THE RAM’S HEAD REVIEW

Sept. 29, 2007

Great meeting here Thursday night, where seven of us gathered happily after two weeks apart.

Carolann had a letter to the editor published in the magazine Good Times. In the October issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, Carolann has three poems published under her pen name of Laura Drake. (I love “Old Teddy Bears”.) And they also published Gemma’s poem “Autumn”. Way to go, girls!

Bob read first, telling us how his stepbrother thought Jacoby Bros. should only employ young jewllers, that all the older ones should be let go. Bob’s Dad did not agree, and didn’t follow that advice. On hot days, it became company policy to allow staff a cold beer 15 minutes before closing time. At one time, the company was asked to appraise a broach someone had found on a street in Rome. It had fine quality gold and gemstones and had been made by the Royal Italian jewller, appraised at $10,000.00. After the business downturn in 1982, the company lost The Bay as a major customer in 1983. In 1984, the business was precarious and they took a salary cut. In July of 1985, their bank loan was called and a receiver arrived on Aug. 10th to change the locks.

Ellie had wanted to read, but had brought the wrong pile of papers and only had a story she had read previously.

Margaret read from her Peabody collection. On the day of the wedding, Nov. 5th, Rev. Peacock’s motorcycle breaks down and he and Peabody and Joey, the parrot, are stuck at the Inn without a ride to the wedding. In the room next to them are two protestors who set off a rocket that goes astray. This is Guy Fawkes Day.

Carolann read two poems, “Autumn”, and “The Mask”. The second one was about an African mask and keeps asking questions, trying to determine its original purpose. Thought provoking.

Elaine read three of her poems. “Unfaithful Sun” was about greeting the sun after its absence for so long. “Three Witty Sisters” was about her mother and two aunts and their constant joy and laughter when they were together. “A Ghostly Visit” was about someone seeing a ghost, and out of fear deciding to make some needed life changes.

Robyn read some of his poetry to us, too. “Aus Kids, Check For Red Backs Before You Ride The Roo” was a warning to Australian kids to check for dangerous spiders in their environment. And “Napolean And Son” was a take-off on “Casabianco” by Felicia Hemans, about a boy frozen on the deck of a burning ship, waiting for instruction from his father.

I read Chapter 45, which is the morning after Fiona had been attacked. Tanner asks her to stay at his place, and she learns from Bert that the broken water main still needs to be fixed.

Next meeting will be here at my place on Thursday, Oct. 4th at 7:00 p.m. I wish you successful and happy writing in the meantime.

Lisa