Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 08:52 PM

Still surrounded by tomatoes of every color and hue. Still picking beans today, and cleaning them. Freezing frenzy in the morning. I miss having neighbors to help put up the year's food.

Somebody pull up a chair, set a spell, tell a story! Apple pie is there on the counter along with rat cheese from Calef's store.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 09:35 AM

Running errands today, before canning homemade spaghetti sauce. I think I'll add meat to some of it, and leave the rest without. It will gice me a chance to try out the pressure canner. Next I'll can some chicken and delicious yet low-fat gravy.

Anybody in the neighborhood? Leave a note for our host.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jeanie
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 05:06 PM

Waddon Pete: It's my turn now to claim this post for *my* year of birth !

I enjoy this thread, too - I was so glad to see it's return last month. I'm just back tonight from a trip to Northants doing some Shakespeare workshops. Today we were in a residential Rudolf Steiner School for children with special educational needs and had a great time. I so admire the staff working there who are clearly doing a wonderful job. Yesterday had an afternoon off and visited Stoke Bruerne canal (and end of the long canal tunnel) - such an interesting place with so much history. Saw some fascinating old photos of the barge people and the beautiful lace bonnets the women wore. Lovely, lovely. It's so true what someone said here at the table recently: there is so much to explore here in the UK on our doorstep.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 08:24 AM

Just stopped by for a cup of coffee.Looking out the window the sun is shining and people walking by have smiling faces.Funny how when the sun comes out everyone looks more cheerful.
Billy and I went to a family wedding at the weekend,near Hampton Court, the weather was really hot and on Sunday we walked along the river bank by the Thames past Hampton Court Palce towards Kingston. It was a beautiful day, lots of parents out with little children on bikes enjoying the late summer sun.We had a lovely lunch in a pub sitting outside on the terrace by the river.
In the afternoon we drove across south London to my birth place in Beckenham.We went through West Croydon, Waddon Pete, have you been back to Croydon lately? They do say " never go back" and I think they may be right... it was quite a shock!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 05:08 AM

Hello all,

Coffee...hot! Thanks.

A chilly autumn day here, but the sun is shining and it is warming up nicely. Maeve, you seem to be up to your eyes in fruit and veg! Hope all the freezing and canning is going well. I guess you must have some stories to tell!

Wendy, yes...I do get back to Croydon every now and then as I have some good friends still living there. I agree with your comments though. It has suffered over the years. I did write a song about that at one time. There are still good places to go in the town, but not on a Friday night! I am proud to say that the folk club is still going after 40+ years, although not in the Waddon any more.

I think we ought to tidy up before Jerry gets back.....


Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 06:03 PM

Just got back. How wonderful to read all your posts! Our trip was great, but a little exhausting. A week ago today, our grandaughter Felicia was married to Jeremiah. A family can never have too many Jeremiahs. The wedding reception wasd a real joy, having a chance to spend some time with family members on Ruth's side of our family. Sunday afternoon we headed west and stayed overnight in Raleigh, North Carolina. The next day, we went into downtown Raleigh and discovered that there was an exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls, so we re-arranged our schedule and spne the morning exploring Raleigh so that we could go to the noon tour of the exhibit. It was really exciting to see pieces of the scrolls, and the whole exhibit was fascinating. After the tour, we headed off to my oldest son and daughter-in-laws home in a small town just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. We spent three days there. I'll pick it up from this point, later.

Jeremiah the Elder (my name on another community site.)

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 04:13 PM

Hi One and all
Just recovering after running Faldingworth Live here in Lincolnshire UK, last night. We were sold out and it was a great night.
We had a support duo on called A Trim Rig & A Doxy. They did some really nice shanties. They are big fans of John Conolly (Fiddlers Green fame)
Our main guest was a band called the Churchfitters. They reside in Brittany France and were on tour in the UK and I managed to book them on their last day before they went back home.
90 people who hadn't seen them before. They were amazing. They did mainly English/Irish songs adapted to their style, which was Folk Rock. They are absolutely brilliant musicians and the lead singers voice Rosie Short was lovely. It was briilant night. They were so good, quite a few wanted me to book them in a months time (LOL They think its that easy to book these performers)
Here are some pictures from last night.
http://www.faldingworthlive.co.uk/faldingworth_live_photo's.htm

Good to see things are OK with you Jerry.

Cheers
Les Worrall

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 28 Sep 08 - 04:31 PM

Thanks for posting the photos, Les. It looks like everyone was having a wonderful time.

