Evince Magazine March 2019

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Page 6

Where’s the Music?

Jay Shelton Page 7

Jerry Wilson

Making Music & History Page 5

Page  2 March 2019

Hello, Healthy Heart Maintaining a strong heart means getting to know your heart and staying on top of factors that play into its health, like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, family history and exercise. And when you act early to check your heart health, we’re in a better position to catch any potential issues and work with you to keep you healthy for the long run.

Say hello to a healthy heart. Say hello to Sovah Health.

How healthy is your heart?

Visit SovahHeart.com to take our free heart health assessment and learn about any risk you may have for heart-related conditions.

To find a doctor to take care of your heart, call 844.GO.SOVAH

Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography

Editor’s Note

Jerry Wilson and the Rocking Soul Band were performing at the Community Center in Chatham when the cover picture was taken on a Saturday night in February. The crowd at the SPCA fundraiser anticipated an evening of great music and they weren’t disappointed. Jerry has been spreading joy through music since the 1960s. Read “Making Music & History” on page 5.

What are you anticipating with the beginning of spring? Linda Lemery is already planning new adventures (page 12). Maybe you should try one. If the thought of a new undertaking makes you apprehensive, you are not alone.

“Apprehensive Anticipation” on page 10 and “Meditation Moment” on page 11 address these contradictory feelings that often go together and how to handle them.

Evince chef Annelle Williams is looking forward to lighter, spring meals. Until the chilly weather changes, however, she suggests one more hearty meal: farro and mushroom soup (page 14).

Some think that no dinner is complete unless wine is included.

Dave Slayton suggests you serve “spring-in-a-bottle.” Learn its name on page 12. Carla Minosh is anticipating the next phase of her house’s eighteen-year renovation (page 6) and Liz Whittaker is looking forward to a de-cluttered house (page 9).

March Contents

3 Editor’s Note

5 Jerry Wilson / Making Music & History

by Joyce Wilburn 6 Renovation Reality / Part 31

by Carla Minosh

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service

by Linda Lemery

7 Where’s the Music? / Jay Shelton

by Larry Wilburn

Second Thoughts / Gone Fishing

by Kim Clifton

oice of Anticipation

CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks Editor Joyce Wilburn (434.799.3160) joycewilburn@gmail.com Associate Editors Jeanette Taylor • Larry Wilburn Contributing Writers

Diane Adkins, Wayne Alan, Kim Clifton, Cathy Cole, Mary Franklin, Adam Goebel, Kathleen Harris, Barbara Hopkins, Charlotte Litzenburg, Telisha Moore Leigg, Linda Lemery, CB Maddox, Kevin Matheson, Kathy Milam, Carla Minosh, Casey Molloy, Carollyn Peerman, Dave Slayton, Danielle Staub, Cheryl Sutherlin, Melanie Vaughan, Liz Whittaker, Joyce Wilburn, Larry Wilburn, Annelle Williams, Mack Williams, Linda Zimmermann

Art & Production Director Demont Design (Kim Demont)

9 Throw Out the Mess & Organize the Rest

The 360 De-cluttering Project

by Liz Whittaker

Finance Manager Cindy Yeatts (1.434.709.7349)

10 The Invitation

Fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg

Apprehensive Anticipation

by Mack Williams

11 Meditation Moment / The Voice of Anticipation

by Casey Molloy 12 Reflecting Forward / The Voice of Anticipation

by Linda Lemery

The Wine Spot Does Your Wine Make You Anticipate Spring?

by Dave Slayton

13 Book Clubbing / The Traveling Cat Chronicles

by Hiro Arikawa

a review by Diane Adkins

14 Around the Table

Farro and Mushroom Soup/Risotto

by Annelle Williams

Does Spontaneity + Flexibility = Joy?

by Carollyn Peerman

Marketing Consultants For ad information contact a marketing consultant listed below.

Kim Demont (434.792.0612) demontdesign @verizon.net

Lee Vogler (434.548.5335) lee@evince magazine.com evince\i-’vin(t)s\ 1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW Deadline for submission of April stories, articles, and ads is Wednesday, March 20, at 5:00 p.m.

Submit stories, articles, and calendar items to joycewilburn@gmail.com.

Editorial Policies:

Evince is a free monthly magazine with news about entertainment and lifestyle in Danville and the surrounding area. We reserve the right to accept, reject, and edit all submissions and advertisements.

EVINCE MAGAZINE 753 Main St. Suite 3, Danville, VA 24541 www.evincemagazine.com For subscriptions to Evince, email info@evincemagazine.com.

Cost is $24 a year.

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Page 6

© 2019 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part in any medium without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Sincerely, Where’s the Music?

Jay Shelton Page 7

Jerry Wilson

Credits: Amber Wilson: hair; Catherine Saunders: skin care and makeup; Genesis Day Spa & Salon, 695 Park Avenue, Danville.

Janelle Gammon: nails; Salon One 11, 111 Sandy Court, Danville.

