ericturnbow.com

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Calling all friends and jammers! We have scored the Showcase Jam Night at The Cedar Inn in Lacey and it will be on MONDAYS
From 7 to 11 pm.

# 9030 Martin Way
# Lacey, Washington, USA
# (360) 459-5509
# EVERY MONDAY from 7 to 11 pm. Hosted by “Galactic Nebula”….

Internet based Band “Galactic Nebula” will be hosting a jam session on Monday Nights @ The Cedar Inn in Lacey. This cool cyber band plays a lot of acoustic rock, folk rock, country, blues, and especially ORIGINAL music. The band members are Guitarist and Olympia Artist Eric Turnbow on various instruments and vocals, and local favorite Chuck West on guitar, harmonica, and vocals. We will open up the stage for musicians to come and sit in with us and jam to their hearts content showcasing their favorite music and originals. There is a lot of excitement about this new event at the Cedar! Please drop by and check it out EVERY MONDAY from 7pm to 11pm. Rock with us will you! Bring along your favorite ax! We will be waiting! Eric plays a Gibson Hummingbird Vintage Acoustic and several other instruments including a classic Fender 1970 black jazz bass, while Chuck likes his classic Bob Dylan style black telecaster and his acoustic as well.

The Famous Sign….

OK, here’s what you’re supposed to do. And please do not spoil the fun.
Hit forward, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you.
The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you.

Don’t forget to send it back to the person who sent it to you

So This One Is About Me…. Eric

Subject: 3 About Me (Eric Turnbow)

1. Three jobs I have had in my life:
Digital D.J and Karaoke Man, State Printer Bindery Dept. for 12 years, Rock and Roll Bass Player and Vocalist.

2. Three places I have lived:
Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater.

3. Three shows that I watch:
Leno, Letterman, 24.

4. Three places I have been:
London, Amsterdam, Paris.

5. Three people who e-mail me regular:
Vikki, Miriam, and T.Lee Holmes

6. Three of my favorite foods:
Salmon, Ceaser Salad, and Open Faced Hot Turkey sandwich with mashed potato’s and gravy! (Getting Hungry just thinking about it!)

7. Three places I’d rather be right now:
Wherever Miriam happens to be!, A Paul McCartney Concert, Graceland! (Plans on the way to visit!)

8. Three people that influenced my life:
Mrs. Larson (Music teacher that introduced me to, and Taught me guitar early on in 1972, Jean Turnbow (Mom), and Avaton Turnbow (Dad).

9. Three things I am looking forward to this year:
Playing music especially on my Gibson hummingbird acoustic, spending time with my girl, Enjoying my outdoor garden hideaway while I do the first two on my list there!

10. Three of my favorite things to do:
Sleeping in, Watching t.v. from my private bed while hanging with my 3 female cute and cuddly cats, smootching!

So This One Is About Vikki Turnbow…..

> Subject: 3 About Me (Vikki Turnbow) Eric’s Step Mom

> 1. Three jobs I have had in my life: Got all the birth
> and death
> certificates for the State of Washington, made cinnamon
> rolls for a restaurant, worked
> for Department of Tourism for Washington State
>
> 2. Three places I have lived: Shelton, WA; Olympia
> (that’s it.)
>
> 3. Three shows that I watch: News, Earl, Smallville
>
> 4. Three places I have been: London, New York City, Hawaii
>
>
> 5. Three people who e-mail me regular: Eric, Marilyn F,
> Terrie
>
> 6. Three of my favorite foods: chocolate, salmon, eggplant
>
> 7. Three places I’d rather be right now: I’m fine
> here, but would like to
> see Fiji, Australia & New Zealand
>
> 8. Three people that influenced my life: My Aunt, Avaton,
> Liz
>
> 9. Three things I am looking forward to this year:
> sunshine and warmth
> (finally), our new plants growing, fresh picked peas
>
> 10. Three of my favorite things to do: Sleeping in,
> helping people, watching nature!

Welcome to the next edition of “GETTING TO KNOW”
your friends!

> What you’re supposed to do is copy (not forward)
> this entire e-mail and
> paste it onto a new e-mail that you’ll send.
> Change all of the answers so that they apply to
> you. Then, send this to a
> whole bunch of people you know “INCLUDING” the
> person that sent it to you.
> The theory is that you’ll learn a lot of little
> known facts about your
> friends. It’s fun and easy. You might be surprised
> with some of the things you
> learn about people you think you know!

