A Little Mid-Week Bluegrass Div (Sad News Subsection)

News just received that John Starling, one of the founding members of the Seldom Scene has entered hospice. When he passes, only Ben Eldridge and Tom Gray will remain from the original group, John Duffey and Mike Auldridge having died in 1996 and 2012 respectively.

The "Scene" was unusual in that they all had "day" jobs and considered their weekly jams their "poker night." Once going public, stage performances were of short duration in local clubs in the DC area. Though Duffey was the unofficial leader (and the strongest personality) everything was shared equally and there had to be full agreement on the repertoire.

Here's a performance featuring John singing lead (probably from around 1980 -Starling left in 1977) of Herb Pederson's Wait a Minute.

May John's transition to his new adventure be a smooth and comfortable one. Thanks for the memories.



John Starling - Guitar and Lead vocal, John Duffey - Mandolin, Mike Auldridge - Dobro,
Tom Gray - Bass, Ben Eldridge - Banjo and Phil Rosenthal - Guitar.

Memorial Day -- again Div

Once again, it was yesterday or tomorrow or whatever. To me, Memorial Day will ALWAYS fall on the 30th of May

So, I hope you remembered one who once wore the uniform and has now passed. I know I do, but then again with me, it's a daily occurrence.

Veteran's /Remembrance Day Div ( different date, same thoughts subsection)

Ninety-eight years ago, the "War to end all wars" ended. I guess we all know by now how well that turned out, eh ?

I wrote this a few years ago when I was still living in DC. 

I still remember the day I saw that young man, and I will never forget it.
The dates are different, but the sentiment remains.

Remember ............

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Road Trip subsection)

We're heading back to the Black hills from Arizona. I love road trips. Probably a result of having done so many in my childhood and travels while in the service. Always remember staying at "Mom and Pop" establishments on those family vacations. Hard to find them any longer.
Anyway, here's The Moonlight Motor Inn, written by John Malcom Penn and done by a group from Big Fork, Montana.



Leftover Biscuits: Rudy Urban: Banjo,  Jim Sticka: Guitar and Chad Fadely: Mandolin 

Terrorism Div (gunfire subsection)

Just an observation: mass shootings have become the American equivalent of car bombs in the Middle East.

The part that flummoxes me is that they aren't called terrorist acts. If someone set off a car-bomb, it most certainly be so identified; but guns ?? Nah, just a "mentally deranged, lone wolf (or wolves)" and strangely, mostly committed by young Caucasian males.

Trust me, I know terrorism. I lived with it daily (and was present in Regent's Park on 20 July 1982   and additionally, had to redeploy and reroute a cruise missile convoy due to the Hungerford Massacre in 1987) when I resided in England and was present for the rampage of the "DC Sniper" - which caused so much mind bending terror. I remember being called  by a motorist who was afraid to buy gasoline and asked my advice.

Seems like that "well regulated militia" portion of our Constitution has been ignored by our spineless Congress.

Mr Obama keeps saying that "enough is enough." Trust me, there'll be more until people are so scared and/or fed up that something might be done ..... but, I'm not holding my breath.

LOVE Div (Happy Chico Day subsection)

Well, it's that time of the year again.

Life has moved on for me. As a friend told me (in fact it was this morning), life is like the rear-view mirror in the car. The things that have been passed recede and become smaller (their memory never is forgotten) but we have to keep our attention focused on the road ahead.

I have been so very fortunate to have reunited with a love from my past and she's given me a future. I often tell people that I'm luckier (and trust me, luck played a huge part in our reunion) than I deserve to be; and I'm thankful for it every day. It's so wonderful to be part of an "us" again.

In preparation for my upcoming relocation, I've started to go through the accumulation of over thirty years-worth of stuff. As it happens, the first box I opened yesterday just happened to contain every letter and card I'd ever sent to Diana. There were also photos - many of which I couldn't place and some that brought back memories, both happy and poignant. The timing is a bit ironic.

I'm sure that the coming days will hold similar occurrences and that I'll laugh and cry as I remember the "blonde bombshell." Perhaps she's occasionally looking over my shoulder. I know she's happy for me.
But here's one of the pics ..... I forgotten taking this one ...... it's one of my favorites.

