“Let us go then you and I
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table….”
ITEM 1: Oh What a Long Strange Trip It Has Been……….
In 2008, a few weeks before the annual Father’s Day Festival Rick Cornish rang me and asked if I would like an opportunity to share some of my personal stories with fellow CBA members on the CBA website as a monthly welcome columnist. I was flattered by the proposal. I thought about it for a good three minutes and agreed to start writing immediately. Rick instructed me to bring my work to the festival so he could give it the once over for approval.Rick informed me there were certain “do’s, dont’s, possibles, nevers, and don’t even think about it” topics that needed to be addressed.
I put everything I had into creating that first column.I wrote, rewrote and rewrote again. I had Sheila proofread my story, then had my sister, Maria Nadauld (Above the Bay Booking) check it for typos, wordiness, hanging particles and mixed mega-bores. I must have spent twenty hours on it.When I was finally convinced the column was CBA membership reader worthy I put my name to the column.
It was Saturday and I was in Camp Cornish talking to Rick and several of his friends. Rick asked if he could read my column. I carefully pulled the column out of my recently purchased welcome column folder holder. I handed it to Rick and he gave it a quick run through.Then to my surprise Rick stood up and in a deep baritone began reading it to the camp members. He read the first two sentences, smiled, held up the column and ripped it into shreds. “Rick, what in the hell are you doing?” I screamed. Rick gave me a friendly smile, balled up the torn column and hurled it at me. “It’s O.K.” he said. You’ve got the job!” I picked up the balled pieces of paper looked at Rick and said, “Rick, I don’t have a back up copy. I didn’t’ save it.” Rick’s smile grew into a Jack Nicholson “Here’s Johnny” grin and replied, “You’ll learn.”
Well, I did learn. I was flattered by the kind folks who would write in and comment about my column. I think all of us who contribute to the Welcome Column whether we admit it or not DO want folks to respond positively or negatively about something we write. The truth is that the CBA members are taking the time to read and to comment on what the Welcome Columnists have taken the time to write. Quid pro Quo.
It has now been at least six years and I am I am still submitting a monthly column.I have had a chance to share stories that have been hidden in my long lost memories waiting for a key to unlock them. Writing this column has been that magic key and because of that it has been a cathartic experience that I would have never had if not for that phone call from Mr. Cornish. I will be ever grateful.
CBA members are exposed daily to a bounty of wit, intelligence, and insight displayed in the Welcome Columns by the various outstanding writers. To be one of the Welcome Columnists has been a source of pride for me and I am honored to have shared this page with you.
“I have heard the mermaids singing each to each,” and they tell me it is time to pack it in. I spoke to Mr. Cornish last month and informed him it was time for me to move on. Rick said that he would look for a replacement.He asked if I would stay on until a writer was found. With an ego my size how could I say no? SO if you are reading this column it is because someone has not been appointed yet probably because Mr.Cornish has been busy as a bushel of beavers setting up the dazzling new wave web site. I will again thank all of you for being so supportive and kind.
So until the Twelfth of Never or the first Friday of October, whatever comes first…
Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate, and love someone….