The

8 Calendar

These writers and others would probably agree that the best lifestyle is one that maximizes the positive anticipation, minimizes the negative apprehension, and focuses on the present.

One last thought: don’t forget to spring forward one hour on Sunday, March 10th!

Evince Magazine Page 3

Making Music & History Page 5

On the Cover:

Photo of Jerry Wilson by Michelle Dalton Photography

Don’t Forget to Pick Up the March Edition of

Showcase Magazine

Page  4 March 2019

Evince Magazine Page 5

O

f all things that could have derailed Jerry Wilson’s musical career, it was the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. that crushed his dreams of signing a record deal. As the lead singer in the Danville band, Soulmasters, he and the other teenage musicians were well known throughout Virginia and the East Coast and were booked almost every weekend in the 1960s. That’s when they decided to take the band to the next level.

“Our bass player, Ernie Dickens, and I flew to New York and met with Apollo executives,” he recounts referring to the noted venue for African-American performers in Harlem. “They listened to the band’s tapes and told us that with the kind of band we had and the music we played, we’d soon sign a record deal and our careers would take off.” That was in the latter days of March 1968. On April 4, MLK was killed. “Everything changed when that happened, followed by the riots,” he remembers.

Even though the Soulmasters had broken new ground by being one of the first integrated bands in Danville, the tension that permeated the nation caused them to split up and go their separate ways.

Over the decades Jerry continued to sing in Washington D.C. clubs at night while working other jobs during the day. With the help of influential friends, he shared the stage with many well-known personalities including Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack and eventually performed at the Apollo as a solo act. During it all, he never forgot what Danvillian and NASCAR Hall of Fame race-car driver, Wendell Scott, told him: “You are making history in Danville just like I am making history in this town. You have white people and black people on the same dance floor without a rope to separate them!”

Thinking about those fun days, Jerry smiles and continues: “When we played at the Coke plant, there was so much energy. Everybody was happy.

That’s when I realized I could make people forget about taxes, their bad grades, and all

Tammy Bailey of the Pittsylvania County SPCA and singer Jerry Wilson look over the playlist for the Barks & Kisses Valentine Dance fundraiser.

Jerry Wilson Making Music & History

by Joyce Wilburn the other bad things in their lives.

I was born to perform, sing, and make people happy.”

When asked what makes him happy besides singing, the response is quick, “My wife, Carlene. She is a Student Success/Career and Life Coach at Danville Community College, but more importantly, she’s my life, my lady, my friend.” The couple, who will celebrate thirty years of marriage this November, have three daughters. In 1990, daughter Imani’s birth was tinged with sadness when the doctors discovered she had a leaking aorta and was given a slim chance of survival. Imani, whose name means faith in Swahili, defied the medical experts and lived twelve years, leaving a legacy of wit and wisdom. Her story is told in the book Imani’s Heart The Dancing Angel. “Creating the book was a family project,” Jerry explains.

His wife’s sister, Abigail “Ifatola” Jefferson, the family storyteller, had a dream about how Imani’s tale would unfold. Together with her daughter, Chaka Bedell, they wrote the book that received

The Eric Hoffer Award Winner for Excellence in Independent Publishing. “It will let anyone who has lost a loved one know that their loved one is all right,” says Jerry. The thirty-four page children’s book, illustrated by Alvin Burts, concludes with a parent’s guide to handling grief written by psychologist Dr. Audrey Lucas.

Before leaving the interview to prepare for an upcoming gig,

Jerry pauses to add a final comment, “I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my wife, my family, my friends and most of all, I give all the credit to God Almighty.” Amen.

• For more information about the book or Jerry Wilson & the Rocking Soul Band featuring Reggie Rhodes visit jerrywilsonmusic.com, call 240.462.8737, or email 368jerry@gmail.com.

Page 6 March 2019 Unlike HGTV shows where home renovations are completed within thirty to sixty minutes, the Victorian house at the corner of Chestnut Place and Main Street in Danville has been under a transformation for eighteen years. This series explores the truth of home renewal from someone who has been there and done that. If you missed any of the articles, visit www. evincemagazine.com.

Renovation Reality Part 31

by Carla Minosh

W

hile musing the current state of deconstruction of the two double parlors, we began to imagine what these rooms had looked like in their glory days and talked about many options for recreating a period feel for the rooms. While it was clear that the mantels and mirrors matched, there was only one Victorian gaslight chandelier left. It was in the front parlor, a six-arm copper-clad, pierced-cut metal fixture dripping with tiers of crystals. The rear parlor lighting was a 1950’s simple upside-down glass dome ringed with crystals, secured tight against the 12 1/2 foot ceiling--inadequate for the grandeur of the space.

As we pondered the fate of the parlors, the answer arrived in

the form of a manila envelope with a photograph and a note from someone who had lived in the house. (When we purchased the home at auction, I contacted the last generation who lived here to make sure they understood that they were always welcome in their family home.) One of

E. Howe Miller III’s daughters had sent a letter wishing me well and forwarding a photograph from her collection of the double parlor.

