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An apology and a promise

 

Today I right some wrongs with an apology and a promise. The apology goes to a kind gentleman who, despite my mangling his name, still sent me an appreciative email for his story in my column. Said gentleman is the handsome and debonair Andy Mannle who will be wedded to his true love, Autumn Dumont, this weekend.

Life is fraught with errors and let's hope my misspelling Mannle is the worst they'll encounter this year. My apologies to them and best wishes on their marriage.

So what's the promise? I misprinted Andy's name because I was wearing the wrong glasses. Last year's, in fact. I like their shiny, red frames more than the pale blue ones I bought this year.

I can't blame Dean Ezaki. Annually he examines my eyes and prescribes just the right lenses to help me see clearly. Nor is his able assistant Gina Roman at fault. She helps me choose my glasses, with far more patience than I deserve.

Each year I go through the same torment when my newly selected specs arrive. I always prefer last year's model. So, I often wear the old pair, with the out-dated prescription.

That's what happened when I was reading the email from Autumn's mother, Barbara telling all about the upcoming wedding. I saw the "L" of Mannle as an "I." Oops.

So here's my promise: to wear the current prescription, at least when reading emails.

You'd think I'd learned the lesson of wearing the proper glasses many years ago when I was teaching. Handing out a stack of art reproduction postcards, I asked the students to use the pictures as a writing prompt. When sweet Scott Sullivan handed in a curiously strange essay, I inquired, "Where did you get that idea?" His reply, "From this Frieda Kahlo reproduction, Mrs. C."

Looking more closely than I apparently had that morning when sorting appropriate from inappropriate artworks, I saw the inspiration for Scott's expressive and descriptive essay. Student: A+; teacher: oops.

My vote for best entry in last week's Sonoma Fourth of July parade was certainly the yarn-bombed vehicle, co-piloted by a creative and clever Glen Ellen gal. Congratulations to Anita Watson who is a prolific knitter and possibly responsible for some of our local yarn bombings (though don't say you heard that here). The driver, and car's owner, was Anita's friend, knitting partner Jocelyn Vick. Clever ladies, these two. They're stealth with the knitting needles, full of fun and enthusiasm, winning second place overall. Their next project: a Giant's cover for the little car.

My new go-to guy at Sunday's Glen Ellen farmers market is Fish Monger Mike. I visited his booth at the urging of another customer who loudly proclaimed, "This is the best fish I've ever had." She was right. His albacore tuna salad was something to inspire cravings and the smoked salmon was perfect: delectable, moist, with a mildly sea-salty taste.

Don Ponte shared his beautiful artwork at last week's market, also. While originals are beyond our budget, we left with a giclee print of one of our long-time favorite of Don's paintings. A curvy, wild olive tree that has a broody, melancholy aspect yet radiates life and liveliness. This little reproduction gem has found its home in our front hall alongside Archie Horton's evocative view of the O'Donnell Lane Bridge.

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Share your good news with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at the numbers up there by my smile. Or email me at creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least two weeks before the run date.