Nice to have you drop by.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 04:11 PM

Hello Jerry,

Glad you got back safely. Hope we didn't leave too much washing up. We all did our best! :0)

There's a rooster here....says his name's Herbert...says he's come to stay!

Thanks for sending him over.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jayto
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 04:24 PM

Hey Jerry and everyone. I am sitting here drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying a beautiful fall day. It is great outside today wish it would stay like this. Had a VERY busy weekend this past weekend. It was good though alot of friends, music, and more music lol. I entered the international thumbstyle guitar contest. I took a gamble that came back to bite me but I still took 5th place. I have to learn not to improv in contests lol. Sometimes it works out and other times it kicks you lol. I got kicked this time but if you are willing to win big you have to be ready to lose big. I still got some money and most important made some really good friends. After I finished I was approached by Larry Cohn who is the retired Vice President for CBS records. He and I hit it off instantly and wound up hanging out for a long time. He had some really cool things to say about my playing. I really appreciated the time he spent and what he said. I am really hard on myself when I feel I don't play like I should. I was being VERY hard on myself then and he really helped me snap out of it lol. He signed Johnny Winter (among tons of others Billy Joel, ABBA, Cheap Trick, as well as putting together the Robert Johnson box set and all kinds of really cool projects). Johnny Winter was a big influence on me when I started playing so I really took his compliments to heart. I wish some of you could have been there. The level of talent was off the charts. Craig Pratt is a 17 yr old that was just unreal. I really enjoyed meeting him. He made the most lasting impression on me from the weekend. He and I hung out most of the day Saturday. He is a good guy and has a talent that will boggle your mind. Well I have to run but just wanted to stop in and say hi.
cya
JT

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 05:00 PM

Hey. John:

Good to see you. I figure when I don't you're probably doing something exciting. When you don't see me you can figure that I'm either taking out the garbage or mowing the lawn...

I had a wonderful experience this morning that I've just started writing up. When I'm finished I'll share it at the table.

I sent my finished manuscript of my book off to a publisher, and have been gathering some testimonials to use in the front of the book. I'm in an odd position, writing a book of gospel songs, stories and reflections on scripture, 'cause I am nobody in particular. Like, who should care what I have to say? I don't have any degrees or titles after my name, at least in regard to faith. I've felt very humbled by some of the things that friends of mine who also happen to be ministers have to say about my writing. I always find it awkward asking someone to write something that I can use as a quote. What if they really think I stink? So far, no one has said so.

Ruth still has a lousy cold... one that I'm afraid I gave to her on the ride back from Asheville, where I caught it. I'm back to walking, and enjoying it. That's where the story comes from. I'll post it when the first draft is done.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 05:41 PM

My wife and I see him every day on the river walk. When we say, "Good morning," he makes the slightest gesture with his hand, smiles and says something so softly that you wouldn't even know that he had spoken unless you saw his lips moving. He's a short man with black hair peppered with gray and a craggy face, and walks with a slow, measured pace. One morning a few weeks ago, when I was out walking by myself, I caught up with him and slowed down to talk for a moment. And then, I realized why he never talks to anyone. He speaks with a very pronounced Italian accent and struggles to piece sentences together. He has just as much trouble
understanding English but as we walked along side by side, we managed to hold a conversation of sorts. He was very humble about his ability to walk, because he can only walk a portion of the three and a half mile river walk. But as he tried to explain, he is doing what he can to keep his strength. I told him that I respected anyone who was out walking, no matter how far they walked.
They were doing what they could to take care of the gift of health that the Lord had given them.

        The conversation was brief, as I wanted to walk at a much faster pace than he could, so I wished him a good day, and moved ahead. In the weeks that followed, when my wife and I would pass him on the walk, he'd smile openly and occasionally say "good morning" loud enough so we could hear him. But up until this morning, I hadn't spoken to him since that first
time.

        As it turned out, I went for a walk alone today. When I pulled my car in and parked in the lot next to the walkway, I noticed the man getting into his car, which was parked facing mine. He tried to start the car but I didn't hear any sound, and when he looked up and saw me through his windshield, his face lit up. When he got out of the car he tried to tell me that his car wouldn't start, showing with his hands how he had turned the key. I told him that I had some jumper cables in the trunk of my car, and pulled around, right next to his car. I hooked up the cables, and got into my car, gunning the motor. He just stood outside, smiling until I told him to try to start his car. He smiled, and turned his key in the air, turning an imaginary starter and looked at me quizzically. When I said, "yes," he got in and gave it a try. Nothing happened. I got out and asked him if he heard any sound when he turned the key and he just said, "A click." I'm no car mechanic, but I've driven junkers for much of my life, so I know every ailment ever visited on an old car. I asked him to get in and try it once more and even though I revved my motor while he turned the key, nothing happened. I knew then that it was the starter. I'd had my starter go in that same parking lot a couple of years ago.