This is a segment on getting to know Eric Turnbow….

> 1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD
> IT BE?
Right here in Olympia Washington. I love
it here. Theres no place like home. Just ask Dorthy.

> 2. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?
My sailer cap given to me by an old flame. It is navy
blue with a metal ship pin on it. I like it because I
can throw it on when company comes over before I have
had my morning shower and it hides my hideous early
bird look. (Second choice would be my snake skin
cowboy boots probably).
>
> 3. WHAT’S THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT?
It was Alison Krause and Robert Plant “Raising Sand”
>
> 4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? Around
one or two pm. But I stay up until about 5 am every
night!

> 5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
Microwave for easy cooking.

> 6. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT
> BE?
Could, Would, and should play
fender bass guitar, Gibson
hummingbird acoustic guitar. piano, and harmonica. I
also think the human voice is an essential instrument
as well!>

> 7. FAVORITE COLOR? Blue

> 8. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV? Sports
car, but a van is more practicle.
>
> 9. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE? Of course.

> 10. FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOK? “Solomon Shag”

> 11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON? Summer, summer,
and summer!

> 12. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT
> BE? The power to heal the sick.

> 13. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT? Sorry. No
defacing of this body temple allowed!

> 14. CAN YOU JUGGLE? No
>
> 15. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD
> GO BACK AND TALK TO? Miss Nancy Genung from Reeves
Jr. High English teacher. I had a crush on her when I
was only in the 7th grade! I would love to see her
again.

> 16. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DAY? Sunday. I like to
relax and watch football and stuff.

> 17. WHAT’S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR/TRUCK? I have
no trunk in my Honda hatchback or Chevy van! Sorry.

> 18. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
Neither. Yuck to both. No beef ever, and certainly no
uncooked fish. Bake that puppy for a good 45 minutes
and then eat it. I have not had a burger or hot dog in
decades. I value my body too much!

> 19. WHO DID YOU RECEIVE THIS FROM? Lee and Lori
Phillips of Hawaii.

> 20. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? Cannabis sattiva
(hemp or pot)

> 21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL? salmon with tarter
sauce, red potatoes, and salad.

> 22. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? May 18th 1961

> 23. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Do not have one.

> 24. BEACH, CITY, MOUNTAINS OR COUNTRY? Country

> 25. SOUP OR SALAD? Salad, but I do enjoy soup as
well.

> 26. COMPUTER OR CELL PHONE? Computer, but I do own
a cell phone which is vital to my business.

> 27. POP CORN OR PEANUTS? Peanuts.
>
> 28. WINE, BEER OR WHISKEY? Tequila (Quervo Gold)
and Tequila Rose!
>
> 29. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN THEATER?
> A terrible movie we caught at Ocean Shores “Don’t Mess With The Zohan”
Starring Adam Sandler. This is a bad stink bomb! Before that I
saw the newest “Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal
Skull” and I saw it twice! Much better than the Zohan! (Not too hard)

> 30. LAST RESTAURANT IN WHICH YOU ATE? Dugan’s Pizza
at Ocean Shores in June of 2008…..
But I am a big fan of the Rib Eye. (In Olympia)
>
> 31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? I like The
Simpson’s, The apprentice, 20/20, Big Brother, and
classic MASH and Star Trek.

> 32. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE. STAR WARS entire series! Episode
4 (A New Hope) and 5 (Empire Strikes back) are probably the best though.
So classic!

> 33. WHAT DID YOU EAT FOR BREAKFAST? Coffee, corn
flakes,and peanut butter toast just this morning.
>
> 34. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Music
>
> 35. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC OF YOURS DO YOU MOST
> DESPISE? My inability to listen. I am working on it
though!

> 36. IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY, WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT
> ON? A dream house or mansion on a lake, plus shrewd
investments in stocks, real estate, and cd’s.

> 37. FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WILL EMAIL THIS TO, WHO’S
> MOST LIKELY TO
> RESPOND FIRST? Probably no one is crazy enough to.

> 38. WHO’S THE LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Paul
McCartney

> 39. WHERE WILL YOU RETIRE? Right here in the good
old USA, Olympia Washington.

