’ve been a bit of the dreamer & artist (or perhaps add an “e” to the end of that?) Of course, Naomi was an accomplished pianist in her day & also still plays some classical guitar, so she & her kids (both adults now), who play violin & cello, et al. also have the music thing going, & she’s been an enthusiastic supporter of Eberle & my music projects, especially the silent film scores.

So, happy birthday, Naomi, & many happy returns from us out here in the Big Sky country!

Pic shows Naomi & I out here in Idaho several years back.

Happy Birthday, Dani!

Or almost birthday, because I have to confess I can’t remember if it was yesterday or today or tomorrow. But it’s the season, anyhow.

I know there was a big party for her yesterday chez Earl Butter right in the heart of Baghdad by the Bay, & Dani, whatever you’re up to today, all the best from us up here in the Idaho wilds.

Most of you who don’t have the good fotune to know Dani, who’s pretty much my best pal, but you can find out about her musical career thru her Musical Questions interview, & you can read about her fantastic & still pretty new book, Big Bend right here. Last, but most definitely not least: her latest Sister Exister cd Scratch is available here at CDBaby!

The video clip is a piece Eberle (primarily) & I (secondarily) composed for our Moominpappa at Sea soundtrack. Eberle’s playing a steel drum which Dani co-made with a gent from the wilds of Sonoma—or maybe even further into the depths of NorCal. I’m just playing a plain old electric gee-tar.

Enjoy the music y’all, & peace & love to Sister Exister!

Happy Birthday, Bette Hayes!

Today is my mom’s birthday—she turns 93 years young! Now that’s a lot of years. Think historically for a moment: what were things like in 1916? The First World War was raging; a lot of folks in the country (which covered way more territory than it does at present) still used the horse & buggy for transportation. The age of radio had yet to dawn—my mother still talks about how her family would gather around the radio in the evenings when one did come into her home.

She has mentioned to me that she has a memory of Armistice Day—she says people took to the streets banging pots & pans in celebration of “the War to End All Wars” coming to an end. She saw the transition to automobiles; lived thru the Great Depression & the New Deal; saw World War II from the West Coast, where blackouts in anticipation of air raids were a regular occurrence—not to mention rationing. She witnessed the beginning of the TV age, the turmoil of the 60s, saw the moon walk (I know that, because I was there watching it too), & has seen the rise of computers, the turn of a new millennium & the election of an African-American man as president.

& of course, there are so many memories on a personal level. She & my father were married in November of 1941 & remained married until his death in November 2005; a full 64 years of marriage. She visited every one of the 50 states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Great Britain & Ireland, & Morocco. She lived in the Boston area growing up, & lived in the Bay Area, in San Leandro, during World War II (my father was stationed in the Pacific—he served in the Seabees). Later they lived in Ventura, then made the long drive back east to Vermont, my Dad’s home state. They built a home together on the GI Bill (& with my father’s excellent carpentry skills), where my sister & I were raised. In retirement, they moved to Florida for a milder climate & lots of fishing. For the past year, my mother has returned to the Boston area to be close to my sister & her family.


Longevity is something we all hope for—it’s difficult to think about the extinction of our “self.” Of course, such longevity comes with a price—the price of losing loved ones & friends. My mother has always persevered thru this with her characteristic Yankee grit & stoical outlook. Although she’s in her 90s, she continues to read voraciously, work on the Sunday Times crossword, keep busy with various sewing projects, & has even taken up drawing thru classes at the place she lives.

So: happy birthday, Ma—this post is just a token of Eberle & my respect for the life you’ve led. We all love you lots!

Top pic: My mother at a mere 82 trying to start a snowball fight. This was taken in June of 1998 at about 7,000 feet on the road between McCall & Burgdorf.

Second pic: My mother & father’s wedding portrait, November 1941

Third pic: from l-r: my sister Naomi, myself (qua hippie ne’er-do-well), my mother & father in December 1974 on a snowshoe excursion in Vermont. Pic was taken by my brother-in-law, Mort Rosenberg.

Fourth pic: Christmas 1986 in Westminster, VT: My niece Jessie, my brother-in-law Mort Rosenberg, my sister Naomi, my nephew Ethan, my very own self, my mother & my father