Bells, Sticks And Hankies

Day 144: I get one of two reactions when I tell people I'm a Morris dancer. Most commonly, it's "What's that?" but occasionally, I'm rewarded with an enthusiastic, "I love Morris dancing!" and as often as not, that's likely to be followed by, "I lived in England for a couple of years." It surprises me that Morris isn't better known in the US, although I hear that interest is on the upswing. Morris teams are referred to as "sides," and Seattle has several. The group I dance with (Sound & Fury) is a "mixed side," i.e., both men and women. We dance largely in the Adderbury tradition and perform throughout the year with most gigs being engaged during the summer months. Our weekly practices are something I really anticipate, even though I don't get home until almost midnight. Listen! Do you hear bells? The Morris dancers are coming!

A Lot Of Brass

Day 119: When my mother passed away, I added her Bells of Sarna to my own small selection. As you can see, the designs of each are unique (at least I hope I didn't put any duplicates in the display). Each one has a specific purpose. My mom could have told you the meanings and/or ceremonies associated with each of these, but unfortunately never wrote them down. The collection is normally suspended by decorative cords at the sides of two different doorways where in passing, I will bump into them unless I make a specific point to avoid them. I love hearing them ring.