40. What bands do you like? The Beatles, Bob
Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, and Tom
Petty among others.

41. What is your profession? I am an all pro
musician, and Karaoke/Disc Jockey. I am in the
Entertainment field doing a lot of private parties,
weddings, dances, and such. Plus a few clubs for the
bread and butter. Catch me at The Viking Lounge in
Lacey Washington. 7 days a week!

42. Who Is Your Favorite Person This Season?
That would be Miss Miriam Dobbs. She is really, really, cool.
I dig her a lot!

E.T. (Eric Turnbow)
E.T.’s Cosmic Karaoke & DJ.
UBI ID NUMBER: 602 197 334
Registered for business in Washington State!
United States Of America,
Milky Way Galaxy,
Planet Earth.

Bookings: 360-943-7039
Cell Phone: same number, or try 360 870 0723
web site: http://cosmickaraoke.com
etcosmic2000@ yahoo.com
Eric Turnbow

Article About The Viking Lounge As Printed On June 2006
By Frank Davies
Reprinted By Permission From The Northwest Karaoke Guide

The Viking Lounge (6318 Martin Way in Lacey) has been around for more than
half a century, yet the interior decor looks like it was furnished just
yesterday and features modern electronic games such as the popular “Buck
Hunter” as well as pool and darts. (The Viking also sponsors several Dart
teams.) Owned by Keith (who used to be the evening bar manager) and his
wife Staci for the last four years, they are helped by an excellent bar
staff who run a tight (Viking) ship serving mixed drinks and a dozen
domestic and micro-brews on tap from 8am to 2pm. It’s a real neighborhood
nightclub filled with working class folks of all ages relaxing and having
fun in the three sections of the lounge. Karaoke is provided by Cosmic
Karaoke and DJ of Olympia (cosmickaraoke.com) with a selection 12,000
songs expertly mixed through a Mackie board by Eric or his crew 7 nights a
week including holidays. Keith notes that the working class have been
singing in bars for hundreds of years, and at the Viking the singer is the
star. The rotation is always fair with new singers added to the bottom of
a list kept on a dry erase board. The regulars all join in when anyone
sings their house songs; “Sweet Caroline”, “Margaritaville” or “Family
Tradition” and they love to dance to the love songs couples often sing to
one another. The KJ’s play DVD’s for break music and are considerate of
the dancers as they play the songs all the way through. Top of the line
Sure wireless microphones and Yamaha speakers and monitors aid the singers
in hearing themselves and add a professional touch. The menu included a
wide variety of taste treats to suit any taste. There are drink and food
specials every day and I was told by one patron that their steaks were
excellent although I personally enjoyed their generously portioned fish
and chips with my free coffee.

I have reprinted the review of Farm Aid 18 live
from Auburn! My step mom Vikki Turnbow, has put
together a concert journal about the Farm Aid Concert
in Auburn Washington on Saturday, September 18, 2004.
We had a great time! They Rocked Our Socks Off!
Great music, fantastic venue, Good cause, and……
PLENTY OF EVERYTHING!

E.T.

