Timber Valley SKP Park of Oregon, Inc

SINGING IN THE RAIN by Fred Prout

There are three different stories here , so pay attention !

Among the many musical performers Rita and I absolutely loved, the very top of the list was Judy Collins. Over the years,we saw her in several different venues,from auditorium to small clubs. We loved her music, and had the good fortune to be able to spend a little ( too little) time with her.

Of all the places we saw her, the first one is the most memorable.

We saw an ad that Judy was going to perform outdoors in Groton, Connecticut, 8pm the following Friday. We lived about sixty five miles away,but we would have walked if we had to.

We got to the field about an hour early in a light drizzle. No one was particularly optimistic that the show would go on, but we all waited. Next thing we knew, they were handing out plastic garbage bags to use as rain gear. It was going to pour. A few people left ( better bleacher seats for us) but Judy Collins attracted a die-hard, dedicated group of fans.

We were chatting with our neighbors when we heard bagpipes in the distance. As we looked up, we could see Judy surrounded by two very large Scottish pipers in full regalia, followed by a third Scot holding an umbrella over her head.( A brief aside, when Rita and I were married, we were escorted to and from the church by two Scottish pipers ).

They brought her to the covered outdoor stage and they opened the show with the most inspiring rendition of Amazing Grace we had ever heard. Very few dry eyes among us. The rain worsened, but the audience was transfixed and that set the tone for the next ninety minutes. Not a sound from the audience except applause and the slight rustling of garbage bags. I think she gave us every song she ever sang. Some she wrote, some by Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. A folkies wet dream.

Fast forward a few years.

We were staying outside the marine base in Twenty Nine Palms, California. We got word that the Marine Corps band would perform a concert at two pm that coming Saturday. And best of all,it was free. We were excited.The United States Marine Corps band.Wow!!!

When we took our bleacher seats, the weather was slightly overcast with some clouds rolling in. About fifteen minutes after the show was to start, a marine came out and announced that the concert was canceled because of the weather.

WHAT??????

The United States Marine Corps band was clouded out!

If only I could have summoned those three burly Scots and that tiny Irish lass from Groton.

To any former marines reading this, I apologize for any unintended comparison of the United States Marine Corps band and a group of felines. I’m sure there were reasons beyond the weather.

An unapologetic commercial. If you have never seen a movie called Taking Chance with Kevin Bacon, please try to do so. It takes place partly at Twenty Nine Palms, and is a most insightful portrayal of the character of these wonderful people who serve our country. I know Steve and Jackie have seen it. You should too.

Later that week we went to a concert by The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus. They put on a wonderful show. As we were getting ready to leave, a chorus member came over to us and thanked us for coming. They had noticed how much we enjoyed the show, and that we were the only ones different in the audience. He asked if Rita would accept a beaded necklace as a souvenir. Of course she did and she treasured it for years.

We chatted for a few minutes, and when he found out that Rita was a music major and a vocalist herself, his eyes lit up. Instant rapport.

Somehow , the irony of our being different, but nonetheless, accepted stayed in our minds forever.

The magic of music.
—
Fred

by Fred Prout

This is not the story I was going to write today. In fact, Rita wanted it locked away forever.  Sorry, my love, but daylight savings time is here. The bars are rattling, and the laughter (I hope ) is directed at the situation. Everyone has been in a similar situation. Just not as … funny.

The Benson Arizona SKP park is forty seven point six miles from the nearest hospital in Tucson. On a very good day, the rush hour drive from Tucson can be done in just under three hours. On a very good day.

Rita had an out patient knee surgery scheduled for ten AM . This means be there by nine for paperwork and waiting. And more waiting. Of course, no food or drinks after midnight. For her. I very kindly waited until she was wheeled into surgery sometime short of eleven.

Now, the devils who plan such things, made sure she was out of recovery just before the start of rush hour. As I was wheeling her out to our van ( thankfully with a full bench rear seat ) I heard the dreaded words: “ I’m thirsty. Stop at Sonic and get me a lemonade slushee. A big one. A very big one.”

“But”

“ I . AM. THIRSTY. “

“Ok” No fool I .

Armed with a forty four ounce lemonade slushee, we arrived at the entrance ramp for I-10. In rush hour. With a forty four ounce lemonade slushee.

