I
remember being very small with lots of older girls and boys to watch over me
and I remember being glad when some children my own age started to be around.
We were carted around the Midwest on
buses, a double-decker one once, as we traveled to competitions near and far.
We sold many candy bars to help finance these trips. I remember getting up
very early and staying up very late.
Traveling home on the bus, we would revel in
our victories or mourn the occasional - and certainly unfair defeat.
We played free concerts in the park and made
many senior citizens smile, which puzzled kids our own age. We grew up
together, living a double life most of the people in our regular schools knew
nothing about. I remember being scared, I remember being in a hurry, I
remember being tired and hungry, I remember being very proud. I'm glad to have
been a part of something quite unique and special and to have shared my youth
with a group of very talented and dedicated friends.
Well, now that I think about it, I may have just made up that part about the
kids my own age, because I guess there really was only me & Mary Ann &
Jessica Faltot, of
course. I think Kevin Cummins and Phil Germinder were about the same age.
Judy Barrow was teaching me about "solfege" which involved
singing Bach in a "do, re, mi" fashion.
John Kovach, Becky & Barbara Hums, Carol Winther - they were all nice enough to me, I
was too young to actually be anything but Mr. Van's kid I'm sure.
Once there was some kind of pool party, maybe Carol Winther's
house and I remember getting to ride in the car with some of them. I
thought they were all very "hip", of course.
I remember throwing licorice sticks out of a hotel window (with
M.A.) at the people on the street.
I remember the "concerts" at Marion High School.
When I took tap, I got to be in the dance part of the show,
because I was small and they could throw me around in that "jazz" fashion. Do
you remember my dad and my god father Bob Bilski wearing Beatle wigs and doing
a Beatle's medley at one of those things?
My dad also played "The Men In My Little Girls Life" (the big
Mike Douglas hit) at one and I was very embarrassed sitting in the front row,
thinking everyone was looking at me. I suppose now that no one even noticed.
I remember John Kovach's rock band playing at the studio for a
dance - he had a Farfisa, I thought that was very cool, but I don't remember
much dancing.
I am very proud to say that I was a member of the Gene Van Symphony--we
played some great music and sounded fantastic! Those were some of the best
memories of my life!
So I am grateful to
you and to my parents for giving me the opportunity to learn to play the
accordion and becoming a better person because of it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fondly,
Laura
