What kind of Fool am I?

 

In 2005 (not quite sure of the year) my mother and I attended my first World Tarot Congress.

So many Tarot luminaries were in attendance. I spent much of the time gobsmacked,Star struck and card struck.

On Saturday night, there was a banquet and a “talent show” where songs were chosen for the respective cards of the Major Arcana, and I was to sing (solo) “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” because (as Janet Berres, the creator of the event, said) “None of the Pagans are going to know this song”

My mother and I walked into the dimly lit banquet room to take seats in the only table which was unoccupied. All the other tables were full, and I feared we would be the duo outcasts in this lone out-lying table.

But then, a foursome entered the dining room and took their seats with us.

Immediately I knew Amy Zerner, with her stunning purple hair (before it was an actual fad) , Monte Farber (Amy’s husband and co-deck creator) greeted us, pleasantly. Then a long looking man, with a care-warn face, that I recognized as the keynote speaker from the night previous, Stuart Kaplan-president of U.S. Games Inc. and his companion, Bobbie Bensaid.

I was (properly) cowed. My mother was not.

We all started chatting back and forth and then started talking about the songs we were performing. Monte was to sing “Blue Moon” (for the Moon card) and  Stuart was bemoaning the fact he had been chosen to sing “What kind of Fool am I?” for the Fool Card. I mentioned I was singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”. Monte said he knew that song and sang the tag line of the chorus “Comin’ for to Carry me home” and I chimed in with descant/harmony and the table stopped for a moment. Stuart said to my mother “She can really sing” and my mother-in a knowing way said “yeah, she can sing”.

There many other wonderful things that happened as we made new friends. Monte arranged an entire act around his Blue Moon number with dancing back-ups of Amy, Bobbie and me. Monte and Caitlin Matthews came up and sang Swing Low Sweet Chariot with me, in four-part harmony.

But there was a moment with Stuart that I have remembered just now.

When the event was announced and Stuart introduced to kick off the singing, Stuart, promptly, came to my chair. With one hand on my shoulder, and one drawing the chair back, he leaned down quietly and said “come with me. You’re going to help me sing this song.”

I did as he ask. One does not refuse royalty…even if it is Tarot Royalty.

As we got to the stage there were many people up there to help sing this song. Not be out done, Stuart pushed me forward toward the microphone. In the picture taken, it’s almost as he’s hovering above me (in a back row) in the performance of the song.

After that I kept in touch (for a bit) with him and Bobbie.

I saw him a few years later (at another event) and he treated me like family.

 Just today, I learned that Stuart Kaplan passed on Feb. 8^th 2021 of complications of Covid 19.

Rest in deep peace, dear Stuart.

What kind of Fool are you?

The kind who journeys in spiritual realms without cares or pain (now).

All my love,

Kim