“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
Rotary Club of Ojai Meeting December 2, 2016
The bell was rung by President and Mad Hatter, Bill Gilbreth, and the tea party came to order.
Yours truly was impressed into service and led the devoted in the flag salute. Nathan Kaehler Shared a lovely, organic invocation drawn from a passage written by a woman from some time ago. With a hearty amen chow was served. (For those following along from home it was the usual suspects flanking what Sandy Buechley affectionately refers to as funny looking hot dogs and sauerkraut.)
Thank Yous
White Rabbit and Sergeant at Arms, Matt Clements was recognized and thanked for the set up.
The greeters to the rabbit hole Suzanne Sclar and Jane Spiller served as our Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
Mike Malone, ever the articulate caterpillar, roved with the mic.
Welcomes
There were no visiting Rotarians.
Guests were limited to our Speaker, the player to be named later, and Carl Gross’s other son in law. He has been attending regularly and I look forward to report his red badge being issued.
Announcements
Kay Bliss reported on the Nordhoff career path day. It was well done and well participated, although the impact on a 14 year old brain with low blood sugar and high hormones remains to be seen. Marty and Colin spoke directly to the kids and were warm, honest and plain spoken.
The Hatter took center stage to explain the twists and turns for those navigating the trip to the annual holiday party (now to be referred to as “the gala”). It is this coming Thursday December 8th from 6 - 8pm. Please investigate the mysteries of your email and plumb the depths of the Evite. The event is pot luck and the Evite offers prompts for numbers attending and
dishes being brought.
The Gala will be in lieu of our Friday meeting December 9th so the hallowed halls will lay fallow depriving fine master Ren Adam of an opportunity to crack the whip. Please make a note of it or pack your own lunch and expect a poor showing.
Leslie Goes To Niger
Leslie Clark shared an amuse bouche of information delighting and teasing of what is to come. The trip was a success despite finding an entirely new team in place. The clinic and school is thriving and a new herd of goats was procured for the locals. A full report and movie complete with guests from the region is forthcoming. Stay tuned for details.
Confessions and Fines
Judy Gabriel, our Queen of Hearts, strode to the podium like a young Mike Tyson at the zenith of his pugilistic powers. With brutal efficiency she stacked her vanquished foes like cord wood. Ren Adam was invited to double down on pain and was taxed for his troubles. We got a geography lesson learning Europe is now a country. What? Off with your head! Matt Clements? Off with his head! Cherie Edwards? Off with her head! Jack Jacobs and Suzanne Sclar? Off with their heads!
The question I have is if a confessed anniversary is a dollar per year and a birthday and rotary membership is a dollar per year, what pray tell, is the exchange rate on 900,000 confessed you tube hits?
The Walrus and The Carpenter
The time has come, the walrus said, to speak of many things. Of ships and shoes and sealing wax and cabbages and kings. The player to be named later is one Mel “Nico Montefeltra” Bloom. A whimsical enchanter of tender unpretentious humor. And he is a writer. Or part of him is.
Mel spent 30 years in the ermine lined trenches of tinsel town representing Hollywood writers. His trial by fire taught him that he had plenty to say himself. And so it was that well into middle age a man gave birth to himself. In the spirit of the great Italian families and the baroque architecture that inspired him this Renaissance man became Nico Montefeltra.
Mel has written a memoir named I Only Cry when a Lion Bites Me. As simple an unadorned as the man who penned it, it is an homage to a life shared with the woman he loved that has passed. A dispatch that can transcend time. A love letter that he wanted to share with his children, grand children, and beyond.
Mel said when his wife, Andi died everything in his life changed. His journey down the rabbit hole starts with his enlistment in the navy and ends with his wife’s passing, out of chronological order, but it really doesn’t matter. One pill makes you smaller and the other makes you tall. And the one that mother gives you doesn’t do anything at all. It is a beautiful, poignant, funny trip that will make you laugh and make you cry.
Peace Out
v
As the year comes to an end, our thoughts turn graciously to all of you who made our success possible this year.