She wrote: “I know you will not likely ever return these rooms to this configuration, but I thought you would appreciate knowing what they once looked like.”

I would like to nominate Charlotte Litzenberg, Coordinator at VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Cancer Research and Resource Center, 103 South Main Street, Danville, for the Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Award. Between job workload and other obligations, last fall was a very busy semester for me. I am also a participant in Project CONECT, a VCU Massey Cancer Center’s initiative.

My hands trembled as I unfolded the paper protecting the old photograph, and my eyes were rejoicing to see the double parlors in all of their 1880’s glory: the strip carpeting, the decorative wall papers, the wondrous ceiling borders and stencils in the rear parlor, and light from the windows (now doorways) illuminating a rosewood grand piano in the corner. The double mantels and mirrors and matching chandeliers in their stoic nobility added an element of elegance to the room. The decidedly Turkish Revival/Oriental flavor of the tufted, tasseled furniture and decorative elements included a pair of large Chinese vases atop the rear parlor mantel. A pair of bronze pheasants faced each other on the mantel in the front.

The matching tile surrounds, matching mantel drapes, and the symmetry of the two rooms were perfect. The chandelier pictured in the rear parlor was an exact match to the one currently hanging in the dining room. I sighed lightly with relief, as we had just decided to move that chandelier into the rear parlor.

The house was already speaking to us, and we had been listening.

(to be continued)

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service

by Linda Lemery

While there is phone support from other Project CONECT staff, Charlotte Litzenberg is the face Project CONECT participants see in Danville. Charlotte was extremely supportive when I was short of time. She helped me by coming to my workplace to deliver things and answer questions when I couldn’t go to hers; reminding me about Project CONECT documentation; finding new resources when I needed them; explaining anything that needed to be explained; helping me troubleshoot multiple exasperating hardware problems (I always have multiple, unrelated, seemingly incomprehensible technology problems with whatever technology I’m attempting to use); and sending me reminders out of kindness (not because they were required).

The milk of human kindness is such a strong component of exceptional customer service. Charlotte Litzenberg deserves the Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Award precisely because her actions incorporate exceptional human kindness in addition to handling all of the issues listed above and operating with impeccable professionalism. I truly received extraordinary customer service, and Charlotte should be recognized for this. Thank you, Charlotte, for all you do!

Evince and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce want to encourage and recognize exceptional customer service. When someone gives you exceptional service, please let us know. In 300 words or less, tell us what happened. Email your story to joycewilburn@gmail. com or chamber@dpchamber.org. It’s a nice way to show appreciation for a job well done. We look forward to hearing from you.

Evince Magazine Page 7

Second Thoughts

by Kim Clifton ©2019

Jay Shelton (center) performs at a Danville event.

Where’s the Music?

Jay Shelton

by Larry Wilburn

W

hile talking with Jay Shelton about his music, three words come to mind: deep-rooted and authentic.

Born and raised in the Danville area, his family roots branch out to southwestern Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains.

His father put a guitar in his hands at a young age. By age nine he “dug into it on my own, buying a chord book and teaching myself.” Not long after, he was learning to play British band music of the ‘60s with his first electric guitar. So how did he move to bluegrass, country and gospel? That’s where the family side comes into play.

His extended family would gather each August in Pittsylvania County for a reunion with food, fun, and, of course, music.

It was there that the teenager learned from his talented relatives. Roy Norton, Sr., a cousin by marriage, gifted mandolin player and singer, introduced him to bluegrass musicians at regional festivals.

Jay’s playing and vocal skills

were shaped by “sitting in” with family and impromptu groups of festival players who shared gospel, old-time bluegrass, country and blues stylings.

Jay’s interest in instruments helped him meet bluegrassfiddle star Bobby Hicks and that led to an exciting introduction.

While waiting to take the stage in the green room at a concert, Hicks introduced Jay to Tony Rice, a guitar legend and international star. Tony took the time to explain his acquisition of a rebuilt 1935 Martin D-28 guitar and he allowed Jay to play it. This exemplifies the bluegrass family experience to Jay--no one is too big to speak to you, to take time and share his talent and passion for this beloved music. There is a genuine camaraderie among these musicians, very much like the family gatherings.

Jay’s music, which he calls “Americana,” is influenced by Jenny Hawker, Bobby Hicks, the Monroe brothers, Tony Rice, Flatt and Scruggs and Roy Norton, Sr. In the end, it remains a “family thing.”

If readers would like to recommend a local musician for a future article, email lewilburn46@gmail.com with contact information.

Kim has taken a well-deserved break.

We look forward to her return soon.