        When we got out of our cars, he handed me his AAA Motor Club card. I asked him if he had a phone, and he nodded his head, "no." I told him that he could use my cell phone and when he tried to explain something to me, I realized that he had no idea what to do. I dialed the number on the card and after being put on hold for about ten minutes, someone finally came on the line.
The woman asked me what the membership number was, which I gave to her, and then she asked my name and address. I said,
        "I'm just a friend who was passing by and saw that my friend was having trouble getting
        his car started. I'll let you talk to him and he can give you his name and address."

        When I first looked as this AAA Motor Club card, I asked him how he pronounced his last name. His first name is Colagero, which immediately brought to mind the name of the young man in A Bronx Tale. I knew how to pronounce the name because of the movie. When I asked him how to pronounce his last name (my Italian is fifty years rusty) he spelled it, pointing carefully to each letter on the card. Despite asking him two or three times, he would only spell it. Maybe he thought that if he said it with his thick accent, I wouldn't know what he was saying.
When the woman on the phone asked his name, he just spelled his last name and gave his address. I had no way of knowing what her next question was, but I could see his confusion. He was having trouble even holding the cell phone so that he could hear her voice, and I had to keep re-positioning it for him. He just smiled at her question, turned around and looked hopefully at me and handed me the phone.

        The woman had a whole string of questions to ask me, including the make and year of the car (he spoke out "two thousand,") and what was the problem.
        "I'm pretty sure that it's the starter," I said. "I had the starter go on the car I'm driving, in
        this same parking lot a couple of years ago."
She asked me:
        "Where does he want the car towed to?" and I asked her,
"Can they tow it to the gas station closest to his house, and have someone give him a ride back while it's being prepared? and she said,
"He's a platinum card member and he can have the car towed up to 100 miles."
"He lives in Ansonia, and I'm looking across the parking lot at the town, so it shouldn't
be a long tow," I answered. I didn't want to leave him stranded at the gas station.

        When I asked her how long it would take for the tow truck to get there, she said,
"No longer than an hour and a half."
         "An hour and a half? I could push the car home in that amount of time!"
She assured me that that was the maximum amount of time. Because he didn't have a phone for
them to call him back, she said that it was important that he stay by his car and keep an eye out for
the tow truck. That's a long time to keep your eye out.

        When we'd finished our conversation, she said,
        "It was nice of you to help the man out," and I answered,
        "I'm just glad that I happened by."

After I got off the phone, I offered to walk over to a McDonald's across the street and
bring him back a cup of coffee and a Sausage biscuit, or whatever he wanted, but he told me that he'd already eaten before he came. I hated to see him just standing there by the car for all that time.

        As I prepared to head off for my walk, he kept thanking me profusely. He didn't need a grasp of the English language. He just kept saying, "Thank you very much." I threw my arms around him and gave him a hug and said,
"God Bless you. The Lord brought me here so that you'd have someone to help you."

        In all the times we've seen the man walking, we've never once seen him talking to someone. His English is so rudimentary that he just looked embarrassed, trying to talk with me. I thought back to that time a few weeks ago when I had walked alongside him, and realized that I was probably the only person he knew on the walkway. So there I was, pulling up in front of his car, right on time. I had gotten out much later than usual, because I'd stayed home and had breakfast with Ruth before I came. I didn't plan on leaving late so that I could help the man. I think that someone else did.

        By the time that I got back from my walk an hour later, his car was gone. And I had a spring in my step.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 09:11 AM

What a lovely story Jerry,lovely to have you back in the kitchen.Your wedding trip sounded great.I hope Ruth gets over her cold quickly.
Good to hear about the Churchfitters Les, they used to be based near here ( Frinton on Sea in Essex) I would like to know when they are coming back to the UK, we have house( in the garden actually) concerts and I would love to book them, they have a big following in this area so it would be very popular.
We had a concert on Sunday with "Dangerous Curves" three incredible ladies who are very funny but also amazing singers.The weather was kind , Billy did a fabulous Bar B Q and then we had the concert in a marquee in the garden.There were 20 or so people and we all had a very entertaining afternoon.
Jerry, back to your good turn, it is very rewarding when you do something that helps someone and even better when they say thank you! I had a new client last week who had many problems, I hope I did the best aromatherapy treatment I could. The next day she phoned me and thanked me from the bottem of her heart( her words) she said she had the first nights good sleep for months and woke up feeling calm and happy.She made my day, it is so rare for clients to bother to say thank you.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 11:57 AM

Good to hear from you, Wendy. It sounds like your concer was wonderful, and a beautiful setting.

Yeah, compliments are hard to come by. That's why I go out of my way to compliment folks... waitresses, check out clerks... people who work hard all day and rarely hear anything but criticism. It's like the reaction that you get when your weight changes. Put on five pounds and people say, "WOw, you've really gotten fat!!!!" Take off 25 pounds and one out of every ten people who commented on how fat you looked carrying an extra five pounds will say you look good with the weight off. (Some will say, you don't look as fat as you used to, but you take compliments when you can get them...)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 10:56 AM

This morning, I went for a walk alone again. Ruth is still not quite over her cold. I went armed with a few phrases in Italian, sent to me by a friend, hoping to see Colagero. He was no where to be seen, but as I was walking along, I saw another riverwalk regular. He's about Colagero's size, but looks considerably older. Like Colagero, he never speaks, but he always has a warm smile for me, even though he never answers my greeting of "Good morning." Sometimes he just reaches out his hand toward me as I am passing, and I reach over and touch his sleeve. He's there every day and does the full 3 and 1/2 miles, six inches at a time. It must take him tren thousands steps to cover the full length of the walk. When I passed him this morning I said, "Good Morning!," Buon Giorno!" and Buenos Dias!" He smiled broadly, tipped his cap and said "Buenos Dias!" That was our whole conversation. It was enough.

Later on the walk, I was walking by an old factory building and though I saw a man walking his dog. I couldn't see what he was doing clearly because there were bushes in my line of sight. When I got closer, I saw that he was trying to unroll a large wooden spool of thick, black electrical cable. He had about fifteen feet of cable lying on the long diriveway, but the cable was tangled on the spool and while he was trying to unravel the line, he was only succeeding in pulling the length he'd stretched out on the driveway. I walked over and put my foot on the end of the cable, so that he could get some tension on the line and continue to unravel the cable. He looked up briefly, but didn't acknowledge my help. He just leaned over and got back to work. In the meantime, another workman pulled up in a car and parked near where I was standing on the cable. He looked at me quizzically and I said, "I've got a very important job, here." He smiled and went down to help the man who was unraveling the spool. When the man finally stopped unraveling the cable, I took my foot off the end where I was standing and truned and continued my walk. There was no need for him to call out a "thank you!" to me. He had already helped make my day.

We can't win the lottery every day. But that doesn't mean we can't find blessings in the smallest things.
Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jayto
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 01:28 PM

Hi Jerry

I am hanging out enjoying a lovely day. Autumn is in full force here today and it is beautiful. My son is taking a nap and I am just kinda hanging out. It is about 70 degrees and sunny outside so it is perfect to just hang out. Not much else going today just realxing. Just thought I'd stop by and say hi. Marc (my 2 yr old) has been in a big "I love you." day today. It is so cute he will yell to me " Dada yuh you." Yuh You is how he says I love you lol. It is precious and makes me melt everytime I hear it. I'll tell him " Daddy loves you too buddy." and he will go back to playing for a few minutes and then stop and say it again lol. He has done that every few minutes since he woke up today. He is such a sweet and loving kid. I am truly blessed in that area. Well I am going to run man. I have a few things I have to do today. I would much rather just hang out though. I have to try to motivate myself I guess lol.
cya
JT

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 01:42 PM

Billybob
I have info on next year concerning Churchfitters. I am sending you a PM
Cheers
Les Worrall

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 03:38 PM

Hey, John:

Man, does that bring back memories! My oldest son Gideon who is now 39, couldn't say l's when he was Marc's age. I think that's a fairly common problem. He said, I yove you, like Marc. As luck would have it, our next dorr neighbor's names were Lou and Linda. Or, You and Yinda, as Gideon called them.

As Gideon got a little older, he developed this hilariously advanced vocabulary (as did my younger son, Aaron.) He really cracked me up when he came to me one day when he was probably four or five and said, "Dad, could you fix my toy? It's malfunctioning."

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 10:20 AM

Thank you Les, it will be great to see the Churchfitters again, Rosie and I had the same clog step dancing teacher twenty years ago! Alas my clogs got hung up a while back!
My grandaughter Scarlett cannot say "n" so instead of calling me nonny, she calls me mummy , causes confusion when we are in company, although she calls her mother mama.She had problems with G too so Billy is "darad Billy bob." She is staying overnight with us tomorrow which is a joy.I love the mornings when she comes into our bed and has her milk while we have our morning tea, she asks for "Dip darad" which means biscuit which she dunks into grandads tea, usually leaving half a soggy biscuit in the cup, or in the bed sheets! The fun of being grandparents is wonderful.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 11:35 AM

Hello again,

Its cold, wet and windy here at the moment, so a cuppa coffee would be very welcome.

