Another fond tribute

1 Reply

Except this guy isn’t dead; he’s retiring (and I am envious).

Our good fiend and fellow RtB poster RD is retiring after almost 40 years as a full time pastor. His last sermon is this morning, and the Fink and the Thriller are going to be there.

RD and I have been friends since 1983, when Lars was the bun in the oven. We’ve shared many funny experiences over the years, but one that I like to retell involves him coming to the hospital to visit me after I had surgery, years ago. Before leaving my room, he wanted to pray for me, so we both closed our eyes. When he was done, he found that the Fink had fallen fast asleep. HA — how many times did I say, “It was the Demerol, I swear!”

:-)

He has a wonderful wife and family, and eleventy-six grandchildren, ranging from elementary school age to out of college and married. What a great fam. And what a great friend.

So, raise your coffee mug and give a shout to RD today. He’s earned that vacation home in Florida.

FO

Yay for Saturday

8 Replies

mugI’m back home and relaxing before the new madness begins. It’s a beautiful sunny morning here in north central Ohio…I should be getting work done, but the coffee’s good and the chair is comfy, so I’ll stay awhile.

So I never commented on the Cavs getting Shaquille O’Neal. HA. I’m sure Danny Ferry knows something I don’t. I hope it works. Thirty-seven years old, slow, bad legs, struggles with the pick-and-roll…don’t we have the younger version of that in Ilgauskas?? Just askin’. Still, even at 37, Shaq is amazing to watch. I just hope it translates to a championship for what is almost certain to be LeBron’s last year in Cleveland (although why he would want to leave the Cavs is a mystery…unless he will get mo money and mo red carpet somewhere else — I just wouldn’t know where he could be more adored and pampered…China, mebbe?).

OK, enough basketball. Silly sport anyhow.

Overshadowed by MJ’s death was the tragic passing of Farrah Fawcett. OK magazine has a nice collection of photos of her, and her ex, Lee Majors, called her “an angel forever.” Nice. There are those who might argue her “iconic” status. It was surely not on the same level as MJ, but I know I will remember her for three reasons:

  1. She brought the “pin-up girl” thing back with the red swimsuit poster.
  2. She single-handedly influenced a generation of layered haircuts for women.
  3. She broke the Marilyn mold of blond bombshells wanting but not getting serious movie roles; I remember being horrified and completely impressed by her performance in The Burning Bed.

So yeah. Props to Farrah today as well.

All right. Time for some Nebraska session prep. But more java first. It’s good to be home.

Finkly

Stunned

6 Replies

I still can’t believe it.

His influence on popular music is almost impossible to quantify. His contribution to the music video and studio effects genres is incalculable, as were his groundbreaking ideas about including choreography and backstory to videos and live performances.

He was the ultimate entertainer, but don’t forget “We Are the World.” How many charity events have taken place since then, pioneered (and often financed) by pop artists with a cause?

I still bawl watching that video (albeit for different reasons when I hear Springsteen’s unbearable bleating).

MJ was young: only a couple of months away from his 51st birthday. I guess it proves that when it’s your time, it’s your time. Doesn’t change the fact that his came way, way too soon, though.

Man….

FO

Image: Associated Press

Why didn’t I think of this?

2 Replies

These guys have got to come to my school.

InPulse are the artists-in-residence at the camp I’m doing this week. They have a great education outreach program. Matt told me that their tour schedule is basically upper midwest this year, so they might be able to fit in an appearance out in the boondocks of north central Ohio.

Must ask the powers that be about this. I think they would amaze everyone. (Elliot’s voice is so low, you can count the vibration cycles. Boy makes the floor hum.) Why didn’t I think of this before?

Back to rehearsal with me…

FO

Xenon II

9 Replies

Wednesday update:

The more time I spend with these people, the more I like them. Yesterday, we sat around for a few minutes and told something interesting about ourselves. They are interesting indeed: from Rachel, who owns a microscopic Yorkshire Terrier, to John, who is one of seven children, to Brooke, who spelunks in rural West Virginia — every one of them had something cool to say.

And everybody’s boppin’.

Fink out.