People of Bend

There are so many things I love about Bend. The trees, the water, the waterfalls, the clean air, the amazing canyons, the change of seasons, the festivals and events. But what really seems to make Bend beautiful are the people. The artists, the dancers, the crafters, the musicians, the bloggers, the writers. People who go beyond the eat/sleep/work quotidian life and contribute something extra to the community.

There's a girl who goes folk dancing where Connie does. She's sixteen, and she's learning to folk dance. She got a djembe for Christmas, and she's going to start coming to the drum circle. She's in two internships. She's into acting. She's one of the best dressers in Bend. I'd love to just take her photo once a day and put it on the blog, to show the variety of styles she wears, and her 'do of the day, but it'd creep me out to be that older guy taking pictures of a young girl.

There's a young woman who fire dances, and stilt walks, and plays drums, who dresses like someone out of Mad Max, and is into enlightenment and shamanism and other woo-woo stuff.

There's a guy older than me who's a peace activist, who does a radio show on public radio, who leads a drum group, who'd do just about anything for you.

There's a guy who plays didgeridoo, and makes didgeridoos, and gives free performances and free workshops.

There's a violinist who's into yoga, who's been in various bands, who has a blog, who puts together performances of musicians from around the world, and who's currently studying in India. Bend is a little dimmer as she shines her light in that far land.

There's a guy who fire dances, and stilt walks, and throws awesome block parties.

There's a gal who blogs, and runs a tech club, and organizes lots of little get-togethers.

There's a guy experimenting with all manner of rockets. Jet packs. Home-made fuel. Flying saucers.

There are all the belly dancers, who pay to learn their art, who put together amazing outfits, who practice and practice, who dance solo and in groups, for the sheer beauty of it.

There's a guy who not only blogs, he supports other bloggers, and he plays percussion in the local symphony.

There are the slam poets who bare their souls in public.

I'm ever grateful to all the teachers who share their talents.

There are just so many people who make things, write things, take pictures, go to Burning Man, who get involved and add their own unique talents to the collective gallery that is Bend. Their presence makes me happy. Their absence makes me sad. I'm so grateful they're in my world.


Posted by Dave    Blog Tag: Opinion Comments