Jerry, tell us about the children's songs you've written! Maybe sing us a couple?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 11:47 AM

Good morning, Jerry. Thanks for the Colagero story. One of the reasons I learned to love my husband during our courtship is he continually looks for such opportunities for helping and really seeing folks we encounter. He finds them, too. We've met some lovely folks that way.

I miss having a kitchen table where friends and neighbors can gather. There's no room in our kitchen, and we have a rosewood melodeon where the dining table would be. I need a removable table top made so we can use the melodeon as a table and still be able to play when it's finally restored.

Jayto, your stories about your children (and Jerry's tales of his sons) mind me of the golden moments little'uns when I was still running my community storytime and when I taught. The kidlets were always so generous with their expressions of love, and their parents were equally generous in sharing their children with me. I miss that.

After I finish turning this week's ripe tomatoes into sauce I'll make some apple delicacies for this afternoon's break from farm work. Have to clear the 'maters off the counter and the baskets of them from the floor first. Talk with you later.

maeve

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 12:19 PM

Another Rooster song:

Robert's Rooster

Chrous: Robert's rooster is red and his dog, Jack is black
       And they never talk back to their mother
       And when it would rain, they would never complain
       They would sit and they'd play by the hour

Sometimes they would play at the big parade
And they'd march all around the room
Robert carried the fowl, and the dog he would howl
And the rooster would carry the tune

Soemtimes they would ail on the stormy sea
And the wind it would roar and howl
Jack would cover his eyes, and the rooster would hide
While Robert stood watch on the bow

Sometimes they would play at the circus
And the rooster would ride on Jack's back
And he'd jump at command when he raised his right hand
Like a lady that sat on a tack

And when they got tired of playing
The dog would curl up on the floor
And Robert would lie with his rooster beside
And Jack would look happy and snore
       Copyright, Jerry Rasmussen at least 30 years ago

You ast for it, Pete...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 03:07 PM

This morning, I headed off for my walk, hoping to see Colagero. Sure enough, I wasn't more than a few hundred yards down the walkway when I caught up to him. As I approached him, I called out cheerfully, "Buon Girono, Calagero, Come Sta?" And he answered "Good morning."

I asked him how he came out with his car and he said that when they came, it was just a loose wire on the starter. As soon as they reconnected it, the car started. And he thanked me once more for taking the time to help him.

Next time I see him, I'm going to say "Guten morgen!"

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 12:50 PM

Thanks Jerry! That's a great song!

Glad to hear that your friend's car troubles were not too bad (or expensive). Its good to hear that you've struck up his friendship. I always think that chances like this, when taken, are like throwing a stone into the water. The good effects spread out like the ripples. Sorry if that sounds a bit fanciful! But I guess if you do something considerate for some-one else, then they are in the right mood to do something considerate for the next person and so on ad infinitum!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:19 PM

Hey, Pete:

I'm with you on doing something generous for someone else. There have been so many people in my life who have been life-changing friends because they helped me through a hard time. I can never repay them, but I can do something for someone else. Even the hard times when we're hanging on for dear life have their value. When we meet someone who's going through a similar dark time, we can offer them encouragement. If you've struggled in the same way that they are struggling, you know what you're talking about.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 11:29 PM

Without much thought, I sent a photograph off to an old friend of mine today, Luke Faust. Back in the early 60's, Luke and I performed together fairly regularly. It's the only time when I have consistently played folk with another musician, having been qa solo performer most of my life. I got a short message back from Luke and an attached photo of him and his mate, Dean. I was as glad to see how happy he looks as he was to see the loved and joy in the photograph that I e-mailed him of my wife Ruth and me. It got me to thinking.

I am rarely asked to do folk music any more. It's been several years since I've been asked to do a concert. I don't feel badly about that, because I know first-hand that the interest in folk music has shrunken a lot in recent years. There've been a couple of long threads on the topic in here, so there's no need to revisit that in any great detail.

