the marimba bug

where F and i spent the weekend...

at marimba music camp

out in the back hills, south east queensland

where the air smells of grass and trees

eco-village nestled in the valley

out of mobile reception range

unplugged

the annual gathering 

of we who love 

hitting wooden xylophone keys, making music

jamming in time, playing in the moonlight

plink plunk bink bonk bang

interwoven rythyms

with trumpet soaring over the top

and clarinet

hungarian (bulgarian?) bagpipes

bass drum

circles, dancing, (old hippies us)

hugging, sitting on rugs on grass

yellow flowers falling like snowflakes 

tinkling down

from the giant tree

by the open deck of the cafe

where the marimba-kids perform on sunday afternoon.

waking early to mist, whipbirds, wompoos

birdsong forest orchestra.

campsite coffee, then strolling down the hill

past  lake

and grazing kangaroos.

Many familiar long-familiar faces 

so many children, grown so big!

we exclaim.

new grandchildren

old stories heard for the first time

chai, and enough time to chat

going nowhere

old tunes,

and new tunes 

while the little kids swing to and fro

and bounce endlessly on the trampoline.

to hear some marimba magic:
http://youtu.be/g2kXcvDJ18s