Page 8 March 2019

March Calendar Abbreviation Key

• AU=Averett University, 434.791.5600 www.averett.edu • DMFAH=Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main St. 434.793.5644 www.danvillemuseum.org • DSC=Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead St. 434.791.5160 www.dsc.smv.org • HNT=Historic North Theatre, 629 North Main St. Danville 434.793.7469 www.TheNorthTheatre.com • PA=Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Ave, Martinsville 276.632.3221 www.PiedmontArts.org • The Prizery=700 Bruce St., South Boston, 434.572.8339, www.prizery.com

Ongoing

Guided Walking Tours – Millionaires Row, Holbrook Street and Tobacco Warehouse District. Danville Historical Society. www.danvillehistory.org.

434.770.1974.

DMFAH self-guided audio-visual tours. 434.793.5644.

The Children of Langhorne House: 117 Broad St. Danville; a retrospective exhibit; free admission Saturdays 2-5pm Brosville Library: 11948 Martinsville Highway www.pcplib.org 434.685.1285 Danville Public Library: 511 Patton St. www.readdanvilleva.org 434.799.5195 DPL Westover Branch: 94 Clifton St. www.readdanvilleva.org 434.799.5152 Gretna Library: 207 A Coffey Street, www.pcplib.org 434.656.2579 Gunn Memorial, Caswell County Public Library: 118 Main St, Yanceyville, NC www.caswellcounty.gov/ library 336.694.6241 Halifax County Public Library: 177 South Main St. www.halifaxcountylibrary. org 434.476.3357 History Research Center and Library: 340 Whitehead Street, Chatham www.pcplib.org 434.432.8931 Mt. Hermon Library: 4058 Franklin Turnpike www.pcplib.org 434.835.0326 Pittsylvania County Public Main Library: 24 Military Drive, Chatham www.pcplib.org 434.432.3271 South Boston Public Library: 509 Broad St. 434.5575.4228 www.halifaxcountylibrary.org Zula Patrol: Under the Weather: After inadvertently hurting Gorga’s feelings, the stalwart heroes of the Zula Patrol must rescue their beloved pet from being used by interplanetary villain Dark Truder to steal weather from planets.

Watch the lovable wacky cast of alien characters from the award-winning PBS series as they learn about weather on Earth and other planets. DSC Wed/Fri 2pm; Sat/Sun 3pm

Averett Alumni & Friends Tour: There are four seats available for In the Footsteps of Lady Nancy Langhorne Astor tour of England, Scotland, Wales September 17-26 starting at $3,619 including airfare from RDU. 434.770.3285 lwilburn@averett.edu.

March 9 & 10

DMFAH: free admission

March 10

Russian National Ballet: www.danvilleconcert.org. See ad page 11.

March 1 (thru 10)

Here, There & Everywhere, Inara Dodson, Journey in Art: 59 pieces in watercolor, acrylic, oil or collage reflecting her global travels. DMFAH 1963 Danville Civil Rights Movement: The People, The Protests, The Stories: exhibit by Emma Edmunds and Tom Coghill DMFAH

Opening Reception Halifax County Student Art Exhibit: Robert Cage Gallery, Prizery, 700 Bruce St. South Boston 3-5pm Exhibit open 9am-5pm weekdays.

March 12

Let’s Talk Guts & Butts: Learn about colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer and why early detection is important. Reps from Hitting Cancer Below the Belt will be at the Danville YMCA, 215 Riverside Dr. with an inflatable colon! Speak with a doctor from Danville Gastroenterology Center; learn why moving more matters and what foods can help reduce your risk; community resources; door prizes. sponsored by VCU Massey and UVA Cancer Centers 10am-1pm and 3-6pm. free to the public 434.421.3060.

The Russian Constitution of 1993: a program presented by Elizabeth Hodges who worked with the New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1991 and as Deputy General Counsel for the Court from 2001-2004. She spent time in Russia helping to write its new constitution in 1993. Dr. Hodges writes for and publishes The Petersburg Express. She authored a book of poetry with illustrations called Witchery. Wednesday Club, 1002 Main St. Danville 3:45pm free open to public

March 15

March 8

Virtuoso Solos for Strings & Piano: Emmanuel Episcopal Church 66 North Main St. Chatham 7pm

March 9

The Band of Oz: dancing, cash bar HNT 7:30pm $20/15 Smokestack Improv Theatre Show: Musical opener Camron Beale; Nana Karen’s Food Truck; raffles and giveaways; mature audiences only; free 2 Witches Winery & Brewery, Trade St. Danville. 7pm

The deadline for submitting information for the April calendar is Wednesday, March 20, at 5:00 p.m. Please send just the basic information following the format on these pages to joycewilburn@gmail.com.

Danville Historical Society Quiz Night: 2 Witches Winery & Brewery, 209 Trade St. Danville 7-8:30pm danvillehistory.org

March 18 (thru April 21) March 20

March 13

March 3 (thru 30)

March 18

AU Spring Student Art Show: Jut’s Café in the Student Center, 350 Townes St. and Blount Library, 344 W. Main St.

