30 Years +. . . Time marches On
The
Past Few Months
Quick moving like the rest of the year, the past months have
flown by in rapid fashion. August featured the Taste of Roselle as usual.
Though a gratis performance (in its 24 year history, no one has ever been
paid), it’s still lots of fun, since many friends like Tom Schmitz,
Don Noessen, Marty and Sue Stoesser, Big Bill and Marilee Kulterman along
with their families mingle with our brood. Lots of games, rides, cotton candy
(ick), hot dogs, Greek food, Chinese delicacies – something for everyone.
It has become a yearly tradition.
Flaherty’s in Lombard celebrated 26 years on the planet in mid-August. Lots of regulars with friends and relatives came out to celebrate. “Uncle Larry” was at his fins, as he put out the annual spread of sumptuous vittles and groceries, and took the microphone to pass out prizes, and heckle some of the regulars, as well as to reminisce about past years, and some of the characters who have embraced his portals.
Labor Day weekend found a busy itineraries with the usual club work and several parties and festivals. Buffalo Grove Days (in the beer tent), plus parties at Mo and Wranny Welborns, Tom and Vickie Tiffany and Famous Kal’s and Princess Mary’s in Grayslake filled the bill quite nicely. September continued with a fest in Wilmot, Wisconsin at Holy Name of Mary and the Villa Fest in Wheeling. Like August, September was a good month. The only disappointment of the month was to learn that the Lantern in Lake Forest decided not to continue with Thursday night entertainment. I will be playing on occasional Fridays and Saturdays when possible, so stay tuned.
October, one of the traditionally slower months for this writer, turned out okay. The Grove Fest came and went, but not without incident. The day started fine weather wise, but soon darkened as the skies turned putrid gray. Then the rain poured down, chasing some inside the roofed house, but most to their cars in the distant parking lots. He day was saved, though, for the last two acts – Early & Nelson and “yours truly”. Unplugged was the way it had to be, but far better than being washed out completely. This festival, depicting pioneer life in the 1850s, is one of my favorite events of the year. After 23 years, I still look forward to each coming festival.
It wouldn’t be October without a reference to the Red Barn Pumpkin Fest south of Woodstock in mid-October. Pick your own pumpkins, buy their homegrown vegetables, procure some Halloween knick-knacks – this can readily done. There is much more to do this day, though – a cornstack walk, haunted house, tractor ride through the huge farm, haystacks for the kids to romp and tussle with one another, plus pigs, goats and other farm animals – it makes for a fun day for the kids. Kaila, Deirdra and I have attended 3 years in a row (fortunately no side jobs on those afternoons). Kids have their fun at the activities, while Dad wants to listen to the Hartland Express as they do their variety of fun songs. It’s so seldom I get to hear other acts these days that to hear Chris Strong and Roger Schiller is indeed a treat. Thirty?five years of “folk songs, bluegrass and mayhem” is unheard of in the music business. Usually petty disagreements and egos are among the reasons for disbanding. Actually it’s 36 years since they began, a full six before I got the call, so to speak. Their sound was still tops, even though they play less these days (Chris has retired from school teaching, and he and Vickie have moved to Canton, IL, some 4 hours from Woodstock; Roger, a Project Manager in Chicago, spends a good deal of time in New York). They still have it. Check their website for future dates. Chris says he can handle the drive They’ll be there. They hope you will be, too.
How about those White Sox sweeping it all the way? The evening of October 26th was such a big night for the city. A beautiful finish to the season, a well-deserved trophy and mayhem all over Chicago. . . it was a long time since 1917. (Hell, that was the year my mother was born.) Yes, there were important things that year, and far more famous people were born. . . but it has been a long, long time, nonetheless. Let’s savor it. Now the Sox join the Bears and Bulls as recent Chicago Champions.
Jerry
Smith (1923 – 2004)
It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Jerry
Smith. A short letter from his widow, Henrietta, arrived in early summer.
Jerry and Henrietta used to come see me at Grandpa’s in the summer months,
along with their sidekick Arnie (the great) Lidquist. (No doubt Arnie was
wife-hunting). Their appearance always lightened up the evening. Or so it
seemed, as Jerry always had that perpetual smile on his face. A mechanic by
trade, Jerry worked a long time at Gateway Chevrolet in Chicago, as well as
for himself in later years. That garage of his was always teeming with activity.
One particular evening Jerry seemed especially jovial. When I asked why, Jerry
proudly announced that he was in a new profession – that of a bookie.
Sure, Jerry. What are you going to take for Arnie’s Minnesota Vikings?
Some time ago, the Smiths moved to Florida, and Jerry and Arnie (when the
latter went to visit), would send me these picture postcards of scantily clad
women on the beaches of Florida, with little innuendos like “come on
in (the water’s fine)” and “come to Florida for the finest”.
Jerry, your sly humor will be missed. We send the best to Henrietta and her
family.
