<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=""><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Dear Lovers of beauty, language and life,</font></span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=""><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""> </font><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">You are cordially invited to join us for a reading and book launch by Doug von Koss. </font></span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=""><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><img apple-inline="yes" id="D165AE0D-D21B-4CFA-A98A-7C5DC366DA39" height="180" width="124" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:A91EB35FD3AB4006B045E01F1570E4E2@DouglasHP" class=""></span><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""></span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=""><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 3:00 pm at the home of Rebecca Evert in Sebastopol, CA. Seating is limited. For the address and to reserve a seat, please e-mail Rebecca at <a href="mailto:revert@sonic.net" class="">revert@sonic.net</a>. </font></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""></font></span> </p><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=""><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Truth be told, <b class=""><i class="">Gratitude Goulash, Poems & Stuff</i></b> has already been launched by Amazon but this will be the first reading of the new book by Doug. Amazon says, “Here are 32 poems to astonish and delight the most reluctant reader of poetry. A new voice from a wise elder with an intact sense of humor. An extra bonus comes in the form of 5 pieces of whimsy disguised as "Stuff." What have you got to lose?</font></span><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">”</font></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""></font></span> </p><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=""><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""> </font><font style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Doug von Koss is an artist, teacher and performer who presents chanting workshops, poetry performances, rituals and other festive surprises around the world. We know Doug from his many years of spoken word performances with <b class="">Rumi’s Caravan</b>, his circles of call and response singing with <b class="">The Noah Project</b> and his work with <b class="">The Redwood Men’s Center</b>. Please join us as Doug releases his latest creation into the world. It won’t be an ordinary afternoon.</font></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;" class=""></span> </p></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Gratitude Goulash</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Take down your biggest pot,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">bigger than you think you need.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Slice, dice or cut into manageable pieces</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">the desiccated remains</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">of all your life's</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">calamitous events.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Look around for missed ingredients.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Add clean water, local honey and vinegar.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Bring this mess to a rolling boil then</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">simmer on a back burner for several days.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">When your kitchen smells good,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Ask a close friend to come over.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Get out two old bowls,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">they need not match.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Just before serving add a dollop of success</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and a smidgen of failure.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Then be very liberal with paprika.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Solemnly bless the goulash,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and take a few bites…</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Laugh together, forgive yourself,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">then gratefully</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">go out to eat.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""> - Doug von Koss</div></body></html>