Monday Quote

"Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised." 

~ Aragorn "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

Hobbit Day

Luke Shelton shared some ideas on things to add to your celebration:
https://luke-shelton.com/2019/09/21/last-minute-tips-for-making-hobbit-day-memorable/

Favorite Book Friday

The Inklings of Oxford: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Their Friends by Harry Lee Poe nonfiction. It's a pretty easy read. Mr. Poe shared highlights of these remarkable men, a couple of my favorite authors. As I read, I wanted to visit the places and discovered Mr. Poe also included written walking tours at the end of the book. Thanks to my dear friend who blessed me with a copy of this delightful book, a keeper.

There and Back Again Day 3

Side note/update: Caught up on emails and blog posts. Did I mention that I disconnected from the world? My little phone is able to make calls and texts. That's it. I only sent texts to let family know where I was. No phone. No computer. No television (by choice). No radio. I'm also realizing that I sometimes note something on one day when it was on another, a bit of blending. I'm endeavoring to be as accurate as possible. Should have taken better notes. Oh, wait! I took notes. I can't find them. *pfft*

On the road again.

We woke between 5:15 and 5:30 AM, dressed, packed the Suburban, and ate breakfast at 6 AM. At 6:30 AM we picked up our fourth hobbit, who did the driving. S has driven the route so many times she could do it in her sleep. We didn't use the interstate but two-lane back roads.

It was beautiful driving through northern Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. We arrived at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in the afternoon. We settled in. L, J, and S in the sitting room, which included a couple of overstuffed armchairs, an ottoman, and a couch. I was given the bedroom as I was the only one who loves the orthopedic foam mattress. Woohoo!

My walls were covered with costumes:

I wore the brown stretch velvet with lace sleeves above. The costumes were mostly L's, and she generously shared with me.

L wore these. Those are my bedtime socks on the bed and my carryon bag.

I wore these to dinner, combining them into three different outfits.

We met one of our online friends, T, and went to dinner together at the Old Owl Tavern. I wasn't particularly hungry. I looked at what was available that I could eat. The joy of being allergic to all things pepper, of any kind. The only possibility was a kale and poached pear salad. Really? I wasn't thrilled. Not a fan of kale or greens for that matter. A firm reminder that "I'm going on an adventure," which included food (within reason), and I ordered the salad. It included goat cheese and bacon. Oh. My. Goodness! It was delicious. I'd order it again, without hesitation.

One more stop before heading home, Krogers, to pick up a few things. They had my newly discovered Vitacoco water, on sale. Now the tricky part. I had a store card for the grocery store that sells Kroger products in Arizona. Would it work in Kentucky? Yes!

Home, and I was ready to go to bed at 10 PM. I'd adapted quickly to the three-hour time difference.

There and Back Again Day 1

I debated how to write this. Should I make one long write up? Or break it up?

Coming home to around 700 emails (spread over several accounts), I appreciate the short posts, so short it is.

I attended the ALEP 4, also known as 4LEP. I attended the first ALEP (A Long Expected Party) nine years ago. They occur every 3 years. The following 2 events occurred when I had deadlines. When I realized I'd have no deadlines for the 4th event, I began planning, almost two years ago.

Friends at the first event invited me to attend, offering to share a room. I registered last year, in July, as soon as it opened. One of them, L,  later asked if I'd drive with her, from Texas to Kentucky. With my back, I hesitated. However, Goggins had become a part of my life, and I decided to do what I needed to do to make it possible. I upped my workout so I'd be ready and said, "Yes!"

Thinking about it as a vacation was stressing me out. I knew it wouldn't be relaxed. It would be busy. Things would go wrong. It's a Lord of the Rings event. I made the mental connections and declared, "I'm going on an adventure!" Completely changed my perspective.

Then L asked if we could bring a guy along, J. I knew them all from a previous LOTR event. Sure. Her husband had wanted her to bring another woman along so she wasn't alone. I appreciated having a man along. Three was safer than two. Then it was decided we'd pick up a fourth friend, S, in Georgia.

