Right now I'm in an amazing place. And I really would not be here without your love and guidance. You are 60. In Arabic it would be "Sitah-een."
Since I was born Late January, I was told that I was your birthday present; in 1988 that is. This is my gift.
I was in a Journalism class this past semester which was centered around writing personal memoirs. I thought I had nothing to write about, and then I remembered my family. How I was raised is the most important aspect of my life. In writing my memoir for this class, our family is my subject. I Would like to share a part of the tale entitled "Grasping the Pheasant's Tail, A Walcutt Story."
Here is a chapter entitled, "Tai Chi Room,"
“Will you quiet down I’m trying to glitter!” my brother Noah yelled at me.
“No, I’m writing a song!” I said as I continued to mash at the Kimball Piano keys with my palms like I was kneading bread dough.
Entranced over a poster board stretched out over the wood floor of The Tai Chi Room, he was finishing up his final fifth grade project of “Knights of the Dark Ages.” This was a really important project for him, and he needed to make sure it had pizzazz. He used pipe cleaner to make a lance to put in one of the knights hands. The Knight would be mounted on a horse whose body would be filled with white red sparkly glitter: perfection.
“Fine, let’s see how you like it,” he then ran over to one our large Congo Drums that rested on a stand next to the piano and began furiously beating it. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. “How’s that?!,” he yelled over the enormous resonance of sound.
We were competing over noise like it was real estate. My sister Ariel, who was in Kindergarten, shuffled into the room hugging her rag doll “Dolly.” She saw what we were doing, picked up a tambourine, and began shaking the instrument and screaming, “AHHHHH!”
After about 5 minutes of this, my dad ambled in the room. We quieted down. Loosening his Jerry Garica tie, he took a seat on the couch. Pulling over his guitar case, he took out his Martin Acoustic, and began emphatically bellowing, “Hey Mr. Tambourine man sing a song for me, and there is no place I’m going!”
Focusing our attention back to our respected instruments, a jam session was initiated that was filled with unadulterated mess of noises.
This would usually continue until my Mom called us in for dinner, or someone started crying (usually the latter).
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My Dad’s top most played songs and sing-a-longs are:
1. “No Woman No Cry” Bob Marley
2. “Peggy Sue” Buddy Holly
3. “Louie, Louie” The Kingsmen
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The Walcutt household had one big break performing as a “Family Band.” Up until I was around 11, every summer my parents would take the family up to “Tai Chi Camp,” (usually at
My brother Noah was playing the flute at the time, and my Dad wanted to include his instrument. Since he saw Jethro Tull as being a little too intricate for my brother’s skill level, he found a pretty straightforward tune from a British Psychedelic Rock band from the ‘60s, The Moody Blues. Here was the lineup for our cover of “Nights in White Satin”:
Dad- bass/vocals- Overstated funk overtones, kept the rhythm strong.
Jason- rhythm guitar- 1 year of electric, but he still held those 5 chords down tight.
Noah- flute solo/accompaniment - Classically trained, he brought down the house with his psychedelic 16 measure solo.
Me-
Mom- tambourine/vocals-The June Carter to my Dad’s Johnny Cash.
Ariel- Maracas- she was 6 at the time, so we gave her a tie-die dress and she upped our “cute” factor by shaking those maracas with all of her heart.
Our version of “Nights in White Satin” was not “acid trippy” (like The Moody Blues intended their song to be), but it was definitely was melodic and entertaining enough to impressive a group of 200 Tai Chi students.
Will talk to you soon. happy birthday.
leif.