Now, a recent scientific journal found that lemonade slushees have a magical property. They are able to travel unimpeded from the mouth to the bladder with only one change. They increase in volume. From forty four ounces to roughly sixty ounces. Very, very quickly.

The nature of I 10 at that point, was that once you enter, in the right lane, you are quickly shuffled to the middle lane. Rush hour traffic assures that you are trapped. Cars and trucks ( lots of trucks) on either side for the next forty five miles. Armed with a forty four ounce lemonade slushee. Soon to become a sixty ounce lemonade slushee.

Now ladies, if you need to take a quick break, I’ll wait.

Okay, I see all but one of you made it ok.

At the time, we traveled with an eighty pound dog named Gunnar. Some of you met him. Gunnar always drank lots of water, so we carried an outsized water bowl with a special lid that prevented his water from sloshing out.

See where this is going?

“Fred”

“Yes ?”

“I gotta pee.”

“Really?”

“Really. NOW.”

Out of courtesy, I will eliminate the discussion involving getting the water bowl, (I am driving and no help) arranging clothes, arranging body, placing bowls etc.

You know, sometimes you try to be nice, and it’s not appreciated.

I asked if she wanted me to turn on the inside lights to help her. On I-10. With big trucks on either side.

She came very close to tossing that water bowl, filled with recycled, forty four, now sixty ounce, lemonade slushee.

We made it back to Benson in silence.

Rita, I hope you forgive me for letting this story out of the cage after all these years. I think you would agree that if it gives someone a much needed laugh, it was worth it.

I love you.
—
Fred

by Fred Prout

I have created a monster.

Actually a whole cell block of monsters.

Rita and I had over forty years of adventures. Each one had multiple stories associated with it. I find that it has become very difficult trying to share our stories with you, because as soon as I start writing one, the others start banging on the bars insisting they be the one to get out.

I’ve been trying to decide where to go next. After several false starts, I got some help and inspiration from the most unlikely source.

Joleen

Joleen is the wizard who runs the amazing kitchen at Linus Oakes. (I’m no dummy). Every month the ice cream flavor is rotated for variety. In February she tried to see if we actually paid attention so the flavor of the month was Boudreaux Cherry. I don’t know how many of us caught it, but when I saw it, Lafayette,Louisiana started yelling “ME ME ME !

Soooo, Lafayette, we are here.

Jean Lafitte state park provides many different types of entertainment. The one that stands out was a re-enactment of a Cajun wedding from a hundred years ago. Basic story line: nice Cajun girl getting married to a guy her mother called a good for nothing. Among other things.

This was all performed outside with the audience of one hundred plus standing and watching. I guess we stood out as tourists, because before the show started a middle aged lady leaned over and asked if we would be able to understand the dialogue as it was all in Cajun patois. She introduced herself as Eileen Dover ( of course not) and explained what we would be watching. We didn’t understand a word but the actions spoke loudly.

At the intermission, she excused herself to make a phone call. When she returned she was excited as she had just become a grandma for the first time. We wished each other well as she left to see little Pierre, or whatever.

We stopped at the cafeteria for a bowl of gumbo. Real Gumbo. Make your eyes and nose water gumbo. As part of the entertainment an elderly man was playing Cajun music on a fiddle. As we both loved music, we were very generous with our applause.

As he started walking by us we told him how much we were enjoying his music.
He was more than happy to sit and join us. His name was Marcel Thibedeaux and along with the cousins Fonteneaux were the basis for the song Jambalaya. Apparently Hank Williams spent time with the families when he wrote the song.

Before leaving us for the next set, Marcel said “ I show you someting you never see dis before “ and opened his wallet and pulled out a drivers license. For a Sherman tank. That was his job in the army. Driving a Sherman tank. He was right. I never see dat before.

The next day Rita was looking through the local paper, and saw that the Martin Accordion factory was giving tours. So I called and although they had no tours right then, we were more than welcome to come by. So we did.

The shop was in back of their house, and the instruments were all special order so sit, have some iced tea and we’ll talk. Before long, several cousins and in laws stopped by with various instruments, and we had a three hour concert with our visit with some of the nicest people on earth.

It seems that most people come to look at the sights and leave.They were delighted to be a part of our life and let us be part of theirs

Lafayette, we were there.
—
Fred and Rita