A Little Sadurday Nite Bluegrass Div (LOVE Div Special)

A year ago today,  I began the last dance with my lovely Diana. I held her hand for over twelve hours until her spirit finally took flight and left me forever.

In the past year, I've experienced the depths of despair and overwhelming emptiness.
Craig Johnson, in one of the Longmire novels, once had characters describe losing a wife as losing part of yourself; and what's more, "when they're gone, you are left with the person who was with them when they were here ….. and sometimes, you don't recognize that person."

Recently, I was so very lucky to, totally unexpectedly, reunite and fall in love all over again with a wonderful woman I knew in the days before Diana's entry to my life. She has given my life a complete new beginning and meaning. I doubt very few men are so fortunate to experience the incredible opportunity of having two fulfilling lives and being able to share those lives with two wonderful women.

This lovely song by Martha Trachtenberg and performed by Nothin' Fancy very well  explains where I am in my life …. tho' I don't live for the past, In my dreams I still dance, and remember ……..



Nothin' Fancy: Mike Andes - Mandolin, Mitchell Davis - Banjo, Chris Sexton - Fiddle, Tony
Shorter - Bass and Jessee Smathers - Guitar.

Perseverance Div (remembrance subsection)

The mini-Bears of the Geography Division are taking a week off - they work hard and deserve a break.

v

I first posted this song two years ago on this, the anniversary of the composer's (Stan Rogers) death. Little did I know that these words would mean so much to me now. The words mean more and more to me every day.

Memorial Day Div

My post from 2012 still applies  - - though they've now closed Walter Reeed and I'm no longer Driving4$$ (since they don't want to pay what they owe me, why work, eh ??).

Jim Wright has an excellent essay over at Stonekettle Station on the current VA mess. Jim is a veteran also and though sometimes he's a bit verbose, he's good. ..... and yes, Eric Shinseki deserves better treatment.

Last night, I listened to a reading of one of Walt Whitman's poems from 1865,  .... may our honored brothers in arms rest peacefully.

Pensive on Her Dead Gazing
Pensive on her dead gazing I heard the Mother of All,
Desperate on the torn bodies, on the forms covering the battlefields
gazing,
(As the last gun ceased, but the scent of the powder-smoke linger'd,)
As she call'd to her earth with mournful voice while she stalk'd,
Absorb them well O my earth, she cried, I charge you lose not my
sons, lose not an atom,
And you streams absorb them well, taking their dear blood,
And you local spots, and you airs that swim above lightly impalpable,
And all you essences of soil and growth, and you my rivers' depths,
And you mountain sides, and the woods where my dear children's
blood trickling redden'd,
And you trees down in your roots to bequeath to all future trees,
My dead absorb or South or North--my young men's bodies absorb,
and their precious precious blood,
Which holding in trust for me faithfully back again give me many a
year hence,
In unseen essence and odor of surface and grass, centuries hence,
In blowing airs from the fields back again give me my darlings, give
my immortal heroes,
Exhale me them centuries hence, breathe me their breath, let not an
atom be lost,
O years and graves! O air and soil! O my dead, an aroma sweet!
Exhale them perennial sweet death, years, centuries hence.

RIP div ............

My family moved to Arizona in 1950. I maintain that we ran out of money while heading for Southern California where my Dad went to high school, but my Mom disagrees.

Arizona was a much different place. Phoenix's population had just topped one hundred thousand and the area was a rich, agricultural valley - one of the most fertile in the world. We were surrounded by groves of oranges, lemons, grapefruit and fields of cotton and alfalfa. Most (if not all) of that is gone today; replaced with concrete, asphalt and gravel. Summers were hot, but dry and an evaporative cooling unit (often referred to as a swamp cooler) was adequate due to the low humidity. The abundant green space allowed for sufficient overnight cooling; it might be 110 during the day, but the temp would drop at night into the 60's. Today the entire Phoenix area is a gigantic "heat-sink" mostly devoid of shade. The overnight temps from the triple-digit days rarely get below 80. The arrival of June marked the beginning of the "Monsoon" season with the cooling rains. Now, they arrive later, don't last as long and bring less rain.

It was a wonderful place to grow up ....... but I'd never move back.

In 1990, six firefighters were killed fighting the "Dude" fire northwest of Payson. Five were inmates from the State Prison and one a guard. My mother's church opened their community buildings to house and rest the many crews. Needless to say, the lack of rain and fire danger are a constant topic of conversation in North-Central Arizona.