March 2

Danville Symphony Orchestra Winter Classical Concert: Musical Gems featuring Kevin Newton, horn soloist, in Concerto for Horn by Gordon Jacob. Other pieces include the Symphony in D Minor by Cesar Franck and the 1st movement of Palladio by Karl Jenkens. GWHS Auditorium 701 Broad St. Doors open 7:30pm. free concert 8pm

March 2019

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Little Bread Hen Puppet Show: Inspired by the classic tale of The Little Red Hen, this version reveals the truth about what really happened that fateful day when a chicken decided to bake a loaf of bread. Were the other farm animals just lazy or was there something else stewing in the barnyard? AU Pritchett Auditorium, 150 Mountain View Ave. Danville 7pm free

March 16

Danville Farmers’ Market Yard Sale: no retail items; 629 Craghead St. 9am-1pm 434.797-.8961 or whitteh@ danvilleva.gov Magic with Heart: magician Wayne Alan $15/20 HNT 7:30pm

March 17

A Night at the Races-A Day with the Artist Opening Reception: an equestrian and landscape themed art exhibition by American Impressionist artist, Robert W. Zirillo; DMFAH 2:30-4:30pm free open to the public zirilloart.com. His prints and notecards are available in the gift shop.

Finding the Comedy in the Chaos: How Humor Keeps Us Sane: presented by Celia Rivenbark, New York best-selling author and Wilmington, North Carolina columnist; Wednesday Club 1002 Main St. Danville free open to the public 3:45pm www.TheWedClubDanvilleVA.org

March 22-24 & 29-31

Contempt of Court: Little Theatre of Danville DMFAH Fri/Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2:30pm

March 22-24 & 29-31

Odd Couple: Prizery. See ad page 7.

March 23

USCF Chess Tournament: Main St. Art Collective, 326 Main St. 10am danvillechess@gmail.com Stand-Up Comedy Club: Matt Bergman HNT $15

March 24

Music with Michael: Professional concert pianist and native son Michael Adcock Wednesday Club. See ad page 10.

March 30

Swap Shop: Main St. Art Collective, 326 Main St. Bring a few things to swap. 2pm

Plan Ahead

Danville Art League Call to Artists: jennings64@gmail.com, or call 434.489.1179.

April 1 (thru 5)

DMFAH Attic Sale Drop off: 10am-5pm

April 1 (thru May 6)

Forms in Clay: DMFAH Mon 6:309pm $95/$105; 792.5355 to register.

Payment & registration required.

April 3

Miss Augusta and The Wednesday Club: a dramatic presentation in celebration of The Wednesday Club’s 125th year anniversary recalling the founding of the organization by Miss Augusta Yates free to the public 1006 Main St. Danville 3:45pm www.

TheWedClubDanvilleVA.org.

April 4

DRF Speaker Series: See ad page 15.

April 6

DMFAH Attic Sale: 9am-1pm

Evince Magazine Page 9

Throw Out the Mess & Organize the Rest

The 360 De-Cluttering Project

by Liz Whittaker

The Goal: Every day for 360 days, spend fifteen minutes organizing one small space.

I

am a stacker. I stack books, printed materials, mail, etc.

Clutter happens. I read the article “Throw Out the Mess and Organize the Rest” in the January issue of Evince magazine and thought, why not?

I began with the mail. When it comes into the house from the mailbox, I normally stack it on the counter and at some point during the week or month I go through it. I toss the junk mail, pay the bills, and wait for the next stack. Now, I go through each piece daily and deal with it according to what is required.

My goal is to make this ritual a habit and it only takes a couple minutes a day. I know people usually do this on a daily basis, but for us stackers it is a revelation.

I am also a recovering bibliophile. I love everything about books. I buy, borrow,

and check-out of the library all genres and media. I have stacks of to-be-read books, stacks of already-read books, and stacks of best-loved books I want to keep. As a part of this fifteen-minute ritual, I have been going through my stacks. I donated cookbooks to the library, gave books I have already read to friends or a charity, and shelved my favorites-to-keep. All this was done by only working fifteen minutes a day. I have now started on the bookshelves.

Each day for fifteen minutes, I work on a single shelf in the bookcases.

When this project is finished, I will be working on the other nooks and crannies in my home, like the floor of my linen closet housing all those bags of yarn.

By the end of the 360 days I will be so organized--and it only took fifteen minutes!

Page 10 March 2019

The Invitation Part One

fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg Dear Kwon, Don’t get it twisted. Yo’ daddy Manhattan ain’t no good man, no kind of good, but sometimes he right. Still, don’t know what be more painful, his truths or his lessons to make me see truth.

Manhattan--fresh out the pen upstate and fresh out of patience with my hiding. Word been on the street that drunk, druggie Ol’Rutina passing on, calling her folks in to say their last. That she, the woman who birthed me, don’t mean crap to me, but apparently me speaking to Ol’ Rutina mean something to Manhattan. So on a Tuesday, I’m cutting through Turpin Alley with my arms holding some good chicken salad and cheap wheat bread from a corner market one block over, and I see that ‘02 black Caddie sneaking around the corner. Manhattan got one arm hanging out in the ice-rain sleet. Manhattan crooks a finger on a leather-gloved hand out the driver side front window.