________________________________

FARM AID 18 JOURNAL by Vikki Turnbow

I’m so lucky. Eric not only enjoys going to concerts at least as much as I do, but he also doesn’t mind driving! FAD stands for Farm Aid Diary and I’m writing to share it with you and to remember it by later Farm Aid 2004 was held Saturday, Sept. 18 at White River Amphitheater.
Eric picked me up around noon and we tore up the freeway at the new breakneck average speed of 35 MPH for most of the drive up I-5 and a good portion of 512, arriving around 1:40. I jammed all my unauthorized outside food into every pocket, Eric noted he should have brought a hat and worn double jeans (as I had as we stood in the longest line I’ve ever seen there in the drizzle, herded by horse crowd control people with southern drawls for 45 minutes until we reached the door just in time to hear the last song by the cows-with-guns guy.(cowswithguns.com.)
We got Eric his gyro and our coffees and found our seats as Native American dancers and blessing ceremonies were beginning at 3. Steve, another concert guy who works at the counter line at the post office and is a friend, had 2nd row seats. I could see him and his son in place already when Willie Nelson came out and welcomed everyone. More dancing, including the hoop dance I recognized from somewhere…
Our seat neighbors to our left arrived. They’d also seen Neil Young and Lucinda Williams last time around and he told me Dave Matthews’ wife is a nursing student in Seattle and that’s why he’s living in the area. We’d already heard he had suggested doing Farm Aid out here this year.The first act was Kate Voegele, an acoustic duo and excellent–as was every act, so I won’t repeat that each time.
Grandson Jess arrived at 3:25 and joined us up in row 17 of section 210 (the best seats available one hour into PRE-sale ticket availability that I had access to a day before general sales began(!) No wonder so many people had to sit in the rain on the grass! At least our seats were under cover and the sound was perfect! We got a chance to visit with Jess and catch up on his new Seattle life, in between acts.
Kitty Jerry from Memphis who called her music country soul, as she’s black and very country had a full band and Eric said the guest harmonica guy was Mickey Rafael. We were to see him sit in with many of the acts–class act.
Blue Merl, with a stand up bass, violin and mandolin were up next, then Tegan and Sara, two waiflike dark-haired pixie girls with voices to match, then Trick Pony was joined by Willie for “Whiskey River”. They were southern rock & did about 4 more tunes. I liked them quite a bit.
The set changes went very fast; each band was set up on a rolling platform, so each performed for about 20-25 minutes, then the set change took 5-10, so things moved along at a steady clip, not dragging, but giving a little chance to chat in between–
Tony Goeman, a black singing drummer is a man after my own heart. He did the blues and had a hammond B3 with a leslie speaker in his band. (Eric recognized his sax player as one from the original Blues Brothers.) He had Willie come out and play some blues on his incredibly beat up looking but great sounding guitar.
Lucinda Williams came on at 5:40 and Steve Earl joined her for “Concrete and Barb’d Wire”, I’d never heard him before, but liked what I heard. He writes controversial songs and did Copperhead Road, Devil’s Right Hand (gun control) and a song about the poor sons fight the wars.. not a lot of talk on topics up to this point from the early acts.
Jerry Lee Lewis was helped on stage and then put out the most energy so far in the show when he did “Roll Over Beethoven” and Hank Williams song, “Whole Lotta’ Shakin’ Going On, and closed with “Great Balls of Fire”. He looked older than dirt but had great energy and brought the intensity level up a couple of notches.
By now it was dark and I’d just about finished all my goodies. Eric had popped for a pizza and I think Jess had purchased something. I felt smug because I only bought 2 cups of coffee as I’d brought my own water too, and I’d see folks coming back to their seats with food several times, and I hadn’t needed to stand in the very long lines (20 minutes for an espresso– I don’t think so! Neither did Eric, so we didn’t have any)
At 7:30 Dave Matthews was introduced by John Mellencamp. Dave talked sort of loopy between songs but had us mesmerized by his performance. I’d been wishing he’d have his whole band, but he was riveting solo and the sound was so clear– very intense.He talked about a movie he’s in & wrote a song for that I now want to see.
John Mellencamp and small band came on at 8:24 and their set included Paper and Fire -one of my favorites. I especially enjoyed his hot fiddler lady and the little accordion on that song. Most everyone stood up for his closing “Little Pink Houses”
Neil Young took the stage at 9:10 with a Willie Nelson introduction– he did the most talking about biodiesel and buying organic in between a great group of songs: Harvest Moon, Pocahontas, one about winter rain in Canada, Cowgirl in the Sand, Old Man by the side of the Road (at this point, the big screen focussed in on Steve as he sat mesmerized and that image was broadcast not only all through the arena, but over the internet, so I now call him Famous Farm Aid Face guy). When Neil began Pocahontas, Eric dialed Avaton for me and I held it up so Avaton could hear it. I told him I figured we’d be leaving around 10:30. I guessed wrong– way wrong!