Austin, Texas, to Dawsonville, Georgia: 1,013 miles or 14 hours and 46 minutes. Dawsonville, Georgia to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, a bit south of the Shaker Village: 331 miles 5 hours and 45 minutes. Almost 22 hours of driving, after my 2-1/2 hour flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Austin Texas.

I was all in. "I'm going on an adventure!" It wouldn't be comfortable. It wouldn't be perfect. It would be worth it.

I wrote lists and checked them off and wrote more lists. I made purchases. I sent a list of things for L to buy so I wouldn't have to worry about packing them, things like shampoo and conditioner, etc. We texted and messaged back and forth about our plans. I was as prepared as I knew how to be.

Sunday morning, 23 September, my dad woke me at 3:30 AM. My alarm was set for 3:45 AM. He was excited for me and didn't want me to be late. Check in was at 5 AM for my 7 AM flight on Southwest (my favorite airline and the only one I'll use).

I worried about security. I hadn't flown since the increased security. The TSA agent informed me I'd already been cleared for Pre-check! Woohoo! I didn't know where to look on my ticket. The agents were helpful and didn't harass me about my nervousness. They did have to check my suitcase as the x-ray machine showed beans. Why beans are a problem, I don't know. Doesn't matter. The man opened my suitcase, and I explained that the bean-filled stuffie was my aromatherapy dog. His look was doubtful. I explained that it smells like lavender, and I sleep with it close to my face. Understanding replaced confusion and I was sent on my way.

The flight was a little late. Maintenance. My first reaction was panic. I couldn't be late. People were waiting for me in order to head east.

"I'm going on an adventure!" Give the battle to God and praise Him in the storm.

The problem was cleared up in a few minutes, and we were on our way. I arrived pretty much on time. Since I only did carryon, a bag and a backpack, I was outside in no time, and we were on our way.

Austin to our first stop. Lunch at a steakhouse L wanted to try, only it wasn't a steakhouse anymore. L had asked me what type of food I wouldn't eat. Mexican because it almost always includes peppers of what kind or another, to which I'm allergic. What had the steakhouse become? Yep, Mexican food. Best Italian pasta I've ever eaten. I took notes. Do I know where they are? Nope.

From there we headed for the loop bypassing Houston. My friends pointed out the water line on the trees, from Harvey. Garbage was still stacked outside many homes. Houston to the other side of Baton Rogue, it was dark and we stopped for the night.

The first picture I took on my adventure. Somehow I failed to take a single picture the first day. This is day two, and it's raining. I took the picture through the front windshield in the comfortable 2002 Suburban. L drove during the day. J drove when it was dark. I navigated.

Favorite Book Friday

Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien is this week's choice. I love that Tolkien encouraged C.S. Lewis in discovering his faith in God, and Lewis encouraged Tolkien in finishing LOTR.

Musical Thursday

Today, LOTR fans the world over celebrate the birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.

Fifteen years ago, the movie "Fellowship of the Ring" was released in December. It changed my life forever. Peter Jackson did an admirable job of translating the book to the movie screen. I'll tell you a secret, I hadn't planned to see the movie at all. I feared they'd jack up the title and put a new story under it. I didn't want a new story. I read The Lord of the Rings books twice in middle school.

My sister wanted to see the movie and bribed me to go with her. She'd pay for the tickets and popcorn. How could I refuse such a generous offer? I did, at first. I saw a special on the making of the movie and found myself curious. I finally agreed and decided to go in without any expectations at all. It had been a long time since I'd read the books, so figured I could go to the movie without the book interfering with whatever story Jackson told.

The moment I saw the Shire I recognized it. Jackson portrayed it perfectly. As the movie played, I remember bits of the books. Familiar references to the book littered the movie, and I was drawn in, bit by bit.

Particular scenes startled me, and for the first time in my life I understood what people meant by a "good" scared. It's knowing you can be scared by something because you're ultimate safe. Safe is a new concept for me.