He say, “Get yo ass in!”

I coulda run, Kwon, but wouldna got far. Here is some truth ‘bout yo’ daddy. He once beat a man bloody for two five-dollar bills and a half-eaten pizza, and stood there when the police came, calm, chewing. Kwon, I’ve felt his knuckles, the back of his hand making me taste my teeth. He done took what won’t his to take and done sold all that wasn’t his to sell and shouldn’t never need selling. He a bad man, Kwon.

He ain’t never loved me, and I certainly ain’t never loved him. But you here, Kwon, and you ours. I can’t make your parents more than what we was; it is what it is. Today, through a sheet of sleet and hate, I look at him, his dark face getting rained on, the cold coming up from his breath, and I think that no matter how much better my life could be, there is always something bitter. Manhattan don’t care. He pushes the Caddie door wide open. “Don’t worry; she be dead soon. ‘Sides, can’t hate her any more’n you do, right?

(Manhattan winked at me, Kwon).

Come spit in her eye!” Kwon, that’s when I get in. I feel the soggy bag of groceries slipping.

“Leave it,” Manhattan says. I do.

Apprehensive Anticipation

by Mack Williams

I

n the seemingly lengthy days of childhood, day dreaming about the future helped relieve boredom. One very long day, I anticipated the future while watching the smoke from my father’s ashtray-parked cigarette curl slowly upwards into the enclosed stratosphere of our living room. At that time in my life, I experienced apprehensive anticipation about every test in school. The pop quiz generated just as much anticipation, apprehension, and abject fear as did those end-of-year tests about which we had been forewarned. In high school and college, there was the additional anticipation of the big date, the little date, or the apprehension of the no date.

When people of my televisionwatching years walk down the grocery store’s condiment aisle, they might see “anticipation in a bottle” because of that 1973 Heinz ketchup commercial showing the thick, slow-

moving sauce not budging from the bottle while Anticipation

by Carly Simon played in the background. (She wrote that top twenty chart hit while thinking about an upcoming date with Cat Stevens!) Nowadays, if you watch the game show Jeopardy, you hear other anticipatory music while the contestants try to think of the correct question.

If I were one of them, hearing that music would also make me very apprehensive. That brings to mind the performers who step out on the public stage.

I’m sure they are frequently filled with anticipation and apprehension, otherwise known as nerves, that usually results in great performances. On the other hand, in the microworld, the amoeba and the paramecium react to the light on the microscope’s stage without any anticipation or apprehension beforehand. Keep in mind that you can experience neither anticipation nor apprehension unless you are described by another “a” word: alive!

Evince Magazine Page 11

The poses and breathing practiced in yoga are intended to prepare the body to sit comfortably for extended periods of time in meditation. Photo by Clark Davis.

Meditation Moment The Voice of Anticipation

by Casey Molloy, RYT

A

nticipation can take us down two very different paths. First, with excitement and butterflies we anticipate something positively. On the other hand, we may find ourselves filled with dread or worry concerning an upcoming event, conversation, or meeting that is ominously looming. The teachings of yoga and meditation bring awareness to the concept that if we constantly spend our time focusing on what has yet to come, we risk missing out on the experience of the present moment. Many of us love to plan, predict, and anticipate what will occur in the future – especially those Type A personalities (myself included)!

Fortunately, being in control of the future is not possible. We may influence the direction in which we are moving in life, but, in the grand scheme of things, the future holds many unknowns. You may think you are in complete control of your life or current situation. However, I must warn you that control is not always a good thing. Holding onto concrete beliefs about the way things are or should be can be very restricting to personal growth. Opening ourselves to the possibility that things may play out differently than expected, holds the power of liberation and lifts the burden

of responsibility that may be weighing upon our shoulders.

When we understand the possibility of multiple potential outcomes, we can then adapt to the experiences that come our way. Finding peace and accepting whatever comes to us are the foundations of yoga and meditation. In theory, this sounds like an amazing perspective to live by. In practice it can prove to be quite challenging, but it is well worth it. For the past three years I have been preparing for a new career, or as I like to call it, my Big Girl Job. It has been an endeavor filled with worry, doubt, and endless anticipation. Now as I reach the homestretch, I am finding a transition into a new type of anticipation: excitement for graduation and that coveted new profession. Anticipation can come with many contrasting emotions, some positive motivators and some negative stressors. We must discern what deserves our time, attention, and brain power. If you find that you are spending the majority of your time looking ahead, consumed by worry or the desire to control, pause for a moment and take a deep breath. When it is finally time to look back and reflect on your experiences, you want to know that each present moment on this earth was savored.

Page 12 March 2019

I

is at a premium? No clue. It’ll take planning. Can’t wait to go!

like looking forward to events.

It gives me a feeling of buoyancy, knowing that by participating in these events with others, I’ll rise to a new level. I try to focus on positive events, family and friends. For example, consider the upcoming wedding this summer.

