I hope that all of my readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving week. Even Black Friday! And I hope that, for whatever reason, no one went without a meal or a dry place to sleep. There are offerings of food, a hot meal and some housing. And rumor has it that more of that and treatment for recovery from addictions is in the works. Keep that in your prayers.
Along with some effort to enlighten all y’all on music, venues, festivals and bands, you have to suffer thru one of two thangs. It will be #1: wise and useful advice, weather observations and holiday announcements. #2: ponderings and pontifications of a weary and worn down guitar picker. Both have some value.
Now, without gitting too long winded, over the weekend I had time to reflect on all that I am grateful for. The list is long. But I wandered into just the things that I have witnessed in my short life. And make a comparison to the things that my Grandpa Raymond Wiles saw.
Grandpa witnessed the turn of the century, two world wars, from telegraph to post office, the mass production of an affordable automobile, the invention of penicillin, polio vaccine and organ transplant, the first manned rocket into space, a moon walk, and the invention of the television. Instant broadcasting from local to world news events that could be trusted, mostly. In his short 60 years there have been great strides in human rights and peace on earth, in places. Things that were only written or dreamed about slowly became a part of our lives.
My experience started 12-31-1951. I am grateful to have witnessed many more things in a much faster fashion. I have been a witness to Captain Kangaroo, Gunsmoke, the Mousekateers, ‘specially Annette. The TV became a family event and accessible to most. Radio added FM. Progress in modern medicine is keeping me alive. I have lost count of the many advances in the Space program. Everything is advancing at breakneck speed. From snailmail to dialup to high speed internet communication. From phonebooth to cellphone. But the thing that seems to stay the same, never progressing more than falling behind, is the way humans treat each other. We gotta work on that. Love is the message, Love is the answer. Love as He loves you. Always be kind. I am Thankful for all I have today.
Congrats to “Hillbilly Vegas” on a new release, The Great Southern Hustle, in London at the Troubadour. Wow , what a week for this band. Days of wandering round London, sightseeing and food tasting, a visit to the Gibson Guitar/London showroom and playing Hillbilly Vegas songs at the Troubadour on Thanksgiving night.
Panama is hosting the only Charitable event that I know about before Christmas. If you are having a Christmas fundraiser, please let me know, contact info below. Panama will have a “Christmas for Kids” event at the Panama Event Center on Sat.3rd. All donations will go to the Angel Tree that is located at City Hall. Live Music provided by “Earl Hearon and the Sound of Country”and Starts at 7 pm. If ya can’t be there, you can stop by the City Hall and leave a donation. The present that your donation will buy can make the difference in a child’s Christmas.
“The Stagemasters” will make music this week at Dawn’s Diner in Red Oak on Friday 2nd. Music starts at 6 pm. Great food, great music. The new dining room, with dance floor, is heated and open now. Then on Sat 3rd, they will play at Spiro Eagles from 7-11 pm. Two good places to dance to some great Classic Country and Rock.
The Ft. Smith Senior Activity Center on Cavanaugh rd. will have “Make It a Double” for the dancers on Friday 2nd. Music starts at 7 pm. Connie and Dave play all your favorites and some of your requests. The Center will have line-dance lessons on every Wed. with Barbara Hare starting at 6 pm. AND Next week, same building, I-40 Music will host a Sat. night dance with “The Lawman Band”. Mark your calendars. Music Friday and Sat. at the Cavanaugh Senior Activity Center.
Hope the holidays find you warm, dry and happy. Contact 918-649-5736 or tj.wiles61@ouytlook.com. Thanks!
Get Local News!