After It’s Over, Neil had his wife come out to sing harmonies for Human Highway and King (his dog song) and 4 Strong Winds. He finished just after 10 and Willie Nelson’s video lead in clip came on at 10:20. Then Dave Matthews and Neil Young came on stage, both carrying a beer bottle, and Dave gave a rambling intro so long that I began to wonder if it would ever end (sort of like this report), then Willie and the biggest band of the night did Promised Land, Whiskey River, Still Still Moving to Me, whiskey for my men and beer for the horses, Poncho’s Legend, Time Slips Away (with Carla–cute young blond), Night Life. Then his sister played Down Yonder on the piano, and a song about his drummer Paul and his adventures on the road. . His son Paul had been on stage with him, but Willie now introduced him and he did an excellent version of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Texas Flood”, then Willie was back up front for “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and one about an angel flying too close to the ground. So when he did “On the Road Again”, I figured it was the perfect end to a perfect day. I thought wrong– there was more! He did “You Were Always on my Mind”, then at 11:15 brought out Jack and Jerry Calhoun. I suspect if you knew country western music in the 1950’s that would be big news. They did a couple including “I’m Glad I’m an Okie from Muskogee” I believe it was about here that Jess bowed out, getting a head start on the notorious post-concert traffic jams. Eric and I hung in there for the last new face on stage, Danny Goodfeller, who was supposed to be a fiddler, but had this stick with pots and pans nailed on it that he jammed onto the stage and bounced and gyrated to “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” as the other performers filtered on stage. We were leaving the grounds at the group all sang Amazing Grace, then headed for “the” tree in the parking lot, arriving there to find there were two trees and we’d spotted the wrong one. We scampered across to “our” tree and I was able to call Avaton at the beginning of the actual driveway out that we were headed home at 11:44. Eric got me home at 1– and we were both pretty shot all day Sunday. That was a close to a rock festival as I’ve been in decades. Bye!

L&L,
Vikki

Auburn will host Farm Aid concert

By Paul de Barros

Seattle Times staff reporter
Farm Aid tickets

Tickets for Farm Aid 2004 go on sale at noon Saturday at all Ticketmaster outlets (206-628-0888). Tickets will also be available at www.whiteriverconcerts.com. Prices are $30 for lawn seating and $50-$95 inside the amphitheater. Advance tickets will be available starting at 11 a.m. today to members of Farm Yard; go to www.farmaid.org for information.

Bringing its music west of the Rockies for the first time in its 19-year history, the Farm Aid organization will hold its annual benefit concert in the Seattle area next month.

Farm Aid 2004, a concert benefit for small farmers, will feature Farm Aid co-founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, board member Dave Matthews and other performers yet to be announced. It will be Sept. 18 at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn.

“The farthest west we’ve ever been is Nebraska,” said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. “We have a chance to reach a whole new audience and whole new group of people. You guys have a unique situation because people in Seattle are aware of fresh foods and farmers markets. Your state is a perfect example of what a family-farm system of agriculture can be.”

Nelson, Young and Mellencamp started Farm Aid in 1985, in response to the high numbers of small farmers who were losing their land because of debt. The first concert took place in Champaign, Ill. Since then, the organization has raised $26 million to promote the preservation of family farms and locally controlled, sustainable agriculture.

The group provides grants to farm organizations, churches and service agencies. It makes grants in several categories, including emergency needs, hotlines, nonprofit legal assistance, education and organizational development.

In 2003, Farm Aid made grants totaling $250,000 to 42 family-farm groups in 26 states. A recent $3,500 award went to the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network, an advocacy organization seeking to challenge the corporate concentration of agriculture and the introduction of genetically engineered wheat.

Over the years, Farm Aid has evolved from an emergency organization for individual farmers to one that deals with broader issues.

“It’s the exact same issue, but through a different lens,” said Mugar. “It’s about preventing the small farm from going to the auction block. And that means keeping fresh food available locally.”

At the White River benefit, Farm Aid will launch its new guide, “10 Ways to Ensure Healthy Food for You and Your Family.”

There also will be an organic-food sampling area, a Farm Aid booth and a voter-registration booth on the grounds.

Farm Aid and local family-farm organizations also will host a series of events at Pike Place Market during the 10 days leading up to the concert.

“There are 2 million farmers in this country, and we are losing about 350 family farmers per week,” said Farm Aid Campaign Director Mark Smith. “Our take on that is that with the loss of every family farmer comes diminished access to local fresh food. It also means we are more dependent on corporate farming and food overseas. Our food imports are rising.”

Last September’s Farm Aid concert in Columbus, Ohio, featured Nelson, Young, Mellencamp and Matthews, as well as Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Brooks and Dunn and others.

God’s Epistle to Ms. Janzen PDF

Recorded Live @ The Viking New Years 2008…..Available NOW!