As the movie progressed, I slipped deeper and deeper into the story, afraid to trust my beloved story to Jackson and slowly wanting desperately to be able to do exactly that. There were a few things I didn't care for, but I understood he'd chosen to do them for continuity in the movie. There was a scene coming, and I wondered how he'd handle it. I feared he'd mess it up and make it comical or stupid or simply unbelievable. I promised myself if he could carry it off, I'd give myself permission to lose myself in the movie. The scene arrived, and I cried. It was exactly as I'd envisioned it for decades. Oh... it still makes me cry as I think about it.

As much as I love the movie, I love music more. If the music is wrong, I don't care how good the movie is, it's forgettable.

Howard Shore composed all the music for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. I wasn't as enamored with the latter movies, but I loved the music.

A few days before the release of The Two Towers, Howard Shore gave a lecture and presented a pre-screening of the movie. One of my California LOTR friends asked if I'd be interested in attending. I took a leap of faith and said, "Yes!" I flew to Cali and met a friend I'd only known online. I was introduced to others I'd met online and others, all of whom were LOTR fans like me.

Howard Shore was inspirational and funny. It was amazing.

We watched the movie in awe and wonder. When Shadowfax, the horse who agreed to carry Gandalf, galloped over the rise the first time I cried. One of my LOTR friends put an arm around me and whispered, "He looks like your horse." I'd had to put my horse down a few months earlier. My LOTR friends on the Fan Club boards had shared in my grief. This friend I'd never met before knew immediately what had touched my heart.

The musical score to LOTR is one of my favorite choices for background music when I'm writing.

Immortality by Janet Nelson-Alvarez

Evening at the end of The Shire by John Cockshaw ©

Upon a morning of fog, I set out,

the very air quieted beneath grey’d wraith-weight,

 

Sun rising through opal-orange mist.

 

Diademed fog-tears necklace the grasses,

lie heavy upon my hair and cloak.

 

Below the narrow ribbon of my path

(chocolate-thick with damp),

the Sea waits.

 

Even from this road-perch,

I see the discontent of her,

all but hear waves

rousing the sand

in green-glass fury.

 

It is not my lot

to walk beside her today.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Far into gathered wool-clouds,

my path,

mountain-rock's solid grey

like an Oliphaunt beside me,

 

birds

(song yet hushed with dawn-chill)

calling from hunter's-green brake.

 

There is a great gathering of trees here.

 

Almost

I feel their greeting,

these ancient ones,

 

almost imagine

Fimbrethil and her lost sisters

enfold me in an enchanted ring.

 

I may not linger with them today.

I may not give ear to treeish tales.

 

Upwards still the road curves,

elanor within its fragrant ditch,

 

bold Sun drinking the dew of lac'd

spider's webs.

 

Almost to the very steeple

of the mountain I climb. 

 

Within a glade of odd-pocketed-dark,

I find my journey's end:

 

Ever-summer,

the glad spice of it floating

like a banner upon the close air.....

 

Oiolairë in the language of this land.

 

The Green Bough of Return.

 

In storied legend,

signet of reunion

 

beyond all Seas.*

 

My little knife serves to cut a single branch,

my feet find (with gathering haste)

the downward road.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

In the safe haven of Avallónë,

the incoming tide at last rolls calm.

 

Within its arms,

a white-prowed ship.

 

A shortened figure there is upon the deck,

a figure wonderful with age,

 

yet-strong hands tight

upon the rail.

 

And I hurry towards this meeting,

this tapestried reunion of Hope,

 

this simple hobbit’s

Bough of Return,

 

this……following,

at last full-filled.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

It is all  of forever,

this moment,

 

all of Home.

 

It is all of heart-wealth

and needful healing.

 

It is all that we,

bless-burdened

with the Gift of Men

might know of Un-Dying.

 

It is all of Endlessness and Ending

held, at the last,

within time’s kindly twine.

 

 

*A/N: entry from The Thain’s book on oiolaire:  “The Elves put boughs from the oiolaire on the prows of their ships as a token of their friendship with Osse and Uinen, the Maiar of the Seas. The Numenoreans had a similar practice. When a Numenorean ship set sail for Middle-earth, a branch of the oiolaire called the Green Bough of Return was placed on the prow by a woman - usually the wife or a kinswoman of the Captain. The Bough did not wither as long as it was sprayed with seawater.”

