Fall Foliage – Fall Festivals – Fall hazards

Another public service. Ya know, “trip and fall” didn’t used to be such a big deal. It used to take more to cause it-step on a rake- trip on a dawg or baby, trip on a bobwire fence (thru it anyway). Well, now apparently it IS a big deal! I go to Dr. and they ask, Had any falls lately? It should be a dead giveaway that all the bandaids are not just for sympathy. I can trip on a playing card, a feather, a leaf. Now my gold metal Olympic move first thing in the morning is to get BOTH feet in my underwear without tipping over. Not looking forward to long-john season. That might be a team sport. I think I should git extra points for the time it takes for me to try not to fall, how many things I take down with me, and how high I bounce.

And it ain’t just the falling, anybody can fall. It’s the gitting back up. Since my falls are not planned, I never have anything to use to get back upright. I just about quit going out in public after that Walmart incident that made the 5 o’clock on 40/29. Ya know, that Brett Rains is the nicest guy and best reporter . He called 911 immediately after filming the wreckage. If ya wanna get 5 minutes of fame, just take down a rack of fishing poles back in Sporting goods . And the voice on the other end of my “Help I’ve Fallen” button was very calming. I saw a lotta folks that know me while I was laying on my back like a terrapin. When they told me that I was barred from Walmart, was that the one in Poteau or all of them? So, check on your elderly friends. Not everybody has a fall detector device.

Live Music! My Pick of the Week! “The Castaway Cruise” at the King Opera House in Van Buren! I will be in the front row this Sat. 5th, wearing my Hawaiian shirt and flipflops . My good friends in “Even Keel” will take ya on a Two Hour Tour starting at 7pm, playing music with an Island feel. Better than Gilligan’s Island, this “Castaway Cruise” event will feature tunes from Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Beach Boys, Bob Marley, Alan Jackson and more. Al Grzech/piano, Josh Uhrich/guitar and vocals, Mark Steele/drums, Joe Craine/bass and Bryan Clark/guitar and Tambourine make beautiful music. You are invited to sing along. Grass skirts are optional. See ya there! Watch for info soon of a New Year’s Eve party that “Even Keel” will be playing with “Gabrielle Gore and Silent Thunder.”

Take a ride thru the Mts. this Sat. 5th and enjoy the fall colors. Talihina has one of the best Fall Festivals in the state. Besides the food, games and craft fair, this family/friendly event will have a big helping of Live Music. The Festival opens at 9 am with music starting at 11 am. “Nick and Hunter” kicks off at 11. “Oklahoma Moon” will play from 1-3 pm. Then, “Zack Ray” from 3-5 pm. Great music for this event. Take Granny and the kids. Enjoy the day.

“Connie Abbott and Country Pride” rides again. Joining Connie and Dave Abbott will be Bob Garrett on steel guitar. They play for the Dancers at the Ft. Smith Senior Activity Center on Friday 4th starting at 7 pm. I sure hope that Ole Smilin’ Bob has some new jokes. Then Sat. 5th, “Make It a Double” (Connie and Dave) play at Dawn’s in Red Oak. Dawn’s addition of a dance floor with more seating is open now. Ya know, Dave can eat more than most. I think Dawn dreads seeing him coming. It cost as much to feed Dave at Dawn’s as it used to cost the honky tonks when I was gitting free drinks back.

Speaking of Diners, Betty Jean’s Diner in Arkoma will have “Back Porch Country” on Sat. the 5th. This is a lotta talent with Garry and Sharon Gage, D.J. Lincks, Jimmy Riechard, Gerry Baze, Mike Henson, and Jack and Dotie Smith. Stop by bout 7 pm, listen to the picking and enjoy the great food.

“The Stagemasters” will be at Dawn’s on Friday 4th in Downtown Red Oak. It starts about 6:30 or so. Then, They play at Cinco’s Tex-Mex restaurant on Sat, 5th. Same great music with two diff menus in two diff counties.
“Grannie’s Nightmare”, R&R in it’s purest form-the Power Trio, will be at Doug’s Watering Hole in Poteau. Be loud and be proud from 9 pm til 1 am. They are a favorite at Doug’s.

Crock’s Cafe in Hackett will have Bethany Rose on Friday 4th and “Aces and Eights” on Sat 5th, weather permitting. Music starts at 6 pm both nights.

For info or questions, text 918-649-5736 or tj.wiles61@outlook.com. Thanks.