Two or three years ago now, Ruth and I drove up to Branford, CT to hear Rick Fielding. It was one of his last concerts, and I'd always enjoyed Rick. We'd shared a couple of songwriters workshops together and we apprecaitated each other's music. It was good to hear him again, and not surprising that he "drew" maybe thirty people. It's hard to understand how folk concert series survive, drawing twenty to forty people for a concert. Funny thing is, I have been booked to do a concert a year from now, and I've been asked to just do my old stuff... Living on The River, Old Blue Suit, Handfull of Songs, etc.
I don't have a problem with that, but it's ironic in a way that for all my love of traditional music, the "oldies" that I'm expected to do are songs that I've written. Folk music has become so ingrown that I think the next generation of folk singers will be great pickers because they'll be born with six fingers. :-)

I think of all of this because it would be great to sit down for an evening with Luke, or do a concert with him where we did Penny's Farm, Blues in The Bottle, Stackerlee and countless other great old songs that only a handful of people are interested in hearing.

As I was saying to Pete, I have enough traditional folk songs, and my own songs in the folk vein to do two solid CDs. How many people would buy them? Nowhere near enough to anywhere near cover the cost of making them, let alone all the time I'd spend, and the friends I'd ask to help me without pay. At this point, I'm happy playing music. Music. Whether it's folk, my own original folkish or gospel songs, doo wop, R & B or gospel quartet music doesn't make much difference to me. I love it all. People are far more interested in my gospel stuff now. I am plerforming gospel far more than I ever performed folk music at my peak (which was barely discernible.) And, I get bigger audiences.

All of this is good. I've always played music because I love to play music. As the years go by, my audience has shifted away from folk music. If only I was a sensitive singer-songwriter!

Somewhere along the line, I'm going to self-produce a couple more folk CDs, and a couple of gospel CDs. They'll sell like cold cakes, but that's fine. I love what I'm doing, and as long as there are a few people who enjoy listening to my music, I'm happy.

Maybe I'll get Luke up to the house sometime and see if we can still play the old stuff.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 03:08 PM

Hello Jerry,

Look forward to hearing those CDs one day....perhaps a house concert round your kitchen table to launch them!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 03:16 PM

We had one of those a few years ago, Pete, when the Shellbacks were over here. Colin, Theresa, Sussex Carole, Noreen and Alan were here, along with Karen Kobela and the rest of the Gospel Messengers. What a joyful time it was!

Just give us the time to get the pot of coffee going...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 01:39 PM

Hello Jerry,

Lovely Autumn Day today and the leaves are changing colour. Our Japenese Maple looks a picture!

We had two good sessions this week. I was a little surprised when one gentleman walked in with a tea chest bass...but he was a very sensitive player and it complimented the music well. We had a lovely mix of tunes and songs and all went home smiling. That's what it's all about!

Jerry....you said you'd get the coffee on...


Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 06:39 PM

Hey, Pete: This is becoming the Pete and Jerry show. That's awright...

Here are two footnotes to my story about my Italian friend Colagero of the wounded starter.

A Footnote

This morning, I went for a walk alone again. My wife Ruth was still not quite over the cold she caught last week. I went armed with a few phrases in Italian, sent to me by a friend, hoping to see Colagero. He was no where to be seen, but as I was walking along, I saw another river walk regular. He's about Colagero's size, but looks considerably older. Like Colagero, he never speaks, but he always has a warm smile for me, even though he never answers my greeting of "Good morning." Sometimes he just reaches out his hand toward me as I am passing, and I reach over and touch his sleeve. He's there every day and does the full 3 and 1/2 miles, six inches
at a time. It must take him ten thousands steps to cover the full length of the walk. When I passed him this morning I said, "Good Morning!," Buon Giorno!" and Buenos Dias!" I figured that would cover it all. He smiled broadly, tipped his cap and said "Buenos Dias!" That was our whole conversation. It was enough.

A Final Footnote   

This morning, once again, I headed off alone for my walk, hoping to see Colagero. Sure enough, I wasn't more than a few hundred yards down the walkway when I caught up to him. As I approached him, I called out cheerfully, "Buon Giorno, Calagero, Come sta?" And he answered "Good morning." The next time I see him, I'm going to say "Guten morgen!"

Oh, and by the way, it was the starter…

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 05:30 PM

Hello Jerry,

The Pete and Jerry Show? A crowd puller if ever there was one!

So it was the starter. Not a diesel was it?

Good to hear you've been picking out the old tunes. I find that there are some songs that stay with you...no matter what! I wonder what it is about such songs that they adhere to your memory cells while others sink without trace?

...and where are the rest of the kitchen table crew?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 06:57 PM

I dunno, Pete:

I was sitting around tonight playing One Dog Per Verse... a song I wrote a long time ago. I can't remember all of the words, but I have it on tape somewhere. As the title says, each verse is about a different dog that I knew, rolling them all into the same dog. No, not the dog rolling in anything, although I imagine they all did from time to time.

