A Few of My Favorite Things 12-25-24

I enjoy am enjoying 60 years of marriage to my wife Marlene. We share an addiction to humor and accomplishment. Our skills, priorities and interests are compatible and complimentary. We have always worked as a team doing our own home projects and maintenance. My second job as a musician allowed Marlene to be a full-time house-mom to our 6 kids. Marlene had been a Certified Dental Assistant and was interested in completing her degree to become a Dental Hygienist. She graduated at age 42 and worked as a Dental Hygienist to age 74. We enjoy watching the old movies on TV we never took time to see when they were playing at movie theaters. I remember the names of the actors, because I took “What’s his name’s” Memory course and Marlene didn’t. Marlene has a higher need for social contact and gets “cabin fever” and I don’t, so she does the shopping and I do the kitchen help. 

I enjoy listening to CDs of the Jazz Trio I played in from 1971 to 1975. I took these from live recordings of band jobs we played in St. Louis. This was a Piano, Bass and Drum Trio. I played bass guitar and was a singer. In 1973, we added 2 girl singers to form a 5-part Jazz Vocal Group. We played in 200 seat venues every Friday and Saturday night. We all liked the “day jobs” we selected for our careers, but could have easily worked as full-time musicians. We were booked to work at Schneithorsts Hofamberg Inn on Lindbergh and Arthurs Hotel on Grand Avenue. Our fan club included the staffs of our TV and Radio stations and the St. Louis Symphany would file in to Arthurs after their performances. I am grateful to have an 18-year career as a musician from age 14 to age 32. I progressed from Rock to Blues to Jazz.  Playing music served as a means to pay for my college expenses and as a ballast to allow me to stabilize my work and home life. It was my primary recreation and it paid well. I continue to be amazed at how good we were as a Trio and Vocal Group. Our Leader was our Piano Player Gale Bell.

I enjoy seeing our 6 kids, 13 grandkids and 6 great grandkids. They are each as unique as their DNA and are learning to become themselves. I encourage them to discover God’s Plan for them, because it’s why they are here. If they discover it and follow it, they will be happy and successful.

I am grateful to be able to share my experiences on this Blog. I chose to research economics and history to identify the critical events that occurred over the decades. I have identified the reasons for our current economic conditions and warnings of declines that appear in history. My goal is to make dead brain tissue live again. I feel like Dr Frankenstein working in my basement laboratory. I arise early and declare: “It’s Alive”.

      Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader