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Beau Wann, Jr.
Good moanin mine friends...
Been enjoying the banter on the forum. You are so right Teddie, it doesnt get any better than your hunt with your grandsons. Oh, and Gus too. Nothing more special than a working dog like Gus.
Diane and I got to enjoy a concert at Cinco Ranch High School last Friday. Our Grandson sings in the Chorale/Choir. Gave up football for music. I am so glad too. Unless you fall off the stage, get hit by falling scenery, or get electrocuted by the microphone, there's not as much chance of getting injured as there is in Football. (Plus he wasnt very good at football anyway). Oh, what a treat we were in store for. I have never seen so many talented young people gathered in one place. They did the regular choral singing, guys and gals. (Taylor sings bass). All along the way, there were pop song solos by at least a dozen or more ladies and gentlemen. WOW!!!!!
I never understood any of the words to any of the songs, except the word "love", but the music and voices were phenomenal. One young man played guitar and sang a song HE wrote. Good as anything I've ever heard. Taylor, our grandson, accompanied two of his classmates, on the guitar. Dont know what they were singing, but it was great. I was amazed at his poise and his work on the guitar. He is better at 17 than I was at My best, whatever age that was. The two young ladies sang beautifully. They sang harmony and melody, each exchanging parts, one melody, then harmony while the other took harmony then melody. At least half of the soloists sang and played guitar...WOW AGAIN...
Needless to say, the choir director and music director, there are two, did a magnificent job of putting that show together. Well, with the kids help of course. It went off flawlessly. I've seen professional shows that had a hitch or two in them. Not so this one.
I asked an assistant principal of Cy-Fair HS, who was in attendance, "was there as much talent in all high schools as there was at Cinco Ranch???? She said that this was unusual.
Gee, I wonder where "Star Search" was!!!! Now I like football, as much as the next guy, but Unlike a football game, this event left you feeling warm and satisfied, but wanting more. Plus, you werent, either hot and sweaty, or freezing cold and wet, and depressed if your team lost, or all of the above. But one good thing about being out in the miserable weather, was that it generally got better once you got home, showered and under the covers. Kind of like a pair of shoes that hurt your feet. Once you got out of them, you felt sooooo much better.
I remember one such show in our high school life, way back yonder. I think it was called Soundtrack. Other than the dance band and orchestra, I think that Jim Henley and Robbie and I, Jodie and Lonnie were the only other acts, except the professional group, "The South Coasters", and Ike Clanton, which were great. If there were more, I dont remember, and I do apologize for their omittance.
My minds eye remembers seeing Larry Reed playing the drums in the middle of the Dance Band. Seems he had silver blonde hair that stood out, not to mention his drumming ability. All those folks in the dance band and orchestra sure have a memory they can be proud of.
Hey Jimmie Lee, we tried riding the parkway years ago, from Chattanooga to DC. After about 50 miles or less, I had to find the interstate. Going around those hairpin turns at 20 MPH, following the school buses loaded down with "tubers", just drove me crazy. We were getting car sick. Plus the scenery had put my senses into overload. If we hadnt found the interstate, we would probably still be there to this day, going round and round and up and down...
We spent a week at the Smithsonian, and could spend a year in there. Plus the National Cathedral, and all the Civil War Battlefields, and Arlington. Rode the train from Fairfax, Va, under the Patomac, into downtown DC. I didnt know it went under the river, until we were under it. I was anxious needless to say. Dont like being IN a river, let alone under one, and in a train to boot. Just doesnt seem natural.
Diane and I join our classmates on condolences to all on the loss of moms and dads. My mom is still with us, at 92. She has slowed considerable in muscle and mind, but still with us. Dianes Mom and dad are still enjoying life, visiting Branson last week, and going to a casino ever couple of months, plus they still enjoy and participate in "Swing dancing". I like "Swing", but I get to jitterbuggin and doing the saint vitas dance, my back will up and quit on me. They would have to carry me out on a stretcher. Max and Jeanine, Dianes parents, have been on many cruises, Alaska and Europe, plus a trip to Russia, Moscow, Kursk, etc...They spent 3 weeks in Russia, much to their dismay. They said a couple of days would have been sufficient, 3 weeks TOO MUCH.
My Dad passed away at the age of 76, in 1996. He had only been retired for 10 years. I dont think he enjoyed life as much as he could have. As much as I wish he would have. Born in 1919, living through the height of the depression, having to find work at 10 years old etc, guess that kind of hardens a body.
Dont think he or any of his brothers graduated from High School. Too busy trying to survive. But, they were all very smart. All ironworkers.
I called them the "Wild Bunch", and they were. Hard working, hard drinking, and hard playing!!!When the forth of July rolled around, or New Years, they didnt just use fireworks, they lit off dynamite, and any artillery at hand. They didnt have much use for me, as I was an anomally. I was clumsy, and not very bright with things. Where they could fix anything, providing it was broken, and no problem was too much of a problem they couldnt solve with little or no effort, If I see something broken...well, it's just broken. I dont see how things work, let alone how to fix them when they break. And when there are problems...I see only the problem, and not the solution, or it takes me an inordinate amount of time to come to a solution, and by then, I've missed the bus.
But, even though I was generally at odds with them, or the focus of their joking around, I still miss them being in this whirld. Seems like life was safe, when they were here. Now, it's just me. I'm probably to my sons and grandchildren, what my dad and uncles were to me. Someone to watch after me, keep me from harm.
I so enjoy seeing Mr and Mrs Theissen at our little country church in the city. They are 90ish, and still so young and vibrant, and wonderfully warm and funny. I hope Tonda and Sheila dont mind that I have adopted their parents as my own. I just love em!!!
Hmmmm, almost 4 AM, and two freight trains have come and gone. One at two, and one just a short while ago. Sounded like they were outbound...Port of houston bound...Probably empty, since we seem to be importing more than we export. And whats with the meat at the stores???? Huh???? Packages say "From Mexico, Canada etc", and whereever else it came from. This is Texas by gum, I want texas beef. Nolan Ryan is ok, but his meat is really expensive. I wonder what other country's luck out and get beef imported from Texas!!!!
Growing up on DuBarry, you never had to look at where the beef came from, or anything else for that matter. All from USA, and most often than not, from Houston, Texas. Now, I think we have progressed too far in some areas. A lot of changes in the three P's, packaging, products and prices. Saw a commercial for Payday Candy bars just today. I remember when they first came out, sometime around 1955. My dad would give me a whole dollar and send me to the Seven Eleven on Judiway, across from the swimming pool. I would get two Paydays, two cokes, a pack of Luckys or Camels, a Saturday Evening Post, and whatever else, and still get change back.
Ok, guess I will sign off for the moment. Need to download pictures from my camera. Might come back and add a picture to this entry.
your whirldly frien and bro...DOD
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Paige
