.....going the distace on that Last Train...

              Tom and I became close friends fairly quickly, with a lot of the same type of energy, which we shared quickly that Summer when I told him about the 'Party' I wanted to throw, based on some other ones that I had been to in the Litchfield area. Other friends that I met while living in Litchfield when I was still married, had been putting on spontaneous parties any where they could. One of which that stood out was the one that Robbie Roberson ....different 'Robbie'....had put together in part of a State Forest, deep in the woods. He supplied Chicken, and you brought the beer. Beer was the main choice of drink at the time and easy to transport.
       
       So began the thought process of doing one of my own, since I had gone to several, and thought it only right to be my turn. It hadn't taken me that long to come up with a place to have it. Warren Woods was the natural conclusion, having plenty of room for a few close friends to enjoy the surroundings, which not only had out buildings which included a kitchen, but some 'shelters' and a stage. It also came with a beautiful pond out back. 
       Tom and I soon found ourselves planning this 'little' gathering that I had Dubbed...'Alive in '75 - Lake Country Green'....a little something to commemorate the passing of my father that Spring of '74...April 24th. Also a subtle suggestion of ' Keeping the Lake Country Green' as part of my environment concerns that I had connections with at the Housatonic Valley Association. It did however come out that there was a underlying suggestion of a possible second meaning to that last part of the slogan. 
       We found ourselves running around getting the bumper stickers for that slogan, so that we could present some proper advertising. Also confirming the Park, the food, some entertainment, and of course the beer! Tom also planned on showing his movie which at that point we had made a full circle to when and how we met.
        The date was set for the 24th of May, a meaningful Date, and as it turned out, we did two more on the 24th. The next one was that same Summer in August, and then the last one in July of 1976. All on the 24th. 
       
      The day had finally come, as we had secured a half ton of Chicken and 40 kegs of beer, all of which was consumed by that 'small' gathering of one Thousand 'close' friends....all enjoying music from many local musicians! 
      Every thing pretty much came together thanks to many close friends that helped to make this happen, and that's what it seemed to reveal, that it was indeed a 'Happening' that was never duplicated, as much as we had tried to do with the other two: 'Independence '76, Remember America',in honor at that time was celebrating the 200th year of our country. The 'last' one, 'Warren Woods...Dirt Roads are Down to Earth', another subtle hint of trying to keep the past Alive. Although it did have the same turn-out as the first, it was overshadowed by having the whole Troop L from the Lichfield police swam in at the end. That didn't set well with the 'powers to be' at the Town of Warren, and when it came around to applying for another go at it that next year, they had come to the conclusion that they didn't want those 'Types' coming into their town park.
 
      Every year after, I was asked if I would do another..as some called it...a 'Mini Woodstock', I just could not get back that same feeling I had when Tom and I along with so many close friends, had done what was done then.

    Now as we approach the 40th Anniversary  of the first Warren Woods, I find myself held in the balance of two entities. One being just the fact of doing a party....not as big of course..and the other having so many of those good, dear friends gone from ours lives, but never forgotten. Well thanks to many friends that have started a new era of remembrance, that we are now having every year in August, I do hope to have at least another next year for all the occasions....!
     
.......................Looking forward to seeing you there.....

             

....Taking the Last Train to Pittsfield...a Tribute

       Going back to the Summer of 1974, I was involved with the group, Housatonic Valley Association . An organization committed to preserving the Housatonic Valley, in which the River of the same name flowed and that I had grown up on. That Summer they sponsored an event at the Mohawk Ski Area, where they had guest like the then Senator Ribacoff of Connecticut. Also the Paul Winter group, noted for their music of natural sounding creatures, like Whales and Dolphins. Inside there were people set up in their different categories of Environment concerns. Down stairs was set up for a movie that was to premiere that day. That movie was called 'The Last Train to Pittsfield', and was going to be shown by the man who made it. As the time for the screening was about to happen I wandered down stairs to get a good spot. There behind the Projector, was a tall, shaggy haired fellow with an 'Air' of confidence, along with intelligence. 
    I soon settled in for the show, and what a show it was! I was amazed at the beauty it had shown for the Valley that I had grown up in, along with the facts that went along with what the movie was truly about....saving a small portion of our environment.
     I now own two copies of that same film, since I soon befriended  that same man that made this wonderful film, and soon to find out what made up that 'confidence and intelligence' in the man that became a good friend, mentor and partner in an event that would show us both a new way to experience life, and go trough the next 40 years looking at things in so many different ways.

     The next time I saw Tom Barry, he was at the Pub enjoying what I later learned was a favorite pass-time of his, drinking beer. I approached him in caution thinking that this New York 'type' would not put of with any out side disruption. I was immediately proven wrong, when I introduced myself as one who had seen his film. 
    That and a few more beers, it was obvious that he was just like us 'hicks' here in Northwest Connecticut. As it turned out he owned a house in Warren, and an apartment in New York, that was rent controlled. I can't recall how soon after that this evolved into a solid friendship that would in-dour over many years, and experience a life time of memories that shall not be soon forgotten. And now I would like to share some of these as a rememberence to one of the finest, funniest, free-spirited man that I shall ever have met.

    .......I will continue this, after gathering taking some time to gather my thoughts ..........
 

.....Some Travels in the New England Spring Time....

         Today of all days that is reminding me of Spring time in New England, and my home in Connecticut. Even here next to my open window, here in my new home of Florida, I can feel that fresh air that you only feel this time of year, no matter where you live.
     With that, I'm also feeling what I used to do back home, in Warren, around the Lake. I would get my boy or boys...who ever was around, at the time....Otis, Buddy, or Tokas, and jump in the vehicle of choice. I did have a few to chose from, but the two that stand out would be the '72 Mustang convertible, or the '72 Toyota Land Crusier. 
    I owned them at different times in my life...first the Land Crusier, which is the one that I thought of when thinking of how this day reminded me of when I would go off for a ride beginning as an errand, then ending up as a ride through the unknown. A lot of the times I would be coming home, then seeing a 'Dead End' sign at the beginning of some old 'Wood' Road, the Crusier would go into auto-drive, and just seemed to steer right for that sign.
    At that point I had no choice but to follow it to wherever it would take me. Most times I'd luck out and get through to the other end, with the worst ending up in the back yard of some Farm that long ago was the road they took to town. I'd just wave with some innocent smile on my face, as I drove by the farmer and his family, working in the garden.

      That road was close to a location that I ended up in at another time....I wrote this in November, 7th 1973.....

     A short run into the woods off Norfolk Road, Litchfield, I drove as far as I could when I had to stop, and couldn't drive any farther. I decided to continue by foot, as I did many times to 'scout' ahead, and also gave the dogs a chance to run. The 'Road' ahead was not as thick as some, but walking was the quickest, and less time consuming. It brought me to a field...of sorts....where passing through this I noticed a 'Land-marker' that resembled an antenna, which could be moved in a circle. The base itself was a metal           plaque 'rooted' by a square metal post. The plaque read :
                
                  This is our life exempt from public Haunts,
                  finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks,
                  Sermons in stones, and good in everything.....

     There was also a stone fireplace, with a grill, that was well built and beyond this was a brook about fifty feet away. Then beyond that were farmers fields, and then route 63, that goes in and out of Litchfield.

      It was a few years until I pasted that way again, long enough so that when I saw that area, it had been sub-divided with new homes.

      I've had many a good times with that Land Crusier, as many  will attest, and now siting here under a beautiful April sky, they all come rushing back to me. I will at some point get more stories of my 'Adventures' with that old beast, but until then I do wish you all a very happy and joyful spring, which I know this year all of you in my home of New England, most well desire......