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Saratoga Sampler
Poets use words to help Americans heal
By Mary Ann Cook
POETRY IN TIME OF CRISIS: Interesting that of all the arts, so many people are turning to poetry for comfort in these stressful times. Poet Laureate of the United States Billy Collins and other poets say they are being overwhelmed with outpourings of offerings from poets around the world.
At poetry readings that usually draw 30 to 40 people, 100 are showing up. Poems are making the Internet rounds and are cropping up on many of the postings at the emergency sites in New York. Collins compares the status of the poet in contemporary life to that of the goalie in hockey: "The goalie in hockey stands apart from others, marginalized. When all the skating and sliding around on the ice begins to fail us, the goalie is the poet."
Collins is considered one of the most accessible of contemporary poets, and this is a trenchant example of just why he has earned that reputation.
Here's one from W.B. Yeats now making the rounds: "All the words that I utter/ And all the words that I write/ Must spread out their wings untiring/ And never rest in their flight/ Till they come where your sad, sad heart is."
FIGHTING NOT JUST FIRE: Saratoga and Santa Clara firefighters have been sponsoring barbecue benefits at area farmers markets and raised close to $100,000 during the first two weeks after the national tragedy. At the Saratoga Farmer's Market, the firefighters amassed $62,000; at Los Gatos' market, $36,000 was raised.
The money will be sent to the East Coast. "These people don't have anything, and we're going to help them out," vows Bill Morrison, president of the Saratoga chapter of the International Association of Firefighters.
WHOSE FUNERAL?: People wondered at the overflow crowds arriving and leaving Sacred Heart Church one recent Thursday, thinking it was a notable's funeral. No funeral, rather it was a Yom Kippur celebration. Sacred Heart loaned its facility for the Jewish religious holiday. The overflow crowd parked at St. Andrews across the street.
Sacred Heart also played host to the ecumenical services held shortly after the attacks. "First time I ever saw the crucifix covered," noted Ed Porter. It was covered with an American flag, in deference to the sensitivities of those participating in the service who weren't of the Christian faith.
INTERCULTURAL EATS: Speaking of ecumenical, the bento boxes at the annual moon viewing at Hakone sponsored by Sister City are an exercise in cross-culturalism, it seems to me. It's a tasty offering and a real bargain, but surely its contents are widely diverse in origin. The boxes contain sushi, 'tis true.
They also contain steak teriyaki, which sounds Japanese, no matter where its practice first started. There's Chinese chicken salad. But chicken kebabs? That's Middle Eastern--Turkish, Persian. Most surprising of all is the presence of--potato salad. Doesn't that smack more of our own Midwest than the Far East?
Purveyor of these treats is a Mountain View deli. Cookies are whipped-cream- filled delicacies, which doesn't sound like a Japanese descendant either. But then, that's the beauty of a cultural mix. The music was authentic Japanese: a flute and an ancient stringed instrument called a koto.
TOP HONOR: Ray Triplett of Monte Sereno has been named this year's council president by New York Life Insurance Company. This honor is awarded to the agent with the greatest sales and service achievements for the year. Triplett has a 24-year career with NY Life, since graduating from Santa Clara University.
As a top agent among 9,900 sales agents, he has won many industry and company distinctions, including life member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He was named Life Underwriter of the Year by the San Jose Life Underwriters Association in 1988.
HEARTY WALK: The American Heart Association's Silicon Valley Heart Walk was held recently at West Valley College. Some 5,000 walkers took part, a record. John Daane, CEO of Altera led the walk. Some $500,000 was raised, $30,000 of which came from Altera.
A portion of the money will benefit the 911 Disaster Fund. The association will contribute the first $250,000 raised at its heart walk events this fall to disaster relief.
FLYING THE FLAG: Somehow Fatima of Cultured Nails manages to get the entire U.S. flag on a fingernail, or 10 fingernails. Well, OK, there are only half as many stripes or stars, but still ... She's decorated every one of Mary Urzi's nails. Urzi is retired after 20 years in sales at Idaminas Dress Shop.
She dresses in red, white and blue these days, including jewelry--a ring or more on each finger, plus one thumb, in cadence with a blue wristwatch.
MORE INFO: The Community Health Library of Los Gatos has received a $35,000 grant from the Tenet Healthcare Foundation, which will be used to purchase more books and periodicals, says Mike Liddicoat, director. The health library, at Los Gatos Community Hospital, is an unsung community resource.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
