The Leaves of Twin Oaks
Spring 2001 - Page 3An advantage of group living: Mala couldn't sleep because of a painful burn on her hand. Pain killers weren't doing it. She goes downstairs to the kitchen, in tears. Keenan is sympathetic but what can he do? He finally says, "Tell me about the first time for awhile. Keenan then tells his story, followed by Kristen . Not as good as morphine perhaps but it beats a sleepless night.
—photo: Valerie, Peewee and Sky
Validation Day was sunny and warm enough for a wonderful outdoor mass wedding, though not exactly in the manner of our sister cult, the Moonies. The Reverend Ezra presided, wielding in his left hand
the
ass of the Ass (the hindquarters of a broken burro piñata) and in
his right a Sub-Genius mug (Praise Bob!). Various people, animals (mainly
a certain ferret, Lieutenant Sulu), inanimate objects, etcetera were married.
For example, in separate ceremonies, Valerie aka Ultraviolet married both
new member Mala (probably because Mala's outfit went so well with her own)
and also Peewee Herman, (in the form of a lifelike 16" doll. )
At dinner, Validation cards were distributed. Bonnie and Jaz
alternately read to the crowd from each card until its recipient
was identified.
Various Oakers have been coming to Woodfolk to help us build our house. We have had one truss party, and two wall-stuffing parties so far.
Woodfolk is a collection of ex-Oakers and ex-Acorners. We are living in and expanding a cooperative house in Charlottesville. The refabrication of our house consists of stuffing large amounts of organic matter into the walls and stuccoing over that. (The permit was approved as strawbale infill.) For thousands of years people built houses out of straw, leaves,reeds, and all manner of materials that tend to keep a house warm. As long as the material is tightly packed, it will not burn. If it is kept dry, it will not rot. But then rich people came along and built these silly, drafty, flammable wooden houses, and everybody said "I want one of those!" We know better.
Woodfolk is evolving into something of a sanctuary for high functioning crazy people, which is a good thing. We are also well connected with the activist community in Charlottesville. Hopefully, Woodfolk will continue to build bridges between the worlds of intentional community and the larger activist community. Our wall stuffing parties, at least, have served that function well, mixing all kinds of interesting people over gourmet pizza.
Wall stuffing continues into early March. A most pleasant madness continues well beyond that. Come say hi.