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ERIN HAUGH
THINKING OF SUE ROALMAN
This week’s Pub Notes is written by Molly Swan in tribute to her friend Suzann
Roalman. Sue. who is well-known in Athens, is battling cancer at her North
Carolina mountain retreat. Comments by several other friends of Sue’s are
included with this column online at www.flagpole.com.
I moved to Oglethorpe County in 1980. Knowing no one, ex
cept my brother, I put an ad in the paper (would that have been
the Observer back then?) offering a class in Healing with Flower
Essences. Sue showed up, and since then has enlivened a vibrant
slice of the total pie of life as I know it. We decided to do a spe
cial celebration of the winter equinox that year. A group of us,
all women from that first flower essence workshop, gathered at a
bonfire. Sue had suggested that we create little sculptures out of
sticks and yarn and stuff to represent things that we were letting
go of, and that we throw them in the fire as a way to clear out the
old and make fresh space for new beginnings. As I recall, no one
else made a sculpture, but Sue did and threw it into the flames.
This all occurred on my brother Paul's farm in Oglethorpe County.
We women had our celebration and then moved on to new things.
Later, my brother, the farmer, and one of his cronies came upon
our fire pit out on the edge of a far field. They stirred the coals
and found bits of feathers and sticks from Sue's sculpture. "Oh
look," said one, "they burned a poor little bird." From then on my
brother named our women's group "The Root Priestesses."
In later years, I have enjoyed the fresh-baked goods, pieces of
soap and jars of salve Sue always presses on me every time I visit
her. And even more treasured have been the moments spent sip
ping tea together in her kitchen, surrounded by sprigs of plants
rooting in jars and knitting projects for a never-ending succession
of new acquaintances. Sue is a true Earth Mother, a lover of plants,
animals, home, neighbors and community who relishes sharing the
familiar little comforts of life. Sue cares deeply about things, and
feels deeply, too. When something doesn't feel right to her, she
takes action to fix
the problem. Anyone
who has been close
to her knows the
intensity of the fire
of her righteous
indignation. It's
easy to take offense
when faced with
such forceful inten
tion to change our
dysfunctional ways.
But for those who
are willing to let our
egos dissolve a bit
more in her purify
ing flame, she gives
a great opportunity
to see the things
we could change for
the better. There is
always opportunity
to hone ourselves
more true from
these encounters. And when the storm has passed, even blatant
recalcitrants such as myself know that her lovely smile, rising out
of her deep true love, will always return to warm us.
Sue has always been very vocal in online listservs and letters
to the editor in the Flagpole. When Sue takes on a cause, the rest
of us within reach know that she will relentlessly remind us of that
project. Her perseverance is of the highest sort.
Due to her gregarious and highly energetic nature, she has
probably given massages to more people in town than most of the
rest of us massage therapists put together, and once quipped, "My
prices are ridiculously low." In line with her appreciation for sim
ple homey things, she kept the price low until she retired this year.
Now she has chosen to take leave of her Athens community and
embrace the beauty and peace of her mountain home in Brevard,
NC. She reports being in bliss in her new digs, with yarrow bloom
ing and comfrey to be picked. She wants to create healing salves
with the bounty of the mountain plants and establish her home
there as a healing center. Although it is hard for her to breathe
and walk, and she relies heavily on her son Woody to get through
the day, with her usual enthusiasm she invites everyone to visit
her there, as does Woody. They request that we write first. (Sue's
email is hands4peace05@gmail.com.)
As always, connection with the people of her community is
Sue Roalman's greatest joy. Love is a net. I'm imagining her in the
center of that net, with everyone who cares holding a piece of the
circle, and her feeling love from all directions forever and always.
Molly Swan
Sue with her son Woody Hauke at his graduation from
Wofford College in 2004.
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
INIEWS <§s FEATURES
Athens Rising 7
What’s Up in New Development
A look at the large-scale development projects eithei underway,
just approved, or merely under discussion.
An Immigrant’s Story 8
Coming to Athens, Part 3
The conclusion of the three-part series that started earlier this month.
ARTS <§s EVENTS
Grub Notes
Seafood Surprise
A visit to the Gnat’s Landing seafood shack on Baxter, and checking out the ’cue at Fresh Air.
15
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Art Notes 19
Human and Kind
Cathy Ehrler. Will Eskridge, works at LHAC. “Animal Instincts" opens at
ATHICA and “The World at Large” shows at Brick House Studio.
Do Come Hear Cheer 28
Toronto Post-Rock Act Do Make Say Think Brings The Volume
The Canadian group released You. You're A History In Ruste*her this year.
Cornin’ On Home 29
Mofro’s Swampy Funk Rock Finds A Solid Place
On Country Ghetto, songwriter JJ Grey settles into a new lineup and sure-footed styles.
Thinking Outside 31
The Sojourner Box Set Doesn’t Mean Jason Molina
Is Out Of Ideas—Just The Opposite
The set is comprised of three albums of new recordings, an EP and a tour DVD.
LETTERS
CITY PAGES
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ATHENS RISING...
IMMIGRANTS. PT.3
OUT THERE!
GRUB NOTES
MOVIE DOPE
MOVIE PICK
ART NOTES
ABC
DO MAKE SAY THINK....
MOFRO
PEELANDER-Z
MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO.
RECORD REVIEWS
THREATS & PROMISES ..
COMICS
REALITY CHECK
CLASSIFIEDS
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NEWS & FEATURES 1 ARTS & EVENTS I MOVIES I MUSIC I COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS SEPTEMBER 19,2007 • FLAGPOLE.COM 3