This is a rare audio recording of a cool New Years Eve Karaoke Show from "The Viking" 01/01/08. Available now for only $10, plus shipping. Contact E.T. to order yours today! Available @ The Viking Lounge In Lacey.
Or Call (360) 943-7039
By email: etcosmic2000@yahoo.com

Below is the text of the letter that Katherine Turnbow Peil wrote about Aunt Virginia that Marilyn Turnbow read at the memorial service. We all loved our Aunt Virginia very much. Katherine was able to write a touching piece that captured Virginia’s spirit. We have reproduced it for you right here @ ericturbow.com. Long live the spirit of Aunt Virginia DeMaris. She was a kind soul, and a very proud and worthy sister to out father, Mr. Avaton Turnbow. She will be missed.

E.T.

Aunt Virginia’s memorial Program

—-

Dear friends and family,

I deeply regret that I cannot be there, in the flesh, to honor the life of this great lady.

If I had some magic pixie dust to eliminate the 3000 miles and 300 academic commitments, I would be standing before you with a slide show of at least 3000 photos taken of or inspired by the lovely spirit Virginia Demaris. Instead, I am challenged offer to my respects in 500 words or less.

On the other hand, I doubt that there is any way I could truly demonstrate in words or actions the quantity and quality of love that I will forever feel for this woman, for ours was a relationship that evolved over the course of 50 years.

She was my Aunt Virginia, and from my earliest memories stood as a beacon of matriarchal wisdom, generational family solidarity, and spiritual integrity.

In the early days, she helped tame the tree-climbing tomboy in me with cookie-baking sessions, delicate lacy garments, and the secrets of social grace. In those days, I held her in awe, as the world she represented was so far afield from my free and blissful Utopian and Bohemian existence out on the Fish Trap. Yet she managed her many challenges and responsibilities with a quiet strength and dignity, and these were qualities that earned my utmost respect and became standards for my own evolving identity. Still, at times I worried that her polite reserve might mean that she was not as happy as she deserved to be. So in moments when that familiar wicked twinkle would begin to shine in her eyes and she would burst forth with some outrageously humorous comment, I found reassurance that all was right in the universe.

Then later, as my life unfolded, I would discover many more facets of my lovely Aunt Virginia. For example, in my twenties we ended up working together at the Washington State Department of Transportation. By then I was a mother myself, providing the lion’s share of economic support for my young family and experiencing the full-on disenchantment of real world life challenges, limitations and injustices. It began to dawn on me that this amazing woman had also been working full time, in various professional capacities throughout my childhood, and yet still managed to produce all those fabulous goodies, throw her amazing parties, host out-of-town relatives, enjoy a wide social circle, volunteer for her church, stump for her political party AND find time to take me to Lake Fair every year. My respect and admiration grew all the more, and while she had set the bar quite high, I aspired to live up to my genetic legacy. So when I would find myself sniveling about this or that, I would simply think of my Aunt Virginia and tap the reservoir of her strength, character, and faith.

But perhaps the best part of our relationship began about 15 years ago, when I moved back to Olympia for a 4-year period following some devastating personal and family misfortunes. Around that time she had not only lost her husband (my dear Uncle Carl), but had also been confronted with some life threatening health issues, most specifically congestive heart failure. In fact, she was reliant upon oxygen for quite some time, and I worried – most selfishly – about losing her. But she had come face to face with death, not only exhibiting her customary level of courage and faith, but the encounter also brought about a sort of spiritual transformation. I can only describe this as an emotional liberation of sorts, one that somehow brought us onto the same page.

What I mean by that is that is up until then, we had been coming at spirituality from different directions. As a result, there had been a reserve between us, most likely based upon my recalcitrant pattern of following my heart whenever I felt that social convention was unduly burdensome to the trajectory of my soul. But something about our particular life challenges at that time brought us into a level of resonance, mutual respect, and unconditional love that would continue to increase right up until our last visit at Panorama City.

When I reflect on that transformation now, I think that she fully embraced the goodness of human autonomy as I fully embraced the goodness of human interdependence, the free spirited libertine within me becoming one with the group soul of humanity that she had always embodied. But whatever the case may be, the alchemy and timing was just right, for from that point on we enjoyed each other on a whole new level. While I had finally come to appreciate her sense of duty and social conscience, she had stared death in the face and in true Christian faith saw only love. Carrying that love within her, she then let her hair down a bit. I saw that wicked twinkle far more often and it was almost as if she had finally embraced the skin-kneed tom-boy in me and we were fully alive atop my favorite tree laughing in the wind.

