To all at Annaghmakerrig (a name I can spell—finally—without looking it up!)
The Guthrie Family
Robbie
Mary
Martina
Lavina
Mary
Esther
MaryAlice
Ingrid
Jim and his grounds
McGinns’ pub
Charlie Adams and his taxi
The groundskeeper at the Parish Church, who opened especially for me
All at Mt. San Angelo — Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
Everyone whose name (or deeds) I failed to note, though our paths criss‐crossed
Thank you
‐‐ for the wholesome and appetizing food that fueled my novel, padded my belly, and
gave me energy to wrestle my plot to the ground and the courage to, in some cases,
kill it.
‐‐for the bike that took me to Newbliss and back along the wee roads.
‐‐for the attention to detail, the thorough and regular room cleaning, a luxury that
allowed me, a slack housekeeper, to forget chores.
‐‐for the smooth, rolling sea of green and the smell of roses and grass that sailed
through my window
‐‐for the lilting language, curiosity, warmth of Irish hosts and guests
‐‐for the kingfisher on the tire at the boathouse, for the herons’ call and cows’ bellow
‐‐for freezing lake water that baptized me each day.
‐‐for the ghosts
‐‐for the fellow artists who have inhabited, or will inhabit, this world apart.
VCCA Fellow BettyJoyce Nash
Photos: VCCA Fellow Adam Giannelli
VCCA composers are invited to apply for an exchange residency to Tyrone Guthrie Centre. Deadline: December 1, 2014. Application available here.
