One World Theatre/Return to Wolftrap/Ado/Cookies
February 22, 2007

Tonight, we loaded up the red wagon with Girl Scout Cookies, and hit the ‘hood to sell off Lily’s remaining boxes.

io was on her bike, complete with silver streamers and an old fashioned black rubber ball horn (ca-hhhha, cahhhha! If you’ve ever had one, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about! Sounds like cranky, loud goose) She still has her training wheels, but you’d never know it, the way she flies around on that thing. The sun was setting, our dog, Lucky, stopping to sniff at every blade of grass, every old poo… the four of us rounded corners, and then three of us stood by in support while Lily knocked on the doors, greeting everyone with, “Hello! Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?” We sold 6 boxes tonight! We met a dog, Sister, a sweet black lab, who belongs to our brand new neighbors, Leigh and Mark; then, of course, we stopped in on Corinne, who is from France, and who offered us juice, and hugs and smiles…while I tried to stop Lucky as she attempted to eat her playmate Rita’s dog food. Corinne’s house smells awesome…she is a terrific chef. She has shown up at our house with leek and potato soup, and if it isn’t the tastiest soup I ever had. My favorite pan to work with is one Corinne gave me when I got married to Lance…I always FEEL french when I cook or saute or boil something inside.

I don’t know why, but my heart was soaring with happiness…walking out in the evening air, the girls chatting, the sound of wagon/bike wheels turning, a few stars popping in the sky, streetlights glowing, neighbors friendly and feeling, really enjoying, the moments of life being happy, right, sweet.

Last night we walked around the length of the ditch with Ado, our friend visiting from Ireland. He was the sound man on the Nanci Griffith tour, and we became fast friends then and have stayed tight ever since. He brought the girls the most exquisite silver Irish crosses on chains, and brought Lance a shirt from a famous bar, and both of us a DVD and cd of some Irish music Ado highly recommends. After a lovely dinner Lance had prepared, we all went for an evening walk, io on her bike, Lucky AND Shadow (our big gray long haired tabby) trailing along, Lily on her Razor, Ado, Lance and me.

Tomorrow I play at One World. I am very excited about it. I am going to perform “Living in Quiet Desperation” for the very first time, just me and Kristin. I think it is time. I think I am ready. I wasn’t sure how to approach it on guitar, but I have practiced every day, all week, over and over and over.

Yesterday, Shelley King came over, too, and we wrote all day. We created a song called “Open Up To Me”, and we already have plans to record it and place it on a compilation cd for children with cancer. Shelley was phenomenal. WIthin minutes, we were both weepy, talking about life, our children, our families, our music, what we want for the world. I had the box of tissues right there, don’t you know it! The cool thing was that it was our first time to meet, and so we were getting to know one another WHILE we were writing a song. Yes!

I’ll be at the Barns at Wolftrap (DC) on Saturday…and then Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, PA on Sunday night.

I want to sing sing sing. I want to sing better than I ever have. I have so far to go! But I am practicing my toushie off. I want to give it my all.

posted by Sara Hickman at 08:41 pm
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Click on www.64-days.org

The April 4th Peace Concert is featured starting today at http://www.64-days.org, and today is one of the days showing your video, as well.

I’m the video editor and webmaster. Just want to say it was a blessing to see how much you enjoyed videoing your Public Service Announcements. Your beautiful spirit inspires me.

Dick Williamson

posted by Sara Hickman at 08:38 pm
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Crimson Moon/Eddie’s Attic
February 19, 2007

I want to say, I could have stayed on stage at Eddie’s Attic for another hour…it seemed like the 11 or 12 songs I did went by so fast, and that, of course, included my usual chatty story telling and impromtu audience dialogue.

But I was thinking since the audience had been sitting for two hours (through EXCELLENT music, by the way…Truckstop Souvenir, a husband and wife team that sang ol’ time radio style story songs: on a single ribbon microphone…followed by Corinne West, blue/grass/country folk with a husky voice and great songs, as well)…I was thinking sitting through more than an hour and fifteen minutes of me would be settin’ up for a riot.

There are so many songs I wanted to sing…I really want to come back and just sit and sing and not say a peep…just so I can get more songs in…but my mouth always wants to tell stories, connect with the audience right beside my heart, so…I guess what I am is what I am (to quote Edie/Popeye)

Thank you for coming out…I had a good time at the Crimson Moon in Dalonega, GA, as well.

