DUKES FANS
DEEP SPRING II
“Crepuscule” is one of my favorite words in English.
I first came across it in when I was a teenager. It was the title of a great
song by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, “Crepuscule with Nellie,” which he
recorded with the great saxophonist John Coltrane. I absolutely loved that song
and was playing it regularly when I realized I had no idea what “crepuscule”
meant. So I looked it up:
“crepuscule: noun: time between evening and night; twilight; dusk.”
I had not known there was a word for that time period,
and in truth, I had not paid much attention at all to that time period. After
all; I was a teenager. (smile) But as I aged and got into birdwatching and
camping, I gradually came to appreciate that time and its specialness. In that
space between evening and night, the sky becomes a magical space. The sun dims,
some planets slowly become visible at various parts of the year, the darkness
of night gradually moves in, and stars and the moon start to appear. It is
wondrous. And that time is especially magical now, in the midst of “Deep
Spring.” Things all around and above us are going through little changes at
this time, and we can get to notice them. Some nocturnal insects start coming
out and buzzing around. Bees start heading to their hives. Songbirds start
moving to feeders for their last meal of the day and then home to their nests.
Owls start waking up and moving about. In some parts of the city and burbs
foxes, possums, and racoons, become visible. In my Mt. Airy neighborhood
hundreds of chimney swifts take part each night in a massive group flight to
nest in the chimneys of the Houston School on Allen Lane. There is a lot of
nature going on at dusk, and we get to be able to observe and be aware of it.
We are in month 3 of Lockdown and Shelter-in-Place, and
crepuscule is especially important to me right now. The pandemic and its
effects are continuing alongside a glorious spring, and I need to remain aware
of that so I do not get lost in fear, depression and anxiety. I like to go
walking at least twice most days, and walking at dusk has become very important
to me. I look up as I walk, watch the slow and subtle changes in the sky. And I
am reminded that there is still plenty going on to be happy about in this world
and to appreciate. I can watch as the constellations move into different
positions over the course of the month and the moon goes through its phases. I
can be aware of the sounds that I can notice now that there is so much less
traffic. And I can breathe deeply and feel more connected to the universe. I
can feel my humanness and know wonder and joy.
“Crepuscule;” what a wonderful and magical
word. Thank you, Thelonious, both for the tune, and for opening me up to all
that word can mean and allows.
(Crepuscule with Nellie)
IMPORTANT
CITIZEN STUFF: please take note
We as citizens have some
important opportunities to be heard and deadlines to meet if we wish to be
heard:
VOTING
Deadline to Register to vote: Monday May, 18
Deadline to Apply for Mail-In
Ballot: Tuesday, May 26 (Note, if you plan to vote using
an absentee or mail-in ballot in the 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY held on 06/02/2020, your completed application must
be received in the county office by 5:00 PM on 05/26/2020)
Deadline to Return Mail-In
Ballot: Tuesday,
June 2 (Note,
if you vote using an absentee or mail-in ballot in the 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY
held on 06/02/2020, the deadline to return your voted ballot is 8:00 PM on 06/02/2020
SOME WAYS
TO HELP LOCAL AGENCIES DURING PANDEMIC
I know a lot of you are
already supporting some of the groups working to meet some of the challenges
associated with COVID-19. If you are looking for more or other ways to be
involved locally, here are some suggestions:
Food
Philabundance https://www.philabundance.org/
Links to local Food Banks:
UPCOMING
DUKES GIGS
May and
June gigs for the Dukes have been postponed
Missing
Dukes Sounds?
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