My apologies to Monroe for forgetting Old Timer’s Day
You know that it has to be a big deal to say that I’m sorry to a whole town, and it is.
Blame it on age, killed brain cells or sensory overload, but at 4 a.m. Monday when I was under the gun to write my column on my deadline, I forgot the Monroe Old Timer’s Day.
It was in big, red letters in my May live-music schedule so there is NO excus, so my sincerest apology to Jeff Dunn, P.A. Riggs, Sam and Don McKenzie, David Love the Monroe Fire Department and all the citizens of Monroe. I disremembered it after I had been invited to help make music. That included a free meal and a couple of tickets to the drawing of the quilt.
In my defense, (I am really embarrassed or I would’ve shut up by now) it is starting to get busy with live-music events and dances. There were several of our area bands and singers that were part of the Steel Horse Rally across the line in Fort Smith, Ark. I am proud of them all, but that is no excuse.
Through the years when I was back home, playing at the Old Timers Day was truly a huge honor. I might have missed a few, but I found pictures of a dozen years that I made the stage and played to several hundred friends and families of Monroe. Many of the musicians have passed and are bittersweet memories. Leo McKenzie, Cuzzin’ (Monkee) Dave Mize and Randy Mac are all in the Hillbilly Heaven band. We played in heat, cool, rain storms and thunderstorms. Those were really great memories.
Thanks to Jody and the Hemphill for sharing family pictures that mother Wilma had taken through the years.
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You know, when I proofread before emailing, I get all puffed up and proud of the style of this column. It’s a “pride-goeth-before-fall” kind of a deal. I think I am in the vein of the genius of “The Lum and Abner” radio show, but what usually goes to print is more like the stuff that would come out of Barney Fife, Gomer Pyle and Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show.” Otis was my hero, you know.
However, times have changed. This day used to be a time of reunion, memories, storytelling and Decoration Day. Even though Decoration Day doesn’t carry the same importance that it did when I was growing up, The Monroe Cemetery was mowed and new flowers and wreaths were in place as tradition dictated.
I carried Mama Wanda to the Bargain Shack to get a few flowers for decorations. After I recovered from the prices of bouquets this year, on the way back to Panama, we placed flowers and cleaned headstones on my Grandma and Grandpa Harp’s graves. As a kid, I can remember going with both sides of my family to about a dozen cemeteries to clean and decorate. This was before zero-turn mowers and weed eaters. It took a couple of gallon Ball fruit jars of tea wrapped in wet rags to keep it cool, lots of sandwiches, fresh fruit (some picked on the way), several hoes, rakes and a good file with a man that knew how to use it (usually grandpa). He oversaw the clean-up and was kept busy sitting in the shade keeping the hoes sharp enough to shave! Most of the decorations were handmade through the year by loving hands and were rebuilt to use again. Nothing was wasted. No one was forgotten. Ancestry was important! Just a few good memories from Decoration Day.
On Sunday, we celebrated Mother’s Day! I got a pretty card and a six-pack of mater plants with a ribbon on it for Mama Wanda. I am blessed to still be able to share the day with Mom. I am very grateful. Love to all mothers out there. Even though our families are much more scattered and life has gotten too fast and hectic, phones and social media keeps us in contact, but it isn’t quite the same. There’s just too much going on to spend a lot of time with family, so make the extra effort to visit older members — heck, all of your family. I have gotten to the age where I can understand what my Granny Harp would mean when she would tell me, “I am just so hungry to see ya”! I failed miserably at spending enough time with her.
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It was a busy weekend. The Steel Horse Rally was huge this year and city wide. Hillbilly Vegas rode into town with a big-chart hit “Shake It Like a Hillbilly.” Oklahoma Moon, Grannie’s Nightmare, Even Keel, Connie Abbott and Country Pride and Butch Cavandish (David Carbrey) were all a part of the live music. The Stage Masters performed at Interstate 40 Dance Hall.
As for live music this week, I don’t have much information.
On Friday, Dawn’s Diner in Red Oak will be proud to present for your entertainment Glen Rogers. Glen performs classic country. He covers songs by Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Moe Bandy and George Strait. Glen is a great singer and has a good show. Music will begin at 7 p.m.
I know that the I-40 Music and Dance Hall will have Gopher Run. Music will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, and this place always has
The Lawman Band every Thursday along with line dancing.
Grannie’s Nightmare will be rockin’ the woods, streams, lakes and Potato Hills beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at Chuck’s Cycles Bar and Grill in Tuskahoma. There will be great food, awesome rock music and it will be a beautiful drive.
Please send me information and schedule updates for any live-music venues. You can either call or text me at (918) 649-5736 or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com.