94 the rice diet renewal
One of the stories that carries one of strongest imprints would
be my encounter with Peg Perry and her sister Katharine
Hepburn. I was at a crossroads in my life. I had left my home
in North Carolina to take a year to fi gure out whether I was
to do music or teach full time. I had tried my hand and heart
at teaching in a classroom but quickly knew that was not for
me. I knew I wanted to continue teaching in some capac-
ity and also sensed a strong calling to music. Yet there was
great turmoil in my soul, as I had some horrible encounters
with a musician I had been working with who was focused
on money, ego, and dishonesty. I remember going out in my
hay fi eld in Connecticut one night, looking up at the stars,
and acknowledging that “ I quit ” if music was going to be like
this... working with folks whom I could not relate to, whose
motive and focus seemed to be so different from mine.
Soon after my declaration, the phone rang inside my wee
cabin in the woods. It was Peg, my neighbor and older friend,
who had become a grandmother fi gure in my life. She was
inviting me to accompany her on her weekly visit to see her
sister Katharine down at the shore, “ And bring your guitar. ”
Several days later, we turned into a long, winding driveway
and fi rst met a large sign shooing away any trespassers; drove
up to the door, where we were warmly greeted by Katharine ’ s
caretaker; delivered Peg ’ s weekly homemade bread; and
walked into a beautiful old New England beach house,
museumlike and fi lled with photos of Katharine and Spencer
in their prime. We went into the living room, where Katharine
sat in a big ole chair overlooking the sea beside the fi replace,
ornamented with a sign, which read “ Listen to the Song of
Life. ”
That day opened up my ears and heart to listen more intui-
tively to the song of life. As I wrestled with my own thoughts
and feelings, which widely ranged from the fact that I was
visiting an icon, a woman who had done more for our world of
movies and entertainment than about anyone I could think
of... yet here she was, frail, deaf, and alone in a big ole house