Verna Lee's Perspective

In response to my Roger Williams post, Verna Lee shared the following with me so I am sharing it with you -- a bit of nostalgic history:

David, I enjoyed reading your report of the Roger Williams concert. Wish I had been there. One tidbit you missed--or didn't know.... During his ISU (ISC) years, Roger Williams studied with Evelyn McLoed, my piano teacher. Mrs. McLoed was an excellent teacher, and probably could/should have made her teaching career in a metropolitan area. But, her husband worked in Pocatello (railroad, I think) so a fortunate few of us got the benefit of her expertise.

The story dates further back than that... Before any of us were, Daddy sang with a musical group that did concerts around the area and Evelyn McLoed accompanied the group. Daddy's limp originates from an incident involving Evelyn McLoed. The group was staying overnight in Blackfoot after doing a concert there--in a hotel I think. Anyway, there was a second story balcony. Daddy was kidding around with Evelyn, picked her up and feigned dropping her over the balcony railing. She kicked, etc., and they both went over--Daddy on the bottom. She came away uninjured, but Daddy's leg was busted badly and I think he had a broken nose. He spent the next 18 months recuperating. Since he had to stay off the leg, he went back to Oxford where he would have caretakers. That happened to be the time when Mother was teaching there, and that's how they met.

Did you have any idea that you were experiencing so much history while your listened to Roger Williams play?!!!

We should all hope we can do so well at 83. I think there is something to be said for mental alertness and music. It is believed that music (and math) play a big role in developing the brain synapse. Language is good, too. No wonder we are all so bright--we all talk a lot.
Love, Verna Lee

Our evening

Abby, and anyone else interesed
Mom and I just got home from a Roger Williams concert at the concert hall at the new ISU performing arts center. We took Grandma and Grandpa for Grandpa's birthday. He was in heaven. Not literally -- not yet. Apparently Roger Williams (then Louis Werts) was a student at ISU back in the 40's. He had been a child prodigy musician up to that point, but joined the navy during WWII. The navy sent him to ISU to study engineering. He then went out into active duty for a few years but returned to ISU to finish his engineering degree. He apparently has fond memories of Pocatello, so was pleased to return here again to do the concert, especially now that we have such a good concert facility. I remember Verna Lee talking about him when I was a kid. While he lived here, he studied piano with Verna Lee's teacher, Mrs. McCloid.

Going into the concert, I wasn't expecting much from what I thought was probably an old has-been. But, it was actually very good. He played most of his hits (he had 26 on the charts over the years, including a number of movie scores -- or maybe it was twelve?) plus some of the songs I used to hear Verna Lee and you play, e.g. Flight of the Bumble Bee, Clare de Lune (sp), Maleguenia, etc. He had a back-up orchestra with him, and he even brought his own Stienway signature concert grand piano. Steinway now makes a Roger Williams signature piano, and I'm sure they pay him to promote it, because he certainly did so at this concert.

He is now 83 years old, but still plays like a champ and is very sharp mentally. I guess the intricacies of music are good for the ole' brain. Sort of like statistics. He was sort of limping around up there on the stage (bad knees), but his hands and his brain were intact. He bantered a little with the audience. Used a lot of age humor. Told stories about doing special concerts for all the presidents since Truman. One of the band members asked him to tell about the concert he did for George. and he said, "Oh, the Bushes, which one, Senior or Junior? So the Band member said, "No, not them, George Washington." He also said that he started playing the piano at 3 years old, and back then, the critics would say he had an amazing talent for his age. Then he followed with, "They're starting to say that again." I guess you're never too old. Apparently he still practices 4 hours per day and does concert tours. They say he knows something like 10,000 songs. I'm sure that by now the keyboard is just an extension of his hands and brain, and all he needs is the tune in his head and he can play it in tight harmony. Grandma Croshaw was like that. For the second half of the concert, he took requests for any song from the crowd, and with the orchestra backing him up, played them all, including... "Great Balls of Fire". That's when I really became impressed -- when he even knew rock songs. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in that bit of music memorabilia. Maybe I will also post this on the blog also, just in case the rest of the fam might find it interesting.

Love you all,
Dad

Happy Birthday Colby!

We had a great birthday party today! We had some friends over, including 3 little friends for Colby to play with. I got a slip and slide at Walmart (maybe the best $9 I've ever spent!) and Colby LOVED IT!!! He's such a sweet, good natured boy. He is so much fun, and I'm so thankful he was sent to us.

Eva had a great time playing with Colby's new set of golf clubs!

Tornado Warning!!

