I shall tell you! Yesterday I stopped to pick up my mail (which was actually mail from the day before) and I found this:
Inside was a very nice hand written note from Fred Keller apologizing for not sending these 3 CD's that Sam wanted me to have. Now, Sam had not told me anything about any CD's nor had he mentioned The Whistlepigs String Band in any conversation. I was pretty sure had he been to Minnesota to attend a concert by any Whistlepigs, he would have at least mentioned it in passing. And a jug band with a banjo, mandolin, guitar and a bass was not in his music preference. Hell, it was not in mine either! A mystery!
Since Sam was at work and I did not want to bother him and I had a custom order patchwork bird seed catcher to make I decided to pop it in the player. I am an avid fan of old country, but I do love a mandolin and guitars and a banjo. What a pleasant surprise! I have got to say, my sewing time flew by and I was thoroughly entertained. It seems my son knows me better than I know myself!
This is a picture of the band, which I now love! So now to solve the mystery of how this came to be in my mailbox. My son lives in Dallas and works at Southwest University Medical Center as an IT. In this capacity he consults with people all over the country, most of which is done remotely. Fred Keller, who is the leader of the band is married to a lady (I forgot her name) who he met through his work. I am very glad that he talked to her and found out about this band.
The point is he knew I would like this and he was right! I had never heard this kind of music since "HeeHaw" left the television many years ago. I am going to keep these 3 CD's in my car because there is too much distracting me here in the house to give my full attention to this and it deserves my full attention!
So a big thank you to Fred Keller, Joel Olson, Chris Jones and Ross Willits, way up there in Sandstone, Minnesota, for brightening an old lady's day and days to come. You have brought back memories that have been long forgotten in my old gray head. Days in Garden City listening to the guys picking at Lee and Iris Day's house when Julia Day Torres was a tiny little squirt with bright red hair. That is one of my fondest memories back then. Of course Lee and Iris are long gone along with Duane and the rest. Sad how a tune, or a smell, can take you back, isn't it?
Right now my mind is back in Garden City, Kansas in that 2 story house on the corner of "something and something else." Better wind this up or it is going to be a very long day!
Peace to you all and thank you to The Whistlepigs String Band and my son for knowing me so very well. I love you all!