© March 2016 Janet Nelson-Alvarez

Death by Janet Nelson-Alvarez

Menace at the gate by John Cockshaw ©

Death.

A sounding-word.

A word which plain speaks of what it is.

Death.

_______________________________

Master Merry

pledged his sword to Theoden-King.

Master Took,

to the mad Steward of Gondor.

Blood flowed thereafter,

and a night was made but more terrible

by fire.

That was but the almost-ending.

_______________________________

Death there was

from the start,

the ice of its breath

in the fog-shrouds of  Crickhollow.....

in barrows of forgotten kings...

and the pocket-dark of Bree.

Death and worse-than

upon once-fair Weathertop.

Death within the ruined halls of Moria.

Black-feathered death beside the noble river

of storied Kings.

_____________________________________

A......plentiment of Death there was:

a reaping of trolls and men,

orcs and elves,

                   dwarves and hobbits.

Torn bodies lie,

embraced,

enemy-to-enemy

before cloven gates,

severed limbs a-rot in marshes.

The Great River's fish

feed upon gape-mouth'd corpses .......

______________________________

Death there was

of yet another sort.

Ever it was beside me upon the Road.

I saw it in scars,

wound like map-lines

upon the back of a once-hobbit,

tasted it in the slime of foul water,

smelled it in the noisome air.....

knew it in the quieting of my Master's heart.

At the last,

but one hobbit surrendered his life

on that day of fire.

Yet death took note:

there was yet one as needed.....

harvesting.

No tender gardener, death,

but rather that which plucks blossom

                   and root

and stalk withal

                   before it is time.

__________________________________

He is gone now, my Master.

Gone long ago

across the great and Sundering Sea.

Death has taken his cousins.

And my Rosie.

___________________________________

A ship stays in grey-clouded harbour,

far horizon burnt with the sunset.

Elanor bids me farewell.

At last

I may follow this promised

Road.

To whatever end.

To whatever.....

                       beginning.

_______________________________________

© March 2016 Janet Nelson-Alvarez

Destruction of Mount Doom by John Cockshaw ©

March 25 is Tolkien Reading Day...

I've lived in Arizona all my life, with a few odd trips here and there. This past weekend, my California friends celebrated Tolkien Reading Day. They gathered together and read passages from various Tolkien works. The Hobbit was the main focus, of course, what with the release of the DVD, last Friday.

This was the third year I missed.

For eight years, I went to L.A. once or twice a year, only for a weekend. I stayed with a couple of dear friends. Most of our activities were Lord of the Rings related. We talked. We laughed. I relaxed.

The first few years, there were no trips to the ocean. I didn't want to go. My memories of the ocean were of the northern California coast where the waves crashed so loud I couldn't hear myself think. I wanted to turn down the volume. It drove me crazy I couldn't make it stop.

Finally, one of my dearest friends talked me into eating at the Belmont Brewery, right there on Belmont Beach. We walked in the sand afterward, listening to the soft whoosh, whoosh of the tide. I was enchanted. Every time I visited thereafter, it was arranged for me to spend at least a little time at Belmont Beach, walking in the sand. I discovered the pleasure of walking close enough to the ocean for the tide to wash over my feet.

I've missed my friends in L.A., and I've missed walking along the beach. I've also missed the Reading Day event. There were two passages I particularly enjoyed sharing, the crossing of the ford and the destruction of the Ring. I was honored to be asked to do the latter several years in a row.

I miss the laughter. I miss the friendship, the camaraderie, the sense of belonging. I miss the sense of peace that always encompassed me.

Now, whenever I see L.A. on some television show, like NCIS Los Angeles, the first thought to race through my mind is "When are you going home?" I can't explain it. I only know that every time I fly there, there might as well be a giant magnetic force. As we fly over the mountains into the Los Angeles Valley, my heart sings, "Home. We're home."

Note to self...

Best editing music, ever:

Lord of the Rings

Howard Shore is a gifted musician.