With apologies for blowing my 500 word limit, I must share one particular moment that stands out in time, back in the year 2000, I think. It was a particularly sunny day and my plans had shifted such that I had nearly the whole day to myself. On a whim, I decided that if she was up to it, I’d spring my Aunt Virginia from Panorama and we’d run off to Westport for the day. Westport had always been a sacred space for us, as our families had met there for annual camping trips beginning when I was around 4 or 5 years old. The ocean had always seemed to bring out the free spirited libertine in both of us. Feeling completely safe, at home, and in unison with God As Nature, we’d both slip into that familiar state of divine quietude against the rhythmic sound of the pounding surf, offering ourselves up to the cleansing and revitalization delivered by the powerful ocean winds. Then we would begin performing the ritual of roaming the shore in search of natural treasures, sharing our discoveries with childlike delight and challenging one another to find things evermore beautiful than the last. Although my lovely Aunt was coming to the end of her time in the mortal coil, her attention less focused, her words less fluid, and her limbs less strong and sturdy, she came alive that day. We slipped right into our zone of quietude and spent several splendid sun-drenched hours simply rolling with the wind and collecting agates in the surf. The turgid breezes kept the heat at bay, and seemed to offer extra doses of vitality as she surprised me with stamina comparable to my own. To my utter delight, her competitive spirit was kindled as well and she put me to shame — yet again — with her masterful agate-hunting skills, all the while insisting in her customary generosity that I take home the spoils.

But perhaps my favorite moment, was a comment she made as we neared the end of our trek. We were on our way back to my car, strolling arm in arm, and at times shoulder to shoulder trudging together up through the sand dunes and crab grass. It was actually quite a ways, slow-going and difficult. We were both tired after a day of full exuberance and she was, after all, now quite delicate. But we both still basked in the bliss of the day. The sun was sinking behind us casting those long, lovely afternoon shadows that often marked the end of the most savory summer adventures. Up until that moment we had been reverently silent, simply being with one another, and enjoying the mutual support – hers in the quiet trust of my steady hand and physical balance, and mine deriving from the entire legacy of this dear woman now fully living within me.

And then, as the car came within view and the real world beckoned, there must have been a wicked gleam in her eye that I missed due to my intense focus upon navigating the safest path for my precious cargo. For at that moment, she pointed down to our long limbed afternoon shadows that sprawled before us shoulder to shoulder, shadows that were topped by two wildly wind-whipped heads looking something like a pair of gigantic dandelions having gone to seed, and she quipped “Lovely hairdo my dear!” sending us both into peals of laughter.

Well, I suppose you had be there to fully enjoy that special moment, but I’m certainly glad I was. And as it turned out, that would be her last visit to the ocean while in the mortal coil.

Now that she is gone, I hope her spirit can soar wherever it may be. I do know, however, that I carry part of it within me, as I would not be the person I am today without having known the truly lovely and amazing Virginia Demaris. And as part of her legacy, I aspire to embody the transformation and unconditional love we shared, to approach each relationship and live each day as if it might be my last – with all the spiritual spontaneity, honor, and integrity that that implies.

Thank you for listening.

Katherine Turnbow Peil

Aunt Virginia’s memorial Program

Somebody else’s song

by Frank Rabey in Vol. 10 / Iss. 18 on 12/03/2003

One bygone night in a Key West bar, after exactly the right number of gin-and-tonics to polish shame into confidence, I took to the stage. And beneath the not-all-that-bright lights, and guided by the little bouncing ball on a TV on a nearby wall, I sort of held the assembled several, bathed then in the besotted glow of a star being born right in front of them, as I sang the lines to the full version of Don McLean’s “American Pie.”

My wife and a colleague from the Key West paper were there for the entire eight-and-a-half minutes of it; they hid in a dark corner.

I tell you this because I have been among the fallen. I understand.

My name is Frank, and I have done karaoke.
First Arden, then … the world!

Karaoke is, of course, the singing of lyrics to instrumental versions of songs, typically in conjunction with a TV-style prompter displaying the words. Sometimes, there’s a cute “bouncing ball” above what you should be singing; sometimes, the lyrics change colors to cue you.

