The plans for the end of September and the beginning of October 2005 were mind-boggling (bloggling?). Apprehension was heightened still more by the fact that my family is nationally far-flung and seldom able or willing to communicate. Could we really do all that? We did it and I'm glad!
Here's the story:
On Wednesday, September 28, my brother, Ken, flew from his home in New York City (I always hear the Pace Salsa cowboys when I write that) via Detroit to U of I Willard Airport in Champaign. Connie and I met him on the only rainy day of our adventure. Ken turned out to be a delightful traveling companion for the entire journey.
The next day the three of us left (by car from that point on) for DeKalb so we could get settled and I could rehearse with my son, Gavin, for the third annual benefit "Gavin Show" we have done for DeKalb's Egyptian Theater. I was afraid Ken would be bored while I was busy, but he was fascinated with every moment of our putting the show together, even missing dinner at Gavin's Hillside Restuarant.
On Friday evening the show went off well if not without a hitch (examples: this old man trying to find his way down the unrailed steps off the stage and starting to wander off after our (awww!) three generation barber shop quartet number. A quick jerk of the head by Gavin prevented my straying too far.
One of the things that made that week even more wonderful was the fact that Gavin based the show on a fantasy around the lives of my parents, Millard and Rebecca Wilson.
Ken, Connie, and I left Saturday morning to attend the coincidentally scheduled 75th birthday party for my oldest surviving sibling, my brother Norm. His real birthday was August 20. We enjoyed the reception at the Red Lion in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania on the evening of October 2. Norman had been grieving the loss of his wife, Miriam, for quite a while. He had reconnected with Margie, his junior high girlfriend, at a Martinsburg High School reunion. We were delighted to meet her and glad to see the renewed twinkle in Norm's eye. The next day we visited Norm's house on lake Wynonah.
After putting Ken on the train back to New York at Harrisburg, Connie and I enjoyed a tour of the Hershey factory and visited Martinsburg where I spent my elementary school years while my father was pastor at Martinsburg's Memorial church of the Brethren.
This is a long post. I hope you found it interesting...
Comments or questions are welcome!
Gordy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
