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Darke
County Senior Scribe
What a way to end 2012
By Delbert Blickenstaff, M.D.
I am the proverbial fly on the wall, and if you want to know what
really happened at the celebration of Louise Blickenstaff’s 90th
birthday, listen up. I saw and heard everything.
The party started with a fried chicken dinner for about 25 members of
the immediate family. The main meal was prepared by chef
extraordinaire Mike Randolph and his crew at the Brethren Retirement
Community. Family members also brought salads and a delicious
chocolate cake. The Minnesota clan did not come because of
snow, ice, cold winds, and 900 miles. There were people from
Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.
After the dinner family photographs were taken by a professional
photographer from Sweden: Gunnar Aren. (He was an exchange
student many years ago and he made a special trip for Louise’s
birthday.) It was during this part of the celebration that Louise
tried to steal the show by falling off the wagon. Wait.
That doesn’t sound right. She fell backwards off the piano bench
without hurting herself. Three strong grandsons helped her get up
into a chair and the party went right on.
At 2 PM people started arriving for the Open House, and entertainment
was provided by Joseph, a well known local Folk Singer. He
brought with him a few of the many musical instruments which he plays,
and he has his own P.A. system. After a while Joseph announced
that Del had something to say. I’m not sure who Del is, but I
think he lives with Louise.
Then Del started unraveling this long convoluted story about a song
written by Irving Berlin, “Marie,” and how much trouble he had finding
a copy of the music. He bothered several libraries, and finally
with Joseph’s help he got a copy from a music store in Columbus.
Then he explained that he and some friends had worked up a production
number using an arrangement which was introduced by Tommy Dorsey and
his band. I can’t wait to hear this!
That’s not all. Del then explained that his one good Eustachian
tube had just plugged up (whatever that is. I don’t think we
flies have them.) And the result is that he can’t hear
right. But he said that he was going to sing anyway, and try to
stay on key. So, Phyllis played the piano, Del sang to solo
part,, while Joseph, Terry, Theron, and Jon sang in the
background. It sounded OK to me.
Then Lars and Laura sang a lovely duet, “Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming,”
which I really enjoyed. The rest of the Open House was rather
tame, with people coming and going and eating cherry mousse.
The scene then changed to 872 Chestnut Street and I went right
along. Louise and Del provided snacks for their 12 guests and
there was lots of talk and laughter. The guests left about 8 PM
and Louise, Del, and Gunnar started getting ready for bed. They
had had a long day.
At 8:30 the phone rang and Del answered it. The conversation went
like this:
Driver – I’m on Chestnut Circle and I can’t find 872. I have
Gunnar’s bag from the airport.
Del – Where are you now?
Driver – I’m facing west, there are mailboxes on my left and a building
on my right.
Del – You’ve gone past our house. So turn around and come back to
the third street on the right.
Driver – OK, I’ll find it. (He did and Gunnar got his bag back.)
And that’s the way the year 2012 ended.
Delbert Blickenstaff
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