Here's the first verse, honoring an old dog that used to sleep with his front legs on the doormat by the exit door of a supermarket, long since gone (the supermarket and the dog.) He slept right underneath the sign forbiding dogs in the store.

Right underneath the "By Order of the Health Department
No Dogs Allowed," you'd find him every day
Getting kind of stiff around the haunches
With one eye all gone blurry, and his muzzle turning gray
Sleeping with his front legs on the doormat
............... (Got to look this up).. ends with "floor"
And when you called his name, he'd turn and look your way
And when he wagged his tail, he'd open up the door

I'll just keep singing the song until all the words come floating up to the surface of my mind.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: olddude
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 08:52 PM

I tell you what Jerry
I would love to sit at that table with you and your friends
anytime

Dan

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: frogprince
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 08:56 PM

I suspect that I'm not the only one who sits down for a cuppa here once in a while, doesn't get around to saying anything, but finds the company pleasant.
This coming week will be fairly busy, with odds and ends to tie up before heading to a great-nieces wedding in Charlotte NC (We're in Michigan). Once, in another lifetime, I went through Seminary. The brides mom had the impression that I was ordained, which never actually happened. Bride-to-be asked if I would marry them; I felt the first bit of sadness in many years regarding not being ordained.
Final outcome; the couple are going to stop in at the courthouse in the morning and get the legality taken care of, and I still get to officiate for the celebratory ceremony that evening.
Guess what? I'm delighted!
                               Dean

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 09:16 PM

Anytime you're down this way, Dan...

Second verse:

In his youth he used to chase the autos
There wasn't any car he didn't know
And though he'd lost the vision in his right eye
He would always keep his left eye on the road
As the years rolled by and he grew older
He lost a little mustard in his stride
And so he was content to lie there on that mat
And he'd cock his ear each time a car drove by

This is where the second verse came from: from a chapter in my book titled Pre-Hindsight:

"After I rounded the corner, I was walking on the side of the road on a street without a sidewalk. There was a car approaching me, and I noticed a dog that was running Hell Bent For Leather alongside of it. As the car came closer, I realized that the dog didn't see me
and was about to run me over. At the last moment, he skidded to a halt, somewhat chagrined, and looked up at me apologetically, waiting for a good ear scratch. It was then that I realized why he hadn't seen me. He was blind in his right eye. He ended up as one
verse in a song that I wrote:

    Though he'd lost the vision in his right eye
    He would always keep his left eye on the road"

His eye was on the prize.

There's a lesson in there, somewhere.

Good to see you, frogprince. Nice story, too. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 03:06 PM

That's a great couple of verses regarding that old, lethargic dog. I take it that when he wagged his tail it triggered the automatic opening!

However...have you noticed that since you introduced us to Herbert the Rooster we have had threads entitled "All the little chickens in the garden" and "Cluck old hen"..?

Then there's the thread on good manners! The manners at this kitchen table are always impeccable...of course...pass the jam spoon, Jerry!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 04:09 PM

Was that Elmer Fudd I saw lurking in the bushes? We're starting to get close to post 2,000. Can Elmer and Jimmyt be far away?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 03:34 PM

Yes....or was it a chicken?

I see another thread has popped up on the list..."lyrics required: Cock a doodle doo."

Now tell me there isn't something going on!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 04:52 PM

Speaking of chickens, for want of anything more pressing to do, I've been walking around singing Cluck Old Hen recently. I have no idea why. I used to play it on banjo, but haven't done it in years. The line that tickled me referred to a chain of fried chicken stores in the fifties, long since gone extinct: Chicken Delight. If you don't remember it (or it didn't make the trip overseas) the line doesn't make a lot of sense:

Cluck old hen, you cluck all night
Next time you cluck you'll be Chicken Delight

Now where did I put that banjo?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 05:29 PM

THis is from an e-mail I sent to my friend John. We were talking about Tom Waits and how we both have always been attracted to the seedy side of town. This is remembering the days when I lived on the seedy side of town.

When I first moved to Stamford, where I lived for over 30 years, I brought everything I owned in the back seat and trunk of my friend's Peugot. It only took one trip. I moved up from New York City where I was living in a one room "apartment." I found an apartment in Stamford and carried my stuff up the stairs. When it got dark that first night, I went to turn on the lights, and discovered that there weren't any light fixtures. The only light I had was in the bathroom. I had no money so I had to wait for my first paycheck in order to buy an old floor lamp at a junk shop in the seedy section of town. It was awhile before I even had a piece of foam rubber to sleep on. Once it got dark and I tired of sitting on the toilet, reading, I'd sit by the window looking down onto the street in the dark and play my guitar.

