Nellie & Peg

We arrive in the Texas Hill Country just in time to put on clean shirts and trade in our very dusty trekking sandals for more respectable footwear, maybe some earrings and lipstick (while hunkering in our car in the parking lot). We're out front of Billy Gene's restaurant, where the Women's Interfaith Peace Dialogue is taking place. Today, in addition to spreading the power of peace through roundtable discussion and guided meditation, we are going to hear a woman speak about her experience in the Peacecorps, nearly 25 years ago. What a story...a beautiful story of an affluent young woman deciding to do things very differently and go to Panama to be of service. Because of her decision she has now started a trend in her family. In fact, her daughter now lives and works in Central America having also volunteered for the Peacecorps.

After the talk we sit down with two woman, Nellie & Peg, who have helped found a gospel group called Many Voices, One Soul. Nellie is a joyful African-American woman in her mid 70's. As far as I can tell she knows everyone within a fifty mile radius of Kerrville Texas and if they attend a Baptist church within that radius then she knows their extended family as well, regardless of where they live. Peg is an elegant Caucasian women in her 60's who has worked diligently alongside Nellie to create this community of interfaith voices. I am hoping, without ever having met them before, that we can somehow bring some of these women who are part of the 'Many Voices One Soul 'community together. It is very much a part of the vision of the GCW to celebrate Women's Wisdom in all its expressions, including dance, music, artistry and crafts.

The conversation goes like this:
CC: "It's such an honor to meet you. I know we're only in town for a week but I'm wondering..."
Nellie & Peg: "What do you need my dear? How about a gathering...a gathering of men and women..."
CC: "Well, actually, for this trip we're only sitting with women. Is that going to be ok?"
Nellie & Peg: "Just perfect dear. A gathering of women...hmm...what should we call it?"

At this point they confer with each other in a blur of suggestions arriving, after a minute or so, on "An Evening of Women's Song & Story". They confer again on which ministers will have to be notified so that no noses bent out of shape and also so that no men show up without warning. When women are speaking their Truth it's important to create a sense of safety. Then we all look at our calendars to agree on the date; the following Saturday from 7 to 9pm at the Doyle Community Center. Nellie says she's going to provide her famous lemon cake as well as a beverage and Peg says she's bringing her sandwiches. Since there's no piano at the Doyle Community Center they agree that the singing portion of the evening will be a capella and the story telling will be a la Global Culture of Women. "All filmed of course?" I ask hesitantly, ready to spring into action describing the incredible yoga of filming that Blythe has perfected, the way she can be right in the middle of the action and yet seem so unobtrusive, a sixth sense about filming. But, none of this is necessary. They're several steps ahead of me. They barely even look at each other as they shrug their shoulders and say "Of course!"

By the time the conversation ends, Blythe and I have known these two women no more than ten minutes yet they have agreed to not only participate in but also organize, host and provide food for this potentially very large all-woman's community event.

That's how it goes....