I heard about the tragedy in Yarnell this morning on the radio (we listen to a Prescott, Arizona radio station on the internet). 

During the 50's and 60s, I camped and hiked and traveled many of the backroads of this area with my family and Scout Troop.

From my visits to see my 91 year-old Mom a couple of times a year, I can see how the climate, culture and condition of the state has changed; and it saddens me.

                                                  (Firefighter memorial - Payson, Arizona)

My heart goes out to the families of the firefighters that were lost. We never appreciate their day-to-day labor and effort until they make the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks Guys ........ RIP.

New Heights Div (mountaineering subsection)

Hard to believe that it's been sixty years since Hillary and Norgay reached Everest's summit for the first time.  Though it's become more commonplace, It's still quite an accomplishment.

Workin' For a Livin' Div (do you really want fries subsection)

Well, it's finally starting ........  the end of the world as we know it. The nerve of these people to demand a living wage AND deny the public access to expensive, unhealthy food-like consumables.

McDonald's recently actually paid some high powered consultant to study and recommend how they can improve their customer service; it's a real beaut !!

"Reward and Recognize Great Service:"
Just imagine the impact nominating a fellow worker for the "hot pie recommendation award pin;" how it will put a smile on your face and keep you up late at night worrying that you won't be given yours.
The military learned this long ago in the passing out of "gongs" (pieces of carved metal suspended on bits of coloured cloth). Of course many of the "customers" serviced directly by the military performing it's primary mission don't get to critique the service (they do however get a life-changing experience) - the gongs are for each other.
It's amazing that nowhere in the consultant's report did he mention the payment of a living wage.

"Keep simplifying work processes and rules:"
Pretty simple, eh ? If they order a Big Mac, give them one (oh yeah, and ask about the fries).
I remember when McDonalds sold burgers, fries, milk shakes and coke. Period, Stop. No McMeals, No extra-large, just Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry (Oh yeah, there were cheeseburgers too)
The late Jack Palance pretty much sums up this point:



"Invest more in tools and training:"
well, duh ???  Companies today don't spend nearly enough on training and it's the first expense to be cut when times are tough (right after laying people off).

I certainly hope the workers make an impact on the industry.
Like I've said before, a single-payer, universal health-care system would do wonders for the empowerment of the working population.
Maybe withholding their labor will make us all healthier.

FEAR Div ........ (current events & historical remembrance subsection)

Well, my recent post about fear was prescient, eh ??? The bombing in Boston was a terrorist act and did exactly what it was intended to do - terrorize. My thoughts and sympathies go out to all who were murdered, maimed and traumatized along with those who loved them. The fortunate fact that so many trained medical personnel and first responders were so close undoubtedly kept the casualty counts from becoming much worse.

Bruce Schneier of The Atlantic has a good column today - and the words Keep Calm and Carry On brought my mind back to the the time I lived in England during the '80s. 

In July of '82, I'd gone down to London for the day to have lunch with my cousin. I'd arrived in the Marleybone area early and decided to walk through Regent's Park. Before exiting and heading for lunch, I stopped to watch the Band of the Royal Greenjackets tuning up for their lunchtime concert on the bandstand. I was quite overcome with the "Britishness" of the whole scene and wished I could stay, sit on the grass,  have a beer and enjoy the cultural experience. Alas, I had a commitment and walked away to meet my cousin and her husband. I was approximately 200 meters down the road when the bandstand blew up.

I made it through lunch (with the help of a couple of large whiskies) and was pretty shaken for the remainder of the day.

A couple of years later, my wife and I were riding the tube back out to the northeast end where we usually parked the car. A gentleman in a shabby suit carrying two large shopping bags sat down about ten feet from us on the opposite side of the car. He appeared unshaven and wore a large watch which he repeatedly looked at. He held a copy of the Irish Times and struck his leg with a clenched fist while reading it. Trust me, he immediately grabbed my attention.

Could be that he'd simply had a hard day at work in the "smoke," suffered (like me) from 5 O'clock shadow, had received a nice watch and was in a hurry to get home. This crossed my mind, but I still casually mentioned him to my wife and told her that if he departed the train and left the bags, she was to do exactly what I told he without question or hesitation.