When I was living in New York, I used to take the subway over to Hoboken to my friend Luke's apartment, which was larger than my one-roomer, but not in the classiest section of town. If there was a classier section of Hoboken. In those days, we didn't have much, but we had all that we needed. Thinkg of those nights, looking out the window at the kids playing on the street, I wrote this song:

A five flight walkup to a cold water flat
A couple of chairs and an old alley cat
A five string banjo and a bottle of wine
We played home-made music that sounded so fine

CHORUS:

    Now the days get shorter and the nights are so long
    And I sit by my window and I write you this song
    Down on the street you can hear the kids sing
    It's such a long time from winter to spring

Up on the roof in the dead of night
Look over the river at the big city lights
Maxwell House Coffee's in yellows and blues
We had all to be gained, and not much to lose

If we had money we'd stop for a beer
Or walk by the water and sit on the pier
Sit and we'd talk 'till there's no more to say
We never needed words anyway

I know there were times when nothing went right
Sometimes we sat up most all of the night
You had your troubles, God knows I had mine
But still we had us one Hell of a time

    Winter to Spring, words and music by Jerry Rasmussen

(Maxwell House Coffee had a large factory on the banks of the river, and you could see it steaming away like a twenty story coffee pot, when we were up on the roof at night. I remember the tantalzing smell of freshly roasted coffee. I have no idea whether or not we did smell it. I'll have to ask Luke. Not that it makes any difference. The truth isn't always accurate.

I put this song on my Back When I Was Young CD.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jeanie
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 04:43 AM

Jerry - that's a very evocative song and reminded me so much of the year I spent as a student in Freiburg, Germany. Like you, my main entertainment had to be people-watching and view-watching. At that time, the difference in the cost of living between England and most of Europe was enormous. Everything in Germany cost twice as much as back home. The German students were comparatively wealthy and had far more money to live on. I lived on bread, plain pasta and something called "Fleischkaese" (literally "meat-cheese", but which bore little resemblance to either !) which I could buy by the slice for a few Pfennigs. I had to ration myself to living off 5 Deutschmarks a week and I will never forget the snooty and incredulous looks I was given by bank customers and bank clerks when I queued up and drew out my cash each week.

To make ends meet, I got a job as a "Putzfrau" (a cleaner), working every Friday for a wealthy couple - a doctor and a physiotherapist. I think I was paid 3 Deutschmarks for that - riches ! The very worst day of my time in Germany was when the lady said "I haven't any change - I will have to pay you next week" - To her, it was nothing. To me, it was my food for the coming week.

BUT, as you say in your song: "You had your troubles, God knows I had mine / But we still had us one Hell of a time".
I wouldn't swap having had those experiences for anything.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 09:35 AM

Hey, Jeanie:

How wonderful that you dropped by and shared that story. Here's another one.

Several years ago, when I was first starting to perform in black churches, I sang at a small church one evening. There were a couple other performers, and the man who sang just before me talked about how poor he was when he went to college. He said that he lived on beans (he didn't mention anything about keeping the windows open.) When I got up to sing, I said that I could understand what he went through because when I was in college, I lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I ate so many of them that my friends called me "Skippy." For my friends overseas, Skippy is the most popular brand of peanut butter over here. Everyone got a laugh out of that, because most of them had lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at some time in their lives.

After the service was over, as I was packing up, a little boy came over to me with his father. He looked up at me with a warm smile on his face and said, "I'll never forget you, Skippy."

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST,Singer's Knight
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 01:27 PM

Good to hear there's still a welcome around the kitchen table!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Alice
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 01:32 PM

Jerry, I can relate to your story. When I was pregnant with my son, I had complications and had to stay home from work the last 2 months. I lived alone. I didn't have anyone to check on me or help me out. There was a grocery store that would deliver phoned in orders. I lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because I was not supposed to be on my feet, they didn't need to be cooked, only the knife to clean up, and I was short of money while off work.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:46 PM

I'm a-gonna git you this tie, you pesky wabbit! I can feel it in my bones!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:47 PM

Oh yes I yam! Pwepawe to meet youw Makew!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:48 PM

Whewe is that pesky wabbit? Whewe did he go?

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:48 PM

I'll find you! You can wun but you can't hide! I'm gonna get you!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:50 PM

I've got you in my sights! I've got you! I've got you now! Yes I do! Yes I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:45 PM

Who were you looking for, Elmer? Haven't seen any rabbits around here recently. Just donkeys and elephants.