Matters of Life and Death
Vintage Labor Day postcards are a rarity. Here’s a couple of less than attractive styles and have a bit of a “socialist” feel to them.
“Labor conquers everything. The strictest law oft becomes the severest injustice.”
“Service shall with steeled sinew’s tail, and labour will refresh itself with hope.”
Hope your holiday is fun and safe!
When I met Michael Cochran, he and his brother were commuting to New Jersey for interviews with the great Les Paul for a book chronicling Paul’s career. Nashville photographer Wolf Hoffmann joined them on several trips to photograph the hundreds of guitars in Les’s personal collection.
After many hours of recorded interviews and conversations with Les Paul, Mike created all the text in the book, weaving together Paul’s recollections and expressions with his own insights to create: “Les Paul, In His Own Words.”
A lifelong Les Paul fan wrote, “I’ve always wanted to meet Les, and after reading this book, I feel like I have.”
I agree. Michael introduced me to some of the guitar greats, like Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, and now Les Paul. The experiments and innovation Paul made not only electrifying the guitar, his breakthroughs with multi-track recording and his late wife’s frustration with competing with Paul’s other love made for a fascinating read.
$40 well spent, this beautiful book makes a great gift idea for the guitar lover.
Earlier this Spring, I threw some seed down and these beauties sprang from the soil. Wish I knew what they’re called. Last fall, my neighbor let me harvest the seed, she said they were an old plant and didn’t know what they were.
Not only are they beautiful, they are hardy, the soil isn’t that great, and I haven’t done a thing to them. Added bonus: the hummingbirds love them.
If you want some, leave a comment and I’ll share the love.
Peggy Sue Smith, RIP: My nephew had a memorial tattoo done to honor his grandmother, who introduced him to the guitar and paid for lessons.
Peggy was my mother-in-law, and was an influence in launching this site. Peggy had always been the picture of health and when she died suddenly from a brain tumor, 6 weeks after diagnosis, we were all deeply affected. Peggy’s husband Ed Smith was kind enough to compose these words about Peggy:
It’s hard to put a lifetime in such a short space but Peggy Smith had a full life even though it was prematurely shortened by a malignant brain tumor in 2001 at the young age of sixty. Peggy grew up and attended schools in Springfield, MO graduating from Central High School in 1959. She had been a student worker in high school and was hired as a full-time secretary at Parkview High School upon graduation. She worked there for several years before moving to California and then returning to Springfield in the mid-seventies. She was re-hired by the Springfield School District upon return and worked there until retiring in 1998 for a total of 31 years with the School District. Peggy’s first marriage was ended in the late eighties and she was married again in 1984. She was the mother of two children, Kirk Hall and Keely (Hall) Millstead, and the grandmother of eight, five of whom were brought into her life in the second marriage. She thoroughly enjoyed their participation in sports, music and other activities and didn’t miss many opportunities to see all of them perform at their various functions. She was a great lady and has been missed much by all who knew her in the more than four years since her death.
The crypt directly above Marilyn Monroe’s final resting place is available. Bidding starts at $500,000 on Ebay for one of the most expensive pieces of real estate on the market, based on a per-square-foot basis.
Currently occupied by Richard Poncher, his widow said that when he was dying, Poncher approached her with a request. “He said, ‘If I croak, if you don’t put me upside down over Marilyn, I’ll haunt you the rest of my life.’ ”
Right after the funeral, Mrs. Poncher told the funeral director of her husband’s wish. “I was standing right there, and he turned him over,” she said.
Source: LA Times