GOODBYE MAYNARD

I have never been one to be starstruck or in awe of folks who call themselves "celebrities." The only exception to this for me might be a man who not too many people outside jazz and big band circles would know. Maynard Ferguson has been a great musical favorite of mine since childhood. Having been a trumpet player through middle school and high school, Maynard Ferguson was the high school trumpeter's guru. He was a showman. He was is known as a high note trumpet player. This man could play so high in the stratosphere, it almost uncomprehensible.

Having come up through the late 1950s be-bop and jazz era, playing with such big band legends as Stan Kenton, Ferguson put his own big band together in the late 1960s. Since that time, with big (and small) bands under such names as "The Birdland Dream Band", "High Voltage", and "Big Bop Neveau", Maynard has played many venues from high schools to major jazz clubs. He produced many albums, many of which I own.

Maynard was one of my big "heroes" growing up. I attended several Maynard Ferguson concerts when he played locally, in the 1980s. I even got to shake his hand. I never will forget it. With some friends, I attended the Jazz Holiday in Clearwater, FL to see him in concert. He was the feature performer for the event that year. After just a blockbuster concert, we ended up "backstage" - which was behind an outdoor stage in a park. We went to his trailer, knocked on the door and his manager came out, and at first wanted to shoo us away, but Maynard stepped out and and signed autographs for us. I remember when he signed an autograph for me, I said to him "thank you very much" and his reply in a very jovial tone was a hearty "my pleasure!"

We lost Maynard Ferguson last week. He was 78 years old and had developed an internal infection that ended up shutting down his major organs. So it was on August 23rd, Maynard died in California with his family at his side. No, I'll never forget that big guy with the flowing blonde (and later gray) hair, screeching high notes on his trumpet, and entertaining us to no end. Many of the folks that worked with Maynard on the road, and such called him "the Boss". I think I'll just settle for calling him one of, if not THE best showman and instrumentalist that ever graced my presence in this life. Goodbye Maynard.

MY FAVORITE SEASON

It's been a