Going with the flow

The day we got our feet on the ground (Oct. 5, Friday), we did not know the schools were closed for Parrish Fair day, and it was Columbus Day on Monday. So we couldn’t get to the schools until the Tuesday Oct. 9. This meant we had to hit all the schools in one day, because the following day we had to hit the road to head back home.

As always, you have to think on your feet down here. Things change, and one has to go with the flow as they say.

So Al and I tried to search out places to play where folks needed a little cheering up. On Sunday (Oct. 7) we headed down to New Orleans to the EC center, (The Coming Home Café on St. Claude Ave.)They feed folks and try to help out people as best as they can, all for free. These folks have done a great job these past two years, and now may be closing after this Thanksgiving. Having done their job, they will turn it over the community.

Al and I walk into the café with our instruments while folks are eating. They see us and there is a familiar smile cut across all the faces, so right away we started to play while they ate. As we were playing, there was one guy who looked like a regular there who jumped right in and started to rap in-between our singing. Also, there was one young girl who happened to live where I used to live in upstate NY. She asked us for a guitar string because she broke one on her guitar, so we gave her one and she played along with us. As we continued to play, more folks came out of the wood work and all had a song or two to sing. One young lady was a voice student and added some lovely harmonies, while another produced a book of folk songs that contained lots of familiar tunes. It turned into a great afternoon of music, and lots of smiles were had by all.

Al here… Some of this story will jump around due to the scheduling interruptions we ran into. (If you get confused, don’t worry, we are too.)

On Saturday we had gone to see Peter Spring, and while there, also ran into Dave Weinberg. Dave works with WWOZ FM radio in New Orleans, and is an independent producer of programming for NPR stations. He expressed interest in doing a piece on our little crusade, and we said “You betcha!” Anything that helps make people aware of all that STILL needs to be done down here, we’re all for! Later that day, we met with Dave at his place for an interview, and told him our story thus far which took about two hours or so. He then gave us a digital recorder and microphone, and asked us to get reactions from people we had interacted with on our trips here. Part of Sunday we spent getting familiar with the equipment, and by Monday. we were actually ready to try it out. So of course, it was actually Tuesday before we got any opportunity to do so.

So Tuesday was going to be a busy day. As it turned out, the only school we could get to that day was St. Tammany Jr. High. Since there was both a new music teacher and principal, we needed to re-introduce ourselves. Then the rest of the day we would try to interview folks that we have met along the way in these two years.

I stayed in the car while Al went to meet the new principal. We had a car full of instruments, and when we are on the road one or the other of us is with the instruments at all times. Al came out all smiles and told me all the info. The music class was across the street, so we parked the car near by the room so we could unload the instruments. Introducing us to the new music teacher while we brought in the pile of instruments, Mr. DiCarlo (the princial) told her (the music teacher) that there was a real living, breathing Santa Claus (Al). Celia Guillory, the music director, was all smiles and enthusiasm. When we said we were’nt sure some of the instruments were appropriate for a school band, she said “That’s OK, we’ll find a way to use them.” The kids were very restless and all over the place, and Ms. Guillory was trying to keep them focused because exams were coming up. When she got them quieted down, she introduced us to the class, explained what we were there for, and they all thanked us. Then we had to take pictures! Lots of smiling faces to be seen there!

After getting her class to work, Ms. Guillory sat down with us and gave us a nice short interview for Dave’s story. Our friend Rich Bauman had been down the week before with his Million Closet Tour and had also brought some things. (Way to go Rich!) We were glad to hear this and were just sorry we missed him.

We said our goodbyes and told everyone we’d be back, then headed out.

We then headed out to meet Fire Chief Larry Hess of St. Tammany Fire District #1 to interview him as to how he met us and get the whole story of us living at the firehouse. After the interview the chief said he always wanted to learn to play the guitar. So we told him next time we’d bring one down for him. He faces really light up and said, “Really?” We said “sure why not, that’s our job.” After that interview we went to see Bill Larsen-Ruffin (The Wizard). He’s the guy who helped us when we first came down and is now the head reference guy at the library there in Slidell. Bill was a VERY big help when we came down! Without him, we would never have gotten this blog up and running back in 2005.

Next, we called on Ben Morris, the Mayor of Slidell. We had stopped in earlier, but he was in a meeting, so we thought we would’nt get a chance to talk with him. Then out of the blue, we get a call from his secretary that he has a break between meetings and can we get there soon? Al said “We can be there in 15 minutes”, and away we went.

Ben Morris is an interesting character. He has been a Chief of Police, a DEA agent, and a Colonel in the Reserves, as well as Mayor of Slidell, LA. He gave us a very nice interview, along with stories of others who came to help, some of whom you would be surprised to hear about. But he was very warm in thanking all who gave of their time and efforts on behalf of Katrina’s survivors, and spent nearly an hour with us just shooting the breeze. We got the feeling he was glad to be able to unwind for a little while. Him being a proud papa, and us being musicians, he asked us our opinion of his daughter’s latest recording. (Not bad at all…very radio friendly…reminded us somewhat of Dolly Parton.)

Well time was going fast and we said our goodbyes and headed back to our base camp to get ready to head out on the road the very next day.

Still Pickin'

Bill Hudson

Al Coffey

http://www.dragonfly.com/ is sending entertainers to the devastated areas in Louisiana and Mississippi.