Hancock, New Hampshire

If you would like to visit a classic New England town, think about a trip to Hancock, New Hampshire next time you are in the Boston area. An hour and a half by car, Hancock is located 9 miles from better known Peterborough. You might be asking at this point, why visit this town rather than one of the hundreds of others that are spread out across the New England countryside? Indeed there may be other towns as quaint and scenic as Hancock, but this author doesn't know any! 

Hancock is a small town of several hundred people. It has a historic inn, its own small lake, and many tasteful colonial style homes separated by rolling fields and winding stone walls. Woods sprinkled with small ponds surround Hancock. There is a small general store in the middle of town, where one can buy food and rent videos. The people are friendly, but distant, as New Englanders are prone to be. There are trails to hike, historic places to visit, and for the ambitious, Mt. Monadnock, Southern New Hampshire's tallest mountain, is a short drive away. 

To B or not to B

In recent years Bed and Breakfast places have been popular way stations for the traveling set. Frequently housed in old, historic buildings in scenic places, B and Bs with their scones and quiches often seem “precious”. They offer weary travelers the company of fellow journeyman and jovial inn keepers. 

Though they may have much to offer, I am very ambivalent about these places. They can be fun and relaxing, but too often I find them confining and without the amenities I enjoy. Tea and scones and Sherry are nice, but how about a good single malt? Have you ever seen an elevator in a B&B? After a hard day on the road, I like my space and privacy. I like to watch CNN in my room, not in a living room with overstuffed furniture. It’s a pain to unlock the front door at night. I like a concierge service that works 24-7. There is something about the impersonality of a big hotel that is freeing. It is also nice to be able to buy a paper in the lobby. 

Band Bs are not cheap. They are often cold and drafty, and sometimes you don’t even get your own bathroom! Such flaws wouldn’t be tolerated at a Marriot or Hilton, but B&BS are selling ambiance I suppose. I stayed in one recently in Port Townsend, Washington. The proprietor was very nice, and I felt guilty for not resonating more with the place. It was decorated with many antiques, and after a short time I had the feeling that I often have in such places, namely that I was staying in a museum, and that I shouldn’t disturb anything. I was an interloper, and the real residents were the tables, and chairs, and fine lamps. The building was obviously fashionable in the late 1800s, but I noted to myself that people didn’t build houses like this anymore, and there was a reason they didn’t! 

The Man in Black

The Man in Black

Las Vegas as usual was steaming. It was the winter of 1962, and I was on a leave of absence from college to “find myself”. I didn’t think I was in Las Vegas, but I thought it might be an interesting adventure to spend a few weeks there.

I got a night job working as a busboy, so my days were clear. I discovered that Johnny Cash was playing in a local casino. I had been a fan of Johnny’s for a long time, and I   remembered fondly songs like “Jackson” and “Fever”. I went to the lounge early, and gradually more and more people came. There seemed to be mostly locals, people who liked cowboy music.

The Tennessee Three, Johnny’s musicians, came out first and played a few songs. Johnny then entered the small stage, but there were problems. He stumbled around and tried to sing, but it wasn’t going to work. He was reported to have a “speed” problem, and that appeared to be the case. Finally one of the Tennessee Three said Johnny was ill, and he wouldn’t be able to continue.

In the late sixties, I heard that John found religion and June Carter. I am not sure of the order, but June became a key figure in Johnny’s life. Not only was she a wonderful person, but she brought her famous singing family to the marriage. A tight-knit group, the Carter family, which consisted of Mother Maybelle, Anita, and Helen, probably gave Johnny the base of caring and security he had always lacked. Having grown up the son of poor cotton pickers, Johnny had not had an easy childhood. 

Over the years Johnny became a highly productive and popular entertainer. He was an icon of sorts, singing in his signature black outfit, championing the cause of the downtrodden. His renditions of gospel songs like “That Old Rugged Cross” and “Rock of Ages” have become Country classics. He sang with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and of course his own family, the talented Carters. Johnny’s career ebbed and flowed as the public’s taste changed. However, he seemed to stay in peoples’ consciousness more than many singers. He was rediscovered by a Hollywood rock producer in recent years, and his career took off again. 

                                                                                

Not long ago June Carter Cash died. She had been ill, but she kept the extent of her health problems from many. John, in poor health himself, never recovered from his loss, and he too died not long after his wife. The greats of country music came to his funeral and paid musical tribute to him. Later his estate was auctioned off, and Johnny’s personal effects brought in millions of more dollars than anyone thought possible. 

One of Johnny’s best gospel songs is, “Peace in the Valley”. His life was not easy, and his music like that of Ray Charles has a haunting, soulful quality to it. Over the years Johnny Cash’s music making touched many people, young and old, rich and poor. People from the city listened to him as did the farmers in Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri. He was a champion of cowpunchers in Montana and Wyoming, and he gave hope to the down and out in prisons across the land. The journey of his life from a poor cotton farmer to a TV star was inspiring. Through it, Johnny Cash seemed to remain connected to his roots and the people who were important to him. He appeared most content when he sang the spiritual songs of his childhood. Indeed, may there be peace in the valley. 

  

Massachusetts in December

winter's wind across the black ice,
the sound of steel skates,
As the sun fades beyond the hill,
where the pines live in quiet dignity.

the walk up the hill is in the dark,
by a frozen stream,
under a light pole of wood,
Christmas lights shine in the distance.

The Hate You Give

I recently saw this movie at Cineopolis in Del Mar. It tells the story of an African American high school student caught between two diverse cultures, that of her private school and that of her crime-ridden neighborhood. Her childhood friend is shot by an anxious policeman in her presence, thus creating an outpouring of rage from her community. In the midst of all this, the heroine is trying to grow up and navigate a relationship with her Caucasian boyfriend. The movie could be stereotypical, but it is not due to the outstanding performance by the lead, Amandala Stenberg.

In light of what is going on in our country, this is an important movie to see.