Well, we experienced our first tornado warning on Wednesday. We were having these really scary thunder storms, it seriously sounded like the lightning was hitting the house, and I heard a siren going off. Our satellite wasn't working because of the storm, so I didn't really know what was going on. Ray called about that time and said that the radio news was reporting a possible tornado just south of us by the airport. It dawned on me that the sirens were tornado warnings (duh!). So I got the kids and we got in the closet under our stairs and waited out the sirens, only for about 10 minutes. Grace kept asking, "mom, why are we sitting in the closet?" It was a good time to try and teach her about tornado safety. I honestly never thought I would be doing that! Anyway, we were all fine and it was kindof exciting! We can't wait to see everyone next week!

Becky

Bye bye CNN

It is finally dying down in Blacksburg. I just have a few finishing thoughts. They just said on the news that on all the 13,000 some odd applicants for next fall at Virginia Tech, only 5 people have decided not to enrole so far. There are 85-90% of the people still living in the dorms. They are going to have a memorial on campus here with stones for each person killed. The amazing thing is there are going to be 33 stones (one for the shooter). That's a sign of healing. Elder Bednar was here at our Stake Conference and he said that he was assigned to be here 7 months ago. He also said he was sent here so that the keys could be on the campus of Virginia Tech to begin the healing process. I can't think of any other meeting that I have enjoyed as much as I did this weekend. I got to hear Elder Bednar speak for about 3-4 hours and it was quite incredible, to say the least. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone in 2 weeks.
Colin

Eva started crawling!

Mr. Waternoose

I don't know how many of you have seen Monster's Inc, but the big boss at the factory they work in is Mr. Waternoose. It's currently Colby's favorite movie and we watch it at least 3 times a week. Every single time when Mr. Waternoose comes on Colby gets excited and says, "Papa!" I was just sitting here doing my dictation and started the movie for Colby and he came up to me saying "Papa! Papa!" We think he means Grandpa Croshaw. Anyway, I laugh every time. He loves you dad! :)

Walk for Lupus

One thing I love about DC is that there are so many good causes to contribute to. A group of friends from my ward participated in a Lupus walk this weekend - complete with homemade t-shirts for our team (Purple Scream), maroon and orange ribbons for VT, and free face-painting by Go-Go the clown. It was the first year of the walk, and they raised over $60,000!

For the rest of the day, we walked around with butterflies painted on our faces. We stayed in town for awhile to enjoy the beautiful weather that has FINALLY hit - good news for the wedding party. (We were supposed to go home right after the walk to do spring cleaning, so I guess we were sort of playing hookey from ourselves. I like being an adult!) The butterfly mask was empowering - it erased all our inhibitions. It's like we knew people were going to stare at us anyway, so we may as well give them something to stare at. We were doing dances on the sidewalks, jumping on all the benches we passed, and learning Tai Chi on the Mall. Passing tourists were stopping to take pictures! We also stopped by the Hirshhorn (Smithsonian modern art museum) and pretended to be part of an art exhibit. It was amazing how many people stopped to talk to us in this town that is usually so anonymous. Everyone should try painting their faces and walking around town, at least once. Pretend it's normal. The results will astound you.

Abby

Thai Church

It's Sunday afternoon in Bangkok and I just got back from church. I LOVE going to church when I'm here. In sacrament meeting a Philippino family spoke: father, mother and 4 teenage kids. They all converted to the church a couple of years ago. One of the boys, while he was bearing his testimony talked about how joining the church has changed his life, and he cited part of the 23rd Psalm..."though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me...Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." That teenage boy is on the "safe" path now, as are all of us, and surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life.

In Sunday school we talked about miracles (Matthew 15-17)...I think you'll all probably have the same lesson tomorrow. The Thailand mission president was in the class. He said that as a faith building experience, his wife challenged the missionaries to write 3 miracles they see/experience each day in their journal. The British sunday school teacher then challenged us to to do the same. And now...the challenge is yours. Love all of you!

Les

My Responsibility

As I read the story about Cho (it makes a difference when I know his name) I did not want to feel compassion, but I did. It kind of makes this a double tragedy. Wasn't there one person on that whole campus who could have befriended him? I am not accusing any student of negligence or responsibility, but we all do have a responsibility to help those in need. So many times I have thought or been taught that even giving someone a smile may be just what they need. We truly are our brother's keepers. I hope that we can all keep our eyes open to those around us. We don't have to become best friends with everyone, but we do need to share some of the blessings we have in our lives with others. Maybe that sharing is only kindness, or holding a door open, or letting a car in front of us, but we do have an obligation to share with others some of the great Plan of Happiness that we have. I love all of you so much, and am so grateful to Heavenly Father for the multitude of blessings He gives to each of us. We were all praying to find Grace, and our prayers were answered, we prayed that Ray would feel and accept the truthfulness of the gospel, and he did, we prayed for Crystal's dress to come, and it did, Dad and I have been praying for a long time that Heavenly Father would lead Leslie and Matt to their eternal companions, and He has. He pours out his blessings on each of us. We are all healthy, we all have bright futures, and more important than those things, we know who we are and what awaits us after this life. Everyone please be careful out there. Love, Mom