As we roll in the piano the rain is softly coming down. Gordon gets as close as can and backs up so the closer we get it the better. We have called the music teacher ahead of time so he can expect us.
There is one thing Al and I always try to keep in mind when we go to the schools. The teachers have their hands full in the course of the day. So when we visit the schools we try to keep it a short time of period. That way, it frees up the teachers to do what they do best.
As we leave Mike Meade tells one of the students that got a nice trumpet the story of the lady that gave him the trumpet. As I listened I was thinking this is really perfect and it comes full circle. The lady that gave the trumpet to Mike had a son that passed away and no one in the family played the instrument. So she heard about what Mike was doing and called him. As Mike was telling his story the student was listening very carefully and I wonder if years from now he will repeat this story to his children. I do not think he will forget it by the way he was listening.
See, down here, we believe the teachers are the ones that are keeping it together for he kids. Keep in mind the students are still dealing with the aftermath of what happen here almost 2 ½ years ago. This particulate school still did not have a piano that was lost. All the building if you could see them is FEMA buildings. There is a small stream that goes through the school area and one only has to wonder how the water just went right through. The music teacher points to the ceiling that was leaking but still the students try to act like it’s a “normal” day. But believe me; nothing is not normal down here, its everywhere you turn. All one has to do is open one’s eyes and ears. Henry the fiddler who spent about 3 months on the ground here always said, “Spending a day here is like a week out in the world.”
All these students have their stories to tell and to listening can be heartbreaking. What these young people have gone through can be read in their eyes. Maybe like how we all changed after 9/11 and we all look at life just a little bit different. I bet you there are some students that have taken on the role of helping their fellow students get through this. These are our future leaders one day. And the teachers are very well aware of what the students have gone through and still are going through. With parents still having to deal with their homes that had to be rebuilt, insurance companies, maybe parents that had to move away for work and a host of problems that pile up everyday and still the kids get to school in spite of it all day after day.
Well it was time to go and be on our way. We said our goodbyes and headed to the Fire Chiefs office. Last time we were here we handed the Fire Chief his very own guitar. He asked us if we could dig one up and we did. He told us next time we would be in town to stop by because he wanted to jam with us. Well we called him and sure enough he told us to come over. Now this tour and what we do is not like the usual gigs going from one gig to another gig. For instance if someone asked us to play in their home we try to do it. Or if the Fire Chief asked us we always say,” lets go.”
We get to the fire stations main office and pull out our instruments out of the van and walk in the waiting room. This is going to be different playing in the Fire Chief’s office room. Larry Hiss comes out with that big smile of his and shakes our hands. Larry is a great guy and has helped us immensely with ties to the community. He is also a great speaker. I will never forget when Al and I first came down and we had to meet Larry. At the time there were these firemen who came down from Kentucky to help out and they were heading home. Larry had to talk to them before they headed out and Al and I wanted to leave the room but Larry told us to stay. What we heard Larry and the other firemen say we will always remember. It was not so much what he said but how he said it and this guy for real.
Anyway so we got in his office and right away pull our instruments out while Larry pulled his guitar out while the other firemen that were working there walking around doing what they do in an another day at work. We played for a while and then Larry said,” Why don’t you guys come over the house and play some music?” I told him, “Larry have you asked your wife?” “No”, he said “but my wife is use to that” We all looked at each other and said sure why not. So Larry called his wife and told her of the surprise visitors that were to descend on her home. We loaded up the van and followed Larry to his home. After some bends and twists we got to Larry’s nice home and he just waved us in where we met his nice wife. We said some greetings and went out in the back where his home sits on the water. We all sat down and watched the sunset over the water. I was thinking why so many folks really like it here, just a little piece of heaven. We all played the night away another productive day in our mission.
Still Pickin'
Bill Hudson & Crew
http://www.dragonfly.com/ is sending entertainers to the devastated areas in Louisiana and Mississippi.
