This Brothers Free cuz I’ll be who I want to be……….

Well, drumming was one of the profound ones last night. We said our goodbyes to Asta and Goheeta who are moving to Hawaii. They’ve been hanging out with us for 13 years and it was sad goodbyes to say the least! It all started with the mandatory potluck, which was well attended by all but them. Gary had some fine salmon steaks cooked and spiced to our liking and added to this was trimming fit for the Kings and Queens we fashion ourselves after. We all gathered early and ate and laughed and learned the latest gossip of the week past. In usual Three Rivers time and socially graced by being late, Asta and Goheeta arrived all the way from Berkley to see all the food eaten but friends of the kind anxiously waiting. We moved the party down to the drumming and grooving grounds and with others now gathered we pounded out the rhythms we’ve become so famous for. Into the night we went with people arriving the whole time. It was a mighty big crowd later singing the goodbyes to our friends of many good times and memories…..I hope they don’t tell………..
Later after the sax player had put away his horn and the guitars were played out, we headed to the river for the late summer nights swim in the mighty Kaweah. The liquid blood of the Sierra flowing by and never stopping till the ocean is met. Several of us gathered at Gray’s rock and slowly slithered into the ink black juice of coolness and contentment in a dark and warm midnight. Right there below the Slickee falls, where earlier there were a 100 people from the valley swimming , drinking beer, littering and leaving. The usual weekend for the town swimming hole bought by Gary to save for the locals. We all swam across the white water to the big rock on the other side and beached ourselves like seals laying on the rock with our bodies flat as could be to gather the warmth. We learned about the Northern Cross above us in the Milky way and other formations of pin prick dots of light in the star studded blackness with only the Chevron lights getting in the way. It was living in the highest form with friends of my kind. The water was kinda cool for the swim back we had it right there in our hands………….