Also this summer, I’ll see my cousin from Denmark, Inger, when she visits. We were in Denmark two years ago to visit that side of my family. After planning the arrival and exit date, we let the cousins tell us where to go, when, and with whom.

Considering that we couldn’t read a single word of Danish, every day was a new adventure. Inger will spend time with our younger son and his wife in Chicago before coming to Danville. I can’t wait to see Inger and show her around our city.

When our son, Dave, and his fiancée, Jill, were married in Danville, her uncle travelled from Montana for the wedding. When I praised him for coming the long distance he said, “Members of our

Reflecting Forward The Voice of Anticipation

by Linda Lemery

family are expected to show up for weddings and funerals.” I thought about that. He’s right. Distant relatives remain distant if there is no gap-bridging, relationship-building event to bring them together or if they don’t even attempt to go to an event. This summer, my cousin’s younger daughter will marry in Minnesota. When I was growing up, I loved spending time with this cousin, but I haven’t seen or corresponded with that side of the family in years.

Now, I hardly know them, but I remembered what Jill’s uncle said and we’re going. By the time the festivities are over, I’ll have met and formed connections with lots of new people, some of whom I may see again. And there are many exciting decisions to make: should we drive, fly, bring the camper, see friends along the way? Maybe, maybe, maybe, yes! And where would we put the camper in a congested suburb of Chicago where parking

We’re

REALTY COMPANY

339 Piney Forest Rd., Danville, VA 24540

Office: (434) 791-2400 Fax: (434) 791-2122 Visit our website at

www.holleyandgibsonrealty.com

About the Author: When she’s not packing too many events into too short a time, Linda Lemery (llemery@averett.edu) works as Circulation Manager at Averett University’s Mary B. Blount Library in Danville. She welcomes reader comments.

an understandable definition: wine aroma is derived from the grape variety such as sauvignon blanc.

Wine bouquet is derived from the winemaking processes such as fermentation and aging. A classic example of a wine bouquet is the smell of vanilla that usually comes from aging wine in oak barrels.

on Danville!

Janet Donna Holley • Gibson Owner Owner

HOLLEY & GibsOn

Camping this summer is another exciting possibility. We love camping in state parks and waking up in the morning surrounded by nature. Most of all, we like taking the camper to visit people.

Reconnecting with family and friends is a trip’s best reward. And on these camping trips, I hope to read the books that have been tottering in stacks waiting for me. They’re old friends too, and I can’t wait to read all those books. We have so much to look forward to. Perhaps the anticipation is the biggest treat of all!

The Wine Spot

Does Your Wine Make You Anticipate Spring?

by Dave Slayton

I

a member of the Master Court of Sommeliers

f you like sauvignon blanc wine, could it be that you view it as “spring in a bottle”? If the arrival of spring brings to mind the color green then that might be the connection. I once heard a master sommelier say there is

always something green and refreshing about the aromas and flavors of sauvignon blanc.

Consider wine aroma versus the wine bouquet. The blog, Wine Folly, has

Sauvignon blanc aroma has green, herbaceous and fruity scents that are sometimes accented with musky aromas, yet its flavors are fresh and bright--kind of like a sunny spring day don’t you agree? Those aromas you smell of bell pepper, grass, peas and elderflower are courtesy of an organic compound, pyrazine. We can also thank pyrazine for the primary fruit flavors of sauvignon blanc: lime, green pepper, green apple and sometimes white peach. The flavor will range from zesty lime to flowery peach depending on how ripe the grapes were when the wine was made.

The first day of spring in the northern hemisphere is Wednesday, March 20, at 5:58 p.m. Celebrate with a sauvignon blanc paired with a creamy cheese such as goat cheese. If you can, enjoy it outside with Mother Nature while watching the sun set around 7:30 p.m. Cheers!

Evince Magazine Page 13

Book Clubbing a review by Diane Adkins

The Traveling Cat Chronicles

by Hiro Arikawa translation by Philip Gabriel

I am not in the habit of reading books narrated by cats.

It’s not that such books don’t exist, though I do believe they are rarer than those told by dogs (The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of many books narrated by a dog). And I have never even heard of the author, whose previous works seem to be largely untranslated.

Maybe I gave this one a second look because my grandsons are a bit cat-crazed, having acquired two kittens recently.

The book begins by referring to another cat-narrator book, the satirical I Am a Cat by Soseki Natsume. This traveling cat, however, is far different than the self-important narrator of I Am a Cat. For one thing, he has a name, Nana, that is given to him because his tail is shaped like the number seven (na). His owner is a young man named Satoru, who finds and adopts him primarily because the cat reminds him of Hachi, a cat he had as a child. Nana has a typical feline wariness at the beginning; his matter-of-fact, self-absorbed voice softens as the book progresses and the two become devoted to each other.

Satoru’s life has been filled with adversity. His parents were killed in an accident when he was young, and he had to leave Hachi with other family members when he moved in with his aunt. Yet, despite his many losses, Satoru cannot understand why anyone would think he has had a difficult life.

