Hello Folks!
Sheila Fox here giving you a quick rundown of our week long Alaska Prairie Home Cruise with Garrison Keillor. What a ride!
We were the groovy Jews on the cruise. We played and played and played our varied repertoire of Jewish music every evening at one
of two venues, either the Crow's Nest, a bar on the 9th and top floor and bow end or at the Explorer's Lounge, near the entrance to the main dining room. We performed on the mainstage show with Garrison on Wednesday night. (See photos). We were upstaged on Saturday night a bit by the whales spouting and frolicking at sunset, as we sang “A Glezele L'Khayim” (A Toast to Life). I couldn't stop smiling.
Pianist, Rich Dworsky and drummer Arnie Kinsella from the Guy's All Star Shoe Band joined us a couple of nights and played some Klezmer, Ladino, and Jazz adding another flavor to our sound. I danced up a storm and introduced willing audience members to various Yiddish dances. I felt exuberant presenting the songs to new Klezmer and Ladino listeners and to happy Jews. I dedicated songs like “La Llave” (The Key) and “Kholemen Khaloymes” (Dreaming Dreams) to peace and healing the earth.
We were the obvious choice for folks looking for something a little different from the usual Prairie Home fare.
Liz wowed fellow clarinetists who asked her for advice after the shows, Eugene bowed and plucked and sang
with such ease and delight and accompanied Sally his violin playin' daughter in Garrison's talent show and Laurie celebrated his birthday on mainstage, when Garrison asked him to play Happy Birthday on his accordion while the whole Prairie Home crew and audience sang to him.
Really enjoyed meeting Robin and Linda Williams, just down home folks and Jarilyn Steele.
The weather was soo perfect, I felt like we had a weather fairy following us around!
We sailed into Glacier Bay Park on a crystal clear, blue sky day.
My partner, Rena and I sighted 2 black bears in a green meadow thru binoculars (thank heaven!)
from a lookout point in Juneau. And the smell of the Sitka Spruce trees on a beautiful sunny day while talking to and watching a marmot (looks like a giant guinea pig) ate its lunch of various greens was an energizing break from the ship.
We sailed through a bit of a storm on Wednesday night. Viewing the whitecaps and listening to the wind from the veranda of my stateroom was exciting and a little scary. Eugene and Laurie had wanted to play “Lid fun Titanick” (Song from the Titanik), but Liz and I thought it was in poor taste and would not do it.
We were vindicated that night when the storm really started to rock the boat.
The Prairie Home staff and the Holland America crew were the best. Tireless, cordial, attending, efficient, they worked round the clock to see that things ran smoothly. The mostly Indonesian porters, servers, housekeepers, cooks, etc, were multitalented. The artistry of the decoratives on the buffets were quite something. The sculptures they created with fruits and vegetables, ice and sugar were so beautiful. The towel "origamoi each night in the staterooms made to look elephants, or monkeys or pigs, were a treat to come “home” to. They sang Happy Birthday in Indonesian to Laurie in the dining room.
We arrived Seattle at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 21st, disembarked, went home and slept a bit then drove out to Ste. Michelle Winery for our soundcheck and evening performance of the broadcast. The cruise was lots of fun, hard work and breathtaking. We made lots of new friends. Thanks again to the wonderful Prairie Home Companion staff.