Highlights of the trip:

Playing at the Crimson Moon, and meeting the very lovely Dana, the owner. Built in 1840, the Crimson Moon is the second oldest building in Dalonega, and used to be a whore house. Delightful to meet George and Ralph….fellow Methodists who knew about the ASP (Appalachian Service Project), and are pickers! I said next time I come through, we’ll set out on the patio and pick. They were very smiley. Also met a great photographer who took the Dali Lama’s photo, and I think his name was Bard (? I have to find his business card). He was very nice and told me to pull my hair out of my eyes so everyone in the audience could see my eyes! The two little girls, Raven and Skyler, and their sweet dad: they stayed the entire show! And they kept coming over and putting a dollar here, a dollar there, in the giant glass tip jar at the foot of the stage. Raven eventually fell asleep…it was way past their bed time!

Seeing Eddie again after all this time. I love his club. Got to meet Bob, too, the owner, and Tommy was there, the gentle smile who sells the artist’s cds. He has sandy blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail and he let’s me pull it.

Seeing Steve McKewin and finally meeting his wife, Kerri. Seeng pictures of their beautiful children. I have known Steve for 17 years, from my Elektra days. He is a fine human being who can make me laugh, who LOVES Neil Young, and always remembers me with the latest discs.

Seeing Jim Quinn, who I met 17 years ago, as well, when I was on tour for “I Couldn’t Help Myself”, and visited his station (WRVA?) Jim has been a gentleman all these years…sending flowers and encouragement to my shows. In fact, he graciously supported me on this run with flowers sent to the hotel room, for which, by the way, he also kindly picked up the tab…Thank you, Jim! On behalf of the working moms/dads in the music biz, I want to say my family appreciated your kindness.

Meeting a homeless man in front of Eddie’s Attic and talking for awhile.
I gave him some of the money I had from the Crimson Moon show the night before. I always think of Jesus when I meet a homeless person; I think of my children. I think of how it could be me.

Hugging the Enterprise bus driver.

Seeing my friend, Rene, at the American Airlines terminal.

Returning home… coming down the escalator to iolana running across the airport floor, me yelling, “io!” and her yelling,
“mommmmmmmmmmmy!” and then hugging forever among throngs of knees and busy people.

Sending love and gratitude,
Sara

posted by Sara Hickman at 07:47 am
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Grandmother/Granddaughter Tea Party!!!
February 13, 2007

Yesterday….I performed music at the annual Grandmother/Granddaughter Tea Party that my dear friend, Sandy Youman, throws at her house!
It is so PRECIOUS (sorry to use that word, but if it ain’t a precious idea, I don’t know what is!)

This was my fourth year to do it…so I’m growing up with all these girls and their grandmas…and let me just reiterate…it is a BLAST!

Last year, after that tea party, I suggested to Sandy a two day creativity camp here at my house for the girls, so we could make surprises for all the grandmas to give them at THIS year’s Valentine soiree…

So it happened! I had about 8 girls over to the house last June…taught them recipes of creations we could serve the grandmas, had each girl paint a portrait of their grandmother (from photos I had asked the grandmas to submit ahead of time). I helped the girls write a Valentine song (affectionately dubbed the “Grandma Tea Song”, or “Doot Doo doo”), made special letters of love we mailed back then…The girls helped create their lunches both days, too, that would bake while we were working on our gifts, and then we would all sit, family style, around the kitchen table and eat together, laughing and telling stories.

Zoom ahead to 8 months later:

The girls regrouped here Sunday, ate popcorn, watched the video I shot of them here at the camp last summer, to re-learn the song to sing at yesterday’s party. It was a hoot listening to those girls laugh at themselves while watching themselves on tape! We relearned the song (and their dance moves!) and then performed it yesterday!
We also made the food creations in preparation for the party (see below to read what they made)

I asked Sandy make a special gallery space for all the girls’ paintings, so we sent the Grandmas into the Grandma Gallery for viewing their surprise portraits!

We handed out valentines we made on Sunday, and I wrote a grandma pledge for the girls to repeat out loud after me to their grandmas while putting candy bracelets on their wrists!

Lots of love and cookies and tea in little antique cups with saucers. The girls served their creations from camp:

Bunny pear salad…a pear halve with cottage cheese tail, raisin eyes, red hot nose and almond slice ears, placed gingerly on a leaf of lettuce
and
Pink mouse cupcakes….half a cupcake slathered in pink icing with chocolate chip eyes and nose, pasta whiskers, marshmellow ears and black licorice tail.
Mmm!

Everyone dressed up in taffeta and red and pink and hearts and lace with their shiny unscuffed church shoes and black patent - leather Mary Janes.
Like I said…precious!

posted by Sara Hickman at 07:19 am
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I’m Riding in the AIDS Ride on My BIKE!!!
February 09, 2007

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, I’ve done it! I have accepted the challenge and am participating in the Hill Country Ride for AIDS on April 28, 2007. I am helping to provide life-saving support to thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS through the excellent work of 10 local AIDS services organizations in the Greater Austin area.