Due to a new misfortune, Satoru needs to find a different home for Nana, and this sends them off on a series of road trips to the homes of friends from Satoru’s past. Through these trips, we hear about Satoru’s childhood and get a sense of what a joy-filled and kind person he is and has always been. In his quiet way, he manages to help each of his friends, even though they all are unable to take the cat. Nana usually finds a way to sabotage each plan for adoption, sometimes with the assistance of the other characters’ pets.

Just as Satoru has adjusted to life’s vicissitudes and found happiness deep within, Nana, too, has the gift of adjusting to change and adversity. In the end, this small book has a way of working itself into your heart, showing that what you love is what gives life its meaning.

Both cat and human work at finding a solution that is best for each.

There’s not a sentence in this book that doesn’t spark a certain joy— and that is reason enough to let this cat in.

Diane S. Adkins is a retired library director.

Page 14 March 2019

Farro and Mushroom Soup/Risotto

by Annelle Williams

We have another month to enjoy our favorite comfort foods before the weather requires lighter meals. I’ve been using farro occasionally instead of rice or pasta in soups and stews. It has a heavier chew with a nutty flavor. Farro is high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and iron--a good healthy grain choice. It also doesn’t lose its texture as some grains and pastas do when cooked in a soup.

The first time I made this soup, I gathered all the ingredients but didn’t have an onion. I searched the shelves for a substitute. The only thing that came close was a can of fried onion rings! I opened the can and dumped them into the simmering farro. The onions disintegrated leaving a really nice, mild onion flavor and they thickened the soup into something resembling a risotto. It was a win-win for me and even passed the taste test of my husband. If you don’t like the thought of fried onion rings, add a chopped onion to the carrots and celery.

Does Spontaneity + Flexibility = Joy?

by Carollyn Lee Peerman What brings you joy? Is it on your schedule or are you too set in your ways to vary from routine? Do you eat at home because no one suggested going to a restaurant until after your dinner had been thawed? How often have your children dropped in to talk and instead had to sit in silence while you watched TV?

Farro and Mushroom Soup (mock risotto) (4 servings)

1 cup farro 3 T butter, divided 3 1/2 cups chicken broth (my favorite is Knorr Homestyle Stock Chicken Concentrate Broth) 1/2 of a 6 oz. can fried onion rings

12 oz. sliced mushrooms 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme 1/2 cup diced carrots 1/2 cup diced celery 2 T Marsala wine shredded Parmesan cheese

Rinse farro in sieve and shake to remove excess water. Melt one tablespoon butter over medium heat in medium-sized sauce pan. Add farro and cook, stirring for a couple of minutes. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Add onion rings and stir to combine. Lower heat and cook for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mixture will thicken as farro cooks.

In another pan, melt a tablespoon of butter and cook mushrooms over medium heat until mushrooms are beginning to brown on both sides 10-15 minutes. When done, pour them into simmering farro.

In the same pan you cooked mushrooms, melt a tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add garlic and thyme and stir for a couple of minutes.

Add carrots and celery and sauté, leaving them a little crisp. Pour this into farro. When farro has completed cooking, stir in Marsala wine and top with Parmesan cheese.

Questions or comments?

Email me: AnnelleWilliams@comcast.net I look forward to hearing from you!

Have you lost count of the times you called your sister and said, “How about going to lunch in a half hour?” She would gasp and stammer, “I can’t.

My hair is dirty.” “I wish I had known yesterday.” “I had a late breakfast.” “It looks like rain.”

Here is a personal favorite: “It’s Monday.” Did you ever have lunch together?

Do you live on promises to yourself that things will be different when all the conditions are perfect? To visit the grandparents when the toddler is toilet-trained? To entertain when the carpet is replaced?

To go on a second honeymoon when the kids are out of college and not before? Life seems to accelerate as you age. The days become shorter, and the list of promises grows longer. One morning you awaken and all you have to show for your life is a litany of “I’m going to…” “I plan

on…” and “Someday, when things have settled down…”

Maybe you know a seize-themoment person. He is open to adventure and available for trips.

She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with him for five minutes, and you are ready to trade shoes for roller blades and the elevator for a bungee cord. Go and have a nice day.

Do something on your want list not on your should list. Why are you waiting? Remember: When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?

Ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow,” and in your haste, not see your child’s sorrow?

Ever lost touch?

Let a good friendship die?

Just call to say “Hi”?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift that is thrown away.

Life is not a race. Take it slower.

Hear the music before the song is over.

Life may not be the party you hoped for, but while you are here you might as well dance.

Evince Magazine Page  15

2019 DRF Speaker Series Join us as we host New York Times bestselling author

Dr. Robert Putnam as he talks about his most recent book

Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis.

FREE BREAKFAST EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Thursday, April 4, 2019 7:30 am to 9:00 am Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY by visiting www.dpchamber.org or calling 434-836-6990.

Page Page 16 16March March 2019 2019