At the next stop, he left the train with his burdens, both physical and whatever anguish the newspaper was causing him. 

The point here is that we each need to be more situationally aware and vigilant - reasonably, without letting paranoia replace rationality.

I wonder how many people passed whoever was placing the explosive into the trash cans in Boston and never noticed. Most were probably staring at their hand or talking on the phone, oblivious to everything and everyone around them.  Many more were concerned with the race and that's understandable. 

The IRA terror campaign never brought Britain to a halt. We never stopped our travels throughout England and Europe because of any terrorist threats. We readily adopted the British tradition of KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. We paid attention to our surroundings and looked over our shoulders; but never in fear. 

The next few days and weeks are going to be rife with speculation, inconvenience and dicomforting thoughts. It's best to Keep On a Keepin' On and not let the terrorists (of whatever ilk he/she/they may be) win.

  

Another Bluegrass Loss div

When I was adding the addendum of 2012 losses to Saturday's Bluegrass post, I  didn't know that Mike Auldridge was passing away at his home in Silver Spring.
I've enjoyed his gentle style and superb musicianship for many years. He'll be missed.
This morning's obit from the Post really says it all.



RIP Mike.

Merry Christmas div

I first heard John Henry Faulk's "Christmas Story" four years ago while sitting at the airport waiting for passengers. When it finished, I needed a kleenex.
I listen to this every year to remind me what the Christmas Spirit is all about.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Today (yeah, it's Thanksgiving) ....... div

Though this year's "get ready to shop" holiday falls on the 22nd, how many of us remember where we were on this date in 1963 ??
It's one of those days in one's lifetime that (like 9/11 - to a younger generation) is as vividly remembered as if it were yesterday.
It was a clear, warm Friday, just after noon (my easy day) and I had just finished an engineering class at university. Walking to the parking lot to retrieve my (even then) ancient Volvo, a classmate from high school called out to me and asked if I'd heard the news. Naturally, I hadn't, and looked at him as if he were insane.
I can, even now, close my eyes and visualize every nuance of the day: the news reports, the speculation and the remainder of the weekend. Our holiday meal the following week was subdued and we hadn't yet, as a society, deteriorated into the rampant consumerism that burdens us today.
So, while the turkey is still warm and the pie uncut, take a moment and reflect (if you can) on another moment of our lost innocence.

Happy Thanksgiving

Another One Bites the Dust (Sadly) div

When I heard that Kitty Wells passed away, this is the song that came to mind ............

Wonderful Day div

Been a while, but didja know that today in:

622 - --  the Islamic era began.  (Obama's fault, probably)

1054  - -  the "Catholic" church split in two.  (one allows priests to marry, you know what the other one
                goes in for).

1099  - -  The Crusaders herded the Jews in Jerusalem into a synagogue and burned them (840 years              
                later, the Germans try this in Europe).

1439  - - Kissing is banned in England (573 years later Tennessee follows suit).

1790  - - US Congress establishes the District of Columbia  (600, 000 folks still don't get to vote).

1861  - -  first Battle of Bull Run  (didn't turn out well for the Union)

1941   - -  Joe DiMaggio hits in his 56th consecutive game (went 3 for 4  - -  damn Yankees !!)

1951  - -  "The Catcher in the Rye" published. (high school students across America scream in anguish)

1964  - -  Barry Goldwater nominated for President by the Republican party (knew him, a great man  - -      
                and nowhere near what the repubs today would have one believe).

Thus endeth today's history lesson

Andy Griffith, 1926 - 2012 RIP div

Before he became a "sheriff, " he was a stand-up comic and little known "country caricature."

Many of us grew up with  Sheriff Andy Taylor, Opie, Aunt Bea and a whole host of characters  from Mayberry.

It's hard to watch your childhood die  ..........

Shipwerck div (in memorium subsection)

On this day in 1983, an Air Canada DC-9 enroute from Dallas to Toronto was forced to land in Cincinnati due to an in-flight fire. Twenty-three people died; among them, Stan Rogers.
"Mary Ellen Carter" is probably his most famous song (and as the video shows, cited by a shipwreck survivor as the inspiration). His song "Northwest Passage" is considered one of the unofficial national anthenms of Canada.



Thanks Stan, RIP