Had dinner with Joni Mitchell Saturday night. Never met her before but she's known Richard for ever. I can't remember when I've had a more intense, far-reaching, multifaceted conversation (right from the moment we sat down...no small talk with Joni) - from Christianity, Buddhism, the Gnostics, different forms of meditation, Ego as the original sin, to living in the wilderness north of Vancouver, the beauty of blue herons, our Black bear encounters (mine more dramatic than hers), medical challenges (hers more dramatic than mine), Georgia O'Keefe (she stayed with her in New Mexico when O'Keefe was 90), painting (Joni paints), innovators versus copy cats and music. It thrills me to listen to musical people (Joni and Richard...or Keith Richards in his autobiography) dig into the minutia of creating musical art. Much is Greek to me but they got into what it meant to have started on the banjo (Joni) and how that influences chords and tuning. She talked fascinatingly about how she always liked to do what hadn't been done musically - unresolved chords, etc, that often made the music honchos nervous. I should have taken notes.
Sunday morning I found myself on a plane (major delay!) to go to San Francisco to speak at the San Francisco Ultimate Women's Expo. I was there to speak about my latest book PRIME TIME, and what I've learned from writing. I've spoken on this quite a bit over the last few months or more and I'm still enjoying seeing all the heads nodding (especially the gray heads...and nodding, not nodding off!). My PRIME TIME brand has created quite a community, which is why I'm excited to be able to continue the conversations from my book here on my blog, on my Facebook page, and on twitter now that my book tour has wound down.
Tonight, I'm having a small gathering for Bonnie Raitt. Joni will be there and Robbie Robertson, Eddie Olmos, Steve Bing and Paul Allen. I look forward to another fascinating and intense evening...if I make it back in time!
I made it back and it was a swell evening! I managed to tweet out this photo of myself Bonnie and Joni, which people just loved! Afterwards, Joni, Bonnie and Richard got down with music discussions such as the beauty of ‘open G chord tuning.’ I’ve known Bonnie for almost 40 years…as activist, friend, generous performer of benefit concerts—but not really seen/heard her talk as musician. Imagine what it was like with these two brilliant women guitarists! Here are some more photos….Enjoy!
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