August. 24, 1995 - Music and Moonlight Cast Their Spell, , IOA,*, The Suffolk Times on. August. 24, 1995
Music and Moonlight Cast Their Spell
By Paul Stoutenburgh
What a wonderful blend of the natural world and
music as many of us watched the recent Douglas Moore
Memorial Concert at the Village Green in Cutchogue.
As the music played Strauss, Britten, Puccini and, of
course, works of Douglas Moore, a big yellow moon
peaked through the trees. As it climbed upward a few
stars shone above but most were dulled by the bril-
liance of the stage where the Sound Symphony, directed
by Miriam Burns, performed so beautifully. Then to add
to the symphony's music,
Michelle Jennings sang arias Focus on
from "The Ballad of Baby
Doe" and selections by Nature
Puccini that put me in a mood
of longing for more and more.
It was a splendid night and after it was over we all drift-
ed away to our own little private rendezvous. I thought
what a wonderful event it had been and how thoughtful
people were in providing this annual affair.
Last year rain had forced the concert into Mattituck
High School, but not this year. The soft, warm air of a
passing summer couldn't have been nicer; even the
mosquitoes seemed to cooperate and stayed away. With
folded chairs under our arms, we went to our car in a
nearby neighbor's yard and with the aid of the moon
had no trouble walking those back and usually dark
passageways.
Back at the cottage the moon, high in the sky, had
lost its golden glow and was now its usual self, but we
noticed a bit had been sliced off its side, tolling us the
full moon had already passed. The mood was so special
we didn't even turn on the lights in the cabin but rather
walked in the back door and out the front. Barbara's
"Let's take a walk" invitation didn't need a second and
soon we were walking down the beach with the moon's
silvery path leading along the water to light our way.
Moonlight for the Masses?
I wondered how many were taking advantage of the
moon's spell. There should be a special bulletin over
radio or TV telling people to get out and enjoy these
moonlight wonders, especially when the temperature is
so balmy. But then again, perhaps it's best not to invite
the masses for then, with the moon's magic, who
knows what might happen.
`There should I'm sure many a reader can
relate to the moon's spell.
be a special To top the evening off we
bulletin over had to take a swim. After all,
who knows when this combi-
radio or TV nation of events of time and
telling Place will be at hand again.
g p eo le p And so as we neared the end
to get out of our walk we took the bold
step and went for a moon -
and enjoy the light dip. I was surprised how
moonlight cool the water was for the
previous day I'd gone clam -
wonders.' ming and the bay felt as
warm as a bathtub.
It reminded me of those youthful days when whole
families would go swimming at night after a hot, suitry
day. It was then that I first saw the masses of small,
illuminated phosphorescence that would slither like sta-
tic electricity off your body as you stood up in the
water. Once in a while, while swimming, you'd hit a
big phosphorescent glow of jelly that would light up its
entire length with a greenish - purple filament. We'd
catch these in our hands and hold them like some magi-
cal genie.
Those early days also reminded me of how we boys
would go camping down on the point: big fires, swim-
ming at night, cooking mickies, sleeping in sandy bed
rolls and, of course, the endless attack of gnats and
ENGUIN
DOLS
Monday - Saturday 9 -5, Sunday 11 -4
288 -3325 288 POOL
Plenty of time in winter to relax
I-- u y . a .................... y. ,
MOONLIGHT — Whether hazy or bright, seen from a boat or from shore, the moon over the water
casts a special spell.
mosquitoes that always seemed to plague us, especially
in the early- morning hours, which brings me to a
chuckling story that happened last week in front of the
cottage.
We were eating dinner out on the front porch when
we watched three young boys walking down the beach
laden with bed rolls, tents and I'm sure a healthy supply
of their own favorite foods. Evidently they were out for
a night camping on the beach down below. It brought
back memories of years ago when I took my son and
his cousin on a camping trip on that very beach. I'm
sure they experienced the same torment of gnats and
mosquitoes that we went through, although I do believe
we came out better than they.
Early Morning Rising
The reason I say that is that the next morning we
were up before six and as usual we looked over the
marsh in back to see if a deer or the white herons were
there and then checked the bay for anything like fish
breaking or perhaps a flight of shore birds along the
beach.
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The sun hadn't risen as yet and it was dead calm —
the witching hour (or should I say itching hour ?) for
gnats and mosquitoes. What we did see was two
bedraggled boys, their packs draped helter - skelter over
their backs, trudging up the beach. Then one boy had
his pack slip off his back and when he stopped to pick
it up we heard these amusing comments from the other
camper: "Don't stop again! I only have one hour's
blood left and you don't want to see me die, do you ?"
Then we watched as they rearranged their gear and
wearily trudged back towards home. Needless to say,
their blood was shared with the gnats and mosquitoes
all night. Both had had their fill of camping and were
headed home, where I'm sure they spent a good part of
the day resting and talking about their great camping
adventure.
I couldn't help but think through how important
those kinds of adventures are to kids in their quest for
life. It's through those kinds of experiences that young
people develop a sense of one's self and gain confi-
dence to go on and meet the challenges of today. My
hat's off to them.
Joseph L. Townsend
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