SUMMER TRAVELOGUE À LA CELIA

Rebecca King’s morning workshop for English Country Dance musicians at Lark Camp 2024

LARK CAMP WAS AMAZING! As always, it was an embarrassment of riches with 85 instructors teaching instrumental music, dance and voice from many different cultures. Lark Camp is magical and I'm proud to be part of the team that makes it happen, but I must confess—I'm trying to worm my way out of my many Lark-responsibilities. Now that Lark Traditional Arts – the nonprofit that took over running Lark Camp in 2019 – has hired a real executive director, that's becoming possible. I stepped down from the LTA board last November because I didn't have time for board work when I was also acting as a volunteer executive director. David Wagner (the new ED) is doing a fine job—better than I ever could for all the reasons. It's exciting and LTA is lucky, lucky, lucky to have David.

There are a few reasons why I want fewer Lark responsibilities. It's hard to find time for my own endeavors: I want to teach new contra dance callers how to call; I want to write some new original songs and record a few more beloved traditional Scottish ones; I want to devote more time to literacy tutoring. Most of all, I'd like to be able to go to Lark Camp as an instructor...or even just a camper. At the moment, I have responsibilities while at camp, so in the end, while I get to have some wonderful social time with friends, I'm mostly working. Soon! I know it will be soon.

FRANCE and SANTA FE! Other fun this summer: in June, Kent and I had a lovely trip to France, and in July made a quick dash to Santa Fe for the opera with family and friends (right photo below.) Kent and I have long followed the "see everything" model for travel—we try to visit as many sites/sights as are physically possible each day. No sleeping-in for us! Nah, we hit the pavement early and close down whatever restaurant we've chosen for dinner. Other folks would rather lounge and take it easy. Our method is exciting, energizing, informative and I admit—a bit exhausting, too.

We also like road trips. I like to drive. Kent often says, "You aren't going to let me drive, are you?" and I reply, "Would you rather I drive—or backseat drive?" And so, in the interest of marital peace—he is The Navigator and I am The Driver. The visit to France was a road trip: we arrived in Paris, rented a car and drove to Rouen (where Joan d'Arc was executed.) We ate at La Courrone, possibly Europe's oldest restaurant and the very place where Julia Child had THE omelet that rocked her culinary world...and permanently changed the way America cooks! The next day we drove to Bayeux to tour the Normandy Beaches (Kent's dad landed at Utah beach, so that felt important) and see the Bayeux Tapestry (technically an embroidery). We then went to Nantes (see the elephant in the left photo? It's a huge hydraulic puppet at the Les Machines de l'Île!) and ended our trip visiting friends in Saint Cirq Lapopie (third photo from left), a tiny medieval village in the Lot Valley.

As I get older, I do dream of a slower version of travel. I'm considering taking a sketchbook tour in Barcelona in the fall of 2025, a place we visited 6 years ago, but would be happy to see again. I'd be occupied with other artists for part of the day, and join Kent for the rest, plus we'd add a few more days to sightsee. It might be the perfect blend of travel activity, something that slows us down, yet allows time to explore to our hearts' content.