For the past 6 months I’ve been alternating between two states of mind. The first is a panicked alarm that moving the event in time and space will make it unattended. I call it the “What if no one comes” song and of course I sang it frequently and often in my sleep.

Then there’s the equally unsettling but more recent refrain that has been added. I call it “What if everybody comes?” with fifty exhibits, a newly published book launch, a famous chalk artist. a magazine article and a possible movie premiere I have developed a corresponding ‘fear of success’. We only have stickers for 120 children. We only have an acre of space. We only have so much parking. You can imagine how that goes.

And then there are the last minute dramas. I was crestfallen to learn that the bats couldn’t come again this year. And Thursday I awoke to an email saying we would have no SF Scottish fiddlers either. !!! I panicked a little and hit the mental rolodex. I remembered how much fun we had the year “Extended Roots” joined us and sent out an invite. They were interested but had a performance that night so needed an earlier time slot. There was shuffling to do and a bass player on a European vacation to confirm. and then VOILA!

It all fell into place. Well temporarily in place. It’s like juggling really. The key to success I’m learning is to be willing to keep the plates in the air.

Extended Roots

“Extended Roots” is an acoustic band comprised of 13 women from the East Bay Area. We have come together from many diverse professions with one common passion, love of music. Our repertoire, which includes both instrumental and vocal numbers, is predominately traditional music from the roots of America. The music the early immigrants brought with them, now called ‘Old-Time’, ‘Celtic’ and ‘Bluegrass,’ is kept alive by Extended Roots.

Plus I received final confirmation from the Alhambra Valley Band this morning that they will start the show, which is always a great way to kick off the day. They were virtually almost entirely sure that most of the members could be there – but you never know until that final signal.

I never doubt the joyful Spirit of ’29 will join us because they have never wavered and I will love to hear them on that stage.

Or that the wonderful Unconcord will close the day of good feeling as magically as we have come to expect.

At noon our trustee Dave Kwinter will lead the children’s parade with his bagpipe and at 1:30 we’ll have an exciting reading from Ben Goldfarb’s book which I hope the whole world will be talking about soon.