Written by Joyce Wilson Magoulas | Intro by Jules Weissman

Joyce Wilson Magoulas is ninety-four years old. Every day she walks from Troy Lodges to the Cottages Among the Flowers to have coffee at the home of her son, Paul. She doesn’t see very well, but she knows her way, having walked that path nearly every day for some eight years.

Joyce came to Ojai to join her son, Paul, and his family. “I have no other relatives,” she says and adds part of Ojai’s appeal was “a very good little writing group.” This group, The Little House Writers, was very active around the time Joyce moved to Ojai, meeting in a little house — of course — on Main Street in the middle of town.

I am at the Cottages to do an income survey, which I seem to have to do every month, adding more detail each time in hopes of forcing the City to correct the record on what I suspect is utterly bogus reporting by the Developer of the tenants’ incomes sometime in later July 2019 or early 2020. I worked for developers and landlords in Brooklyn, so I have a healthy bit of skepticism about these things, and I consider the door-to-door knocking penance for my eight years or so in real estate.

This time ‘round, I pop in to try to catch Joyce and her coffee to ask her about the three books she published with John Gentry, the late Johan Wassenaar, in conjunction with The Little House Writers. I find her in Paul’s backyard, utterly stylish in a yellow plaid blouse and smart wool slacks, speaking with Kimberly Rivers from the Ojai Valley News. Rivers is there to learn about Joyce’s life at these Cottages. I’ll have to wait my turn.

While I listen, a sturdy black cat hops on my lap, and conversation meanders toward the development deal.

Joyce asks, “What direction is it going?” “Toward development,” says Paul. “There must be tenants’ rights!” exclaims Joyce.

She tells us that this deal is the “first thing” she heard about when she came, that she would only be able to be in this place temporarily, “but it never seems to change.”

I hear that a lot when I speak to tenants. Tonight it may very well change. The City of Ojai may very well pass a deal that will provide replacement housing for a small fraction of the tenants. I don’t get all my answers about Joyce’s poetry because I have to go do my canvassing.

Anyway, please enjoy this sweet poem about the joys of outdoor music at the Ojai Music Festival.

Ojai Music Fest

 The music floats on scented air

Teasing the Trees with playful notes

Plays kiss and tell with hummingbirds

While the strings and flutes talk of love.

Such music makes the heart rejoice

Some felt the urge to keep the beat

And sat in rapture and delight

As Mozart took away all strife.

Two intruders burst into song

Their voices rang out loud and strong

Dismayed looks were all around

Hush hush was said, but none respond

Drum roll sounded the retreat,

The two sang on and held their ground

A squirrel came, joined in the fray

Played peek-a-boo then ran away.

But why not join in and sing along

Even if the notes are all wrong?

Such minor details do not count

When music has an outdoor sound.

Some changes to the music score

Would help to put the balance right

Include the operatic skills

Of two young crows who stole the show.

Joyce is the author of three works, all published in Ojai: Ojai Impressions, 2015, Here and There, 2016, and The Path, 2020.