It’s been several years now since I attended my first CBA Camp-Out. It has turned out to be a life changing experience. It was there that I met some folks who have become some of my dearest friends. Some of the first people that greeted me back then were the first to greet me at Lodi last week.
We “circled the wagons” with Frank and Shirley Brewer, Jesse House, Jim and Carol Johnston, Vic and Barb Yeakle, Lucy and Bob Mann, Lou McClenahan and his wife, Sunshine. We set up a group of EZ-Ups creating a large tented area that rivaled the Ringling Brothers Circus. For those who favor country music, this was “Jam Central.” There may have been a little “clowning” around… Oh, by the way, Cliff Compton came by a few times after work. He’s looking good and feeling good. Everyone’s spirits are lifted when Cliff walks into camp.
As usual, I met several new people and got to jam with some folks that I don’t normally pick with. Harry Robinson, a fine banjo picker, sat in on several of our jams. I had a good time playing some bluegrass and country with Burt Kay and his son, Mitch. Every year, Bert Daniel and I say we are going to get together and jam and it seems we never quite connect. Well, we finally got to do that, I sat in his camp and picked and sang with him and his camp neighbor, Lorraine.
There were several people who were missing in action. I want you all to know you were missed. I particularly missed seeing the young people, I could have counted the ones who attended on my two hands and had fingers left over. Speaking of young people, The Anderson Family came in on Saturday. We had a graduation party for Aimee and also recognized Ethan’s 16th birthday. They put on a fine little “concert” in their camp much to everyone’s delight.
Camp Outs always mean extra calories. There are lots of good cooks in CBA. “Shut Up John” made breakfast a few mornings. He has the magic touch for putting “stuff” together. Kristen Willis brought some of her husband Bruce’s yummy homemade cookies. (You read that right; she’s married to Bruce Willis). The Mexican dinner on Saturday night was delicious and any night I don’t have to cook is a good night.
I think it was fitting that CBA Chairman, Tim Edes, led a moment of silence in remembrance of Regina Bartlett at the Saturday Night dinner. Many will miss her. I saw so many tributes given to her on Facebook and the CBA website and other websites and I was wishing that she was here to receive the accolades. She loved rubbing elbows with professional entertainers and having her picture taken with them. She enjoyed working with the kids on bluegrass and truly appreciated it when her good deeds were acknowledged. She had many friends who loved and appreciated her. Her sudden departure from this world makes me think of the old Carter Family song, “Give Me Roses While I Live.”
Wonderful things of folks are said
When they have passed away
Roses adorn the narrow bed
Over the sleeping clay
Give me roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless are flowers that you give
After the soul has gone
Kind words are useless when folks lie cold
In a narrow bed
Don’t wait ‘til death to speak kind words
Now should the words be said
Let us not wait to do good deeds
‘Til they have passed away
Now is the time to sow good seeds
While here on earth we stay
As I went around and said my ”Hellos” and “Good-byes” at the Camp-out, it crossed my mind that none of us have a guarantee that we’ll be here tomorrow. We need to heed the words of the song, show love and appreciation today. I don’t want to regret the words I never said. I want to be a rose giver, how about you? “The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.” George William Curtis