And let it be said that in the great karaoke scheme of things, I don’t even rate — and nowhere is that made more clear than at ET’s Bar & Grill on the south end of Arden. There, even bartender Debbie Gillon routinely takes the mic, in between slinging Buds and frying up breaded-shrimp baskets; she never even leaves her station.

At ET’s, karaoke is no mere diversion. It’s the law.

Which explains, in part, how the unassuming Arden nightspot has jumped to the forefront of East Coast efforts to send a pair of American karaoke-ists into international battle this summer.

ET’s is an official venue for several Karaoke World Championship U.S.A. competitions (local, state and regional).

“I wanted to have a contest [here],” said Ed Thurmond, who co-owns ET’s with his wife, Trit. “But I didn’t want to have a fly-by-night thing like some places do.”

Not long after buying the karaoke-crazed club earlier this year, the Thurmonds asked local karaoke pro James Hutcherson to help them frame a contest. Hutcherson’s online research led him to the brand-new KWCUSA — the brainchild of co-organizers Frank Davies and Eric Turnbow. The national organization was seeking clubs to sponsor sanctioned competitions.

Since Oct. 4, Hutcherson has hosted five KWCUSA karaoke contests at ET’s open to any bar crooner with diminished inhibitions and $25. Judges, recruited from the local music-and-arts community, follow KWCUSA-set criteria on singers’ rhythm, pitch, phrasing, presence and “entertainment value.”

ET’s four preliminary bouts yielded a total of 22 winners (12 male, 10 female), who then went song-to-song against each other in the local semifinals on Nov. 29.

Semifinalist Cindy Shields came to ET’s all the way from Middletown, Del., after she couldn’t find a closer venue listed on the KWCUSA Web site. The nine-hour drive didn’t phase her. “I love to sing,” she explained.

The semis winnowed the pool of karaoke contenders down to six women (Shields; Shawn Bushovisky, from Flat Rock; Rhonda Hill, Arden; Gena McIntyre, Hendersonville; Jamie Price, Fletcher; and Ginger Scott, Canton) and six men (Bill Hull, from King, near Winston-Salem; Jim Forbes, Hendersonville; Tom Glenn, Morristown, Tenn.; Carl Leach, Arden; Tal Michaels, Fairview; and Mike Mosier, Hendersonville).

ET’s will host three more KWCUSA karaoke competitions on the road to the national championships:

1. The local finals, to be held this Saturday, Dec. 6, producing three male and three female winners. WNC businesses have contributed prizes, the biggie being studio time at Whitewater Recording.

2. The state finals on March 6, yielding three male and three female contenders. This competition will pit ET’s winners against those from BG McGee’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Greensboro, the only two North Carolina venues to sign up as KWCUSA-competition hosts.

3. The Region 8 finals on April 3. The KWCUSA recognizes 10 regions; ours also includes Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Washington, D.C. So far, Kentucky is the only other participating state in Region 8.

The three winning male and female sing-alongers from the regionals move on to the national finals on May 27, tentatively booked at Nickleby’s Restaurant & Lounge in Tumwater, Wash. (KWCUSA organizers are still seeking a venue in their first-choice city — where else? — Las Vegas).

And from the KWCUSA national finals, the ultimate goal: the Karaoke World Championships on July 28-31 in Heinola, Finland. (The bulk of ET’s $25 entry fee goes to KWCUSA, to help pay to get the U.S. winners there.)
Wait … I must have read something wrong

No, you didn’t: Finland. The same snowy land of midnight sun and existential blight that’s also now home to “world championships” in sauna endurance, mobile-phone throwing and wife carrying.

The inaugural Karaoke World Championships, held only last year in Heinola, hosted more than 70 competitors and a crowd of about 500, according to a Reuters News Agency story on the event.

Both the top male and female winners were Brits. The biggest cheers, however, reportedly went to a Polish guy who attempted to strip while on stage, and then started climbing on support beams like some karaoke Bono.

Seven countries in all took part. But not the United States — this will be our first year. And not Japan — which declined outright, citing the Fins’ lack of a true karaoke history, the Nordic poseurs.

The KWCUSA Web site suggests that 16 countries will be represented at the 2004 event, including South Africa. And Latvia.

You can’t make this stuff up.