I am eager to get started and I need your support! I have pledged to raise money for Hill Country Ride for AIDS. Your contribution will help me reach my goal and others in our community. It is so easy to support this great cause - you can make a donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. Whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress. I will ride the entire 60 miles. YEA!

Thank you for your support cuz YOUR love will get me across that finish line!

Love,
Sara

Click here to visit my personal page.

posted by Sara Hickman at 09:02 pm
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STAND UP AGAINST WAL-MART, Austin
February 08, 2007

It all happens on Feb. 10:

Responsible Growth for Neighborhoods (RG4N) presents

★Arms Around Northcross (9:oo am, 5000 people will stand arms intwined around Northcross…I’ll be there!)
★RG4N Benefit Concert (I’ll show up at this at 3:00, too)
★Business Support Day
★City Wide Wal-Mart Boycott

What:

“Wal-Mart Isn’t Weird” RG4N Benefit
Where: Brentwood Tavern, 6701 Burnet Road
Time: 2 pm - 7 pm
Cost: $10 cover, kids are free

Bands: Jim Stringer & the AM Band, The Bee’s
Knees Revue, The Marshall Ford Swing
Band, Darden Smith, and The Austin
Lounge Lizards

What: Business Support Day
Time: All day
Details: Local businesses will donate a percentage of their
sales on Feb. 10 to RG4N. Participating businesses
include: Body Business; Business Success Center;
Crestview Minimax IGA; Donald R. Greenspan,
CPA; Discount Electronics; Encore Records, Video
& Apparel; Exclusive Alteration; Garbo. a Salon;
Genuine Joe Coffee; Kids-N-Cats Unique Gifts;
Northstar Optical, Thunderbird Coffee; Scandinavia
Contemporary Interiors; Zinger Hardware & General
Merchant; and many more.

What: Citywide Wal-Mart Boycott
Details: RG4N declares a citywide boycott of
Wal-Mart at the end of the so-called 60
day moratorium on Feb 10.

It will last indefinitely until Lincoln Property
Company abandons its plans to build the
225,085 sq. ft. 24 hour Wal-Mart Super-
center at Northcross Mall.

Tell everyone you know to stand with us,
support our fight, use the power of your
pocketbook to make an impact.
Get updates and information on our
website: http://www.rg4n.org

posted by Sara Hickman at 12:37 pm
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In Honor of Molly
February 06, 2007

Here is some vast foolishness sent to me by my Irish friend, Adrian Cunningham. I knew Molly would be howling with laughter…and most likely kept a copy of these on her desk, no doubt. These are, I believe, real Texas laws. Enjoy on behalf of Molly!

Texas Laws

When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone.
A city ordinance states that a person cannot go barefoot without first obtaining a special five-dollar permit.
It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times.
It is illegal to drive without windshield wipers. You don’t need a windshield, but you must have the wipers.
It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
It is illegal to milk another person’s cow.
A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
It is unlawful for a person to consume an alcoholic beverage while operating a motor vehicle upon a public roadway, if the person is observed doing so by a peace officer.
The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

Abilene
It is illegal to idle or loiter anyplace within the corporate limits of the city for the purpose of flirting or mashing.

Austin
Wire cutters can not be carried in your pocket.

Beaumont
Collegiate football is banned at Lamar University .

Borger
It is against the law to throw confetti, rubber balls, feather dusters, whips or quirts (riding crop), and explosive firecrackers of any kind.

Clarendon
It is illegal to dust any public building with a feather duster.

Dallas
It’s illegal to possess realistic dildos.

El Paso
Churches, hotels, halls of assembly, stores, markets, banking rooms, railroad depots, and saloons are required to provide spittoons “of a kind and number to efficiently contain expectorations into them.”

Houston
Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.

It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.

Galveston
It is illegal to drive a motor car down Broadway before noon on Sundays.

Jasper
Dogs must be on a leash at ALL times. Fine of 100 dollars.

LeFors
It is illegal to take more than three swallows of beer while standing.

Lubbock County
It is illegal to drive within an arm’s length of alcohol - including alcohol in someone else’s blood stream.

Mesquite
It is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts.

Port Arthur
Obnoxious odors may not be emitted while in an elevator.

Richardson
It is now illegal to place a “for sale” sign on a car if it visible from the street.
It is illegal to do “U Turns”.

San Antonio
It is illegal for both sexes to flirt or respond to flirtation using the eyes and/or hands.
It is illegal to urinate on the Alamo .

Temple
No one may ride a horse and buggy through the town square.
You can ride your horse in the saloon.
Cattle thieves may be hanged on the spot.

Texarkana
Owners of horses may not ride them at night without tail lights.

posted by Sara Hickman at 07:22 am
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Loving our Children As They Are
February 04, 2007

When we adults think of children there is a simple truth we ignore: childhood is not preparation for life, childhood is life. A child isn’t getting ready to live, A child is living. The child is constantly confronted with the nagging question, “What are you going to be?” Courageous would be the youngster who, looking the adult squarely in the face would say, ” I am not going to be anything, I already am.” We adults would be shocked by such an insolent remark for we have forgotten, if indeed we ever knew, that a child is an active participating and contributing member of society from the time he/she is born.

Childhood isn’t a time when he is molded into a human who will then live life, he is a human who is living life. No child will miss the zest and joy of living unless these are denied him by adults who have convinced themselves that childhood is a period of preparation.

How much heartache we would save ourselves if we would recognize the child as a partner with adults in the process of living, rather then always viewing him as an apprentice. How much we would teach each other…adults with the experience and children with the freshness. How full both out lives could be.

A little child may not lead us, but at least we ought to discuss the trip with him for, after all, life is his and her journey, too.

Professor T. Ripaldi

posted by Sara Hickman at 08:36 pm
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With Kung-Fu Grip

Hey Sara darling! Here is the official Sara Hickman actionfigure that I kit bashed this past month. I found the head on eBay, the body is from a Takara action figure….type 2.0. Oh by the way, I’m Jesse Perales’ son, Mitch…the cabinet maker. I really like your music. I try to spread the word to all my friends online as well in my social circles. Thanks for being such great children’s advocate over the years, Enjoy the pic! LOL! Your fan here in Garfield,TX….Mitch Perales

posted by Sara Hickman at 07:21 pm
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Maya Angelou and Molly Ivins were Separated at Birth
February 01, 2007

Maya Angelou wrote the following in honor of our dear Molly Ivins. Behold, a life can make a difference!

Up to the walls of Jericho

She marched with a spear in her hand

Go blow them ram horns she cried

For the battle is in my hand

The walls have not come down, but they have been given a serious shaking.

That Jericho voice is stilled now.

Molly Ivins has been quieted.

The writer and journalist, dearly loved and admired by many, hated and feared by many, died of cancer in her Texas home on Jan. 31, 2007.

The walls of ignorance and prejudice and cruelty, which she railed against valiantly all her public life, have not fallen, but their truculence to do so does not speak against her determination to make them collapse.

Weeks before she died, she launched what she called “an old-fashioned newspaper crusade” against President Bush’s announcement that he was going to send more troops to Iraq.

She wrote, “We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. Every single day every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. We need people in the streets banging pots and pans and demanding, ‘Stop it now!’ “

Years ago there was a fundraising gala for People for the American Way in New York, and Molly Ivins was keynote speaker. I was a loyal collector and serious Ivins reader, but I had not met the author. Another famous journalist, who was to have introduced her, had his flight canceled in a Southern city. Norman Lear, founder of the organization, asked me to introduce her. I did not hesitate. I spoke glowingly about Ms. Ivins for a few minutes, then, suddenly, a six-foot-tall, red-haired woman sprang from the wings. She strode onto the stage and over to the microphone. She gave me an enveloping hug and said, in that languorous Texas accent, “Maya Angelou and I are identical twins, we were separated at birth.”

I am also six feet tall, but I am not white. She was under 50 when she made the statement, and I was in my middle 60s, but our hearts do beat in the same rhythm. Whoever separated us at birth must know it did not work. We have been in the struggle for equal rights for all people since we met on that Waldorf Astoria stage. We have laughed together without apology and we have wept when weeping was necessary.

I shall be weeping a little more these days but I shall never forget the charge. Joshua commanded the people to shout and the walls came tumbling down.

Molly,

I am shouting,

With two voices,

Walls come down!

Walls come down!

Walls come down!

posted by Sara Hickman at 08:57 pm
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Molly Ivins

I am in a hotel in Houston and just read USA Today and I was crushed to hear Molly has departed this world.

Not crushed because she has gone on to a heaven where I know she and Ann Richards are laughing their asses off…Not crushed because now I know she can tell all those crusty, hard line politicians what she REALLY thinks of their ideas/policies/bad strategies…Not crushed because she is out of pain….

But crushed because who could be another Molly? What other smart, funny, insightful, female, poodle-lovin’, larger than Texas woman could fill her shoes?
NO ONE. I am crushed because Molly isn’t here to speak out in her original way. A great, great Texas hero and legend and icon has left us. And her shoes will remain empty.

Molly: God bless you. Thank you for all the inspiration you brought to me. Thank you for letting me invade your home so many times. Thank you for hiring Betsy. Thank you for your rich laugh and twinkling eyes. Thank you for being tall, Molly. Thank you for being you.

I. am. so. sad.

posted by Sara Hickman at 05:03 pm
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