Music Leads To An Oklahoma Adventure
I'm writing this blog for my son, David. I sent him a copy of "Music is Food for the Soul," and he asked me to write more about similar experiences. So, here you are, David: Music leads to an Oklahoma adventure.
As mentioned in my story of the trip to Winfield Kansas, we met musicians there from Tulsa, Oklahoma who invited us to come and play at their coffee house, the "Tulsa Dust Bowl." It was approaching winter when we finally made that trip.
We'd added a third member, Patrick, who had a fine voice and good looks that the girls all loved. We traveled in my VW "bug." I am not sure how we got everything in there, but we did.
We traveled as weather changed: not much snow, but very icy roads. Somewhere outside Wichita, we drove through country with low rolling hills. The road was glare ice, not at all fun. Pat did the driving, thank goodness.
As we rolled up toward the top of a low rise, a huge semi came over the hill in the other lane. As he started down the hill, he started to slide, and began to jackknife just about when he reached us.
Cool-headed Pat drove right off the side of the road to avoid a collision. It's a good thing the land along the road appeared fairly level, and not a cliff-edge. The truck jackknifed just past where we'd been.
We sat in the car, shaking, but by the miracle of Pat's quick thinking, still alive. The big truck quickly righted himself and headed on, not wanting to cause a collision with another vehicle. We couldn't even thank him (though I suppose most of the thanks belonged to Patrick.)
We were very happy when we finally pulled into Tulsa.
We stayed with the man who managed the club, and I have to chalk it up to my age -- I can't remember his name. I do remember he had a Persian cat he loved, and we chuckled at watching the big man and little cat interacting.
From this man-cat encounter, I learned a new word: "Ragaflatch." I'm not sure exactly what it meant, but believe it to be a term reflecting astonishment. It's a great word.
At the coffee house, though it had a large room for the audience, we did not go into that hall, but hung out in the back rooms, where all the musicians gathered. Here, I received great training, as musicians swapped "licks" and information about songs.
I sopped up the sounds of the instruments and the stories from these outstanding musicians. I believe that I learned the banjo tune, "Blackberry Blossom," at that Tulsa club.
It seemed the musicians found it far more interesting to learn about us than to listen to the groups on stage. After all, we represented new blood.
We finally gave our performance, being pleased to find it well-received by the audience. I haven't the faintest memory of what we played. I do know that at the end of our performance, I realized I'd lost a contact lens.
Soon there must have been a dozen people on and around the stage, searching for it, and fortunately for me, someone found it.
The whole experience at that coffee house ranks up there with the good memory collection. The large group of musicians there seemed more intent on making us feel welcome and appreciated. The audience could just be considered part of the atmosphere. We felt like visiting royalty.
I don't remember the trip home, so it must have been uneventful. However, the Dust Bowl will always bring back fond memories of exceptional music and a delightful visit.
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I checked it out, and I did read the other post. I remember being impressed when I read it the first time how many famous people you have rubbed elbows and played with.
Great story, and great experience, Fran. When I was a Freshman at McPherson College in McPherson, KS, I went home with a friend from Tulsa for spring break. We didn't have the money to go to the beach for spring break. Don't even know where the closest one would have been! When I called home to let them know we had arrived in Tulsa OK, my mother told me that one of my favorite high school teachers had died. I was upset and took the bus home. I think it must have been a 12 or 18 hour bus ride from Tulsa to Des Moines. And I haven't had occasion to go back there since! Glad you had a better time in Tulsa than my short visit was!
Too bad your visit did not turn out well. Stuff happens. We had a great time and were so lucky we didn't buy the big ticket when that truck almost ran into us.
Did you read "Music Is Food For The Soul?" It was about another music trip to Winfield, Kansas. Check it out -- you might like it.
Yes, I think I did, but I've been reading so much trying to get caught up, I might have missed it. Will check it out.
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Hi Fran
That brings back memories of the days when 3 of us used to stuff multi-instruments and PA gear in a minivan.
We took it in turns to sit in the back with the gear!
One day, on the way to a festival in the South of England the gearbox gave up somewhere near Oxford. We abandoned the car at a local garage and hired something bigger and more comfortable. The garage mechanic later said the content of the gearbox looked like a mixing bowl!
That car took many thousands of miles of punishment before it gave up.
:-)
Richard
Amazing, what we travel in...for a while we toured the country with all our gear and people stuffed in a lemon-yellow Ford. It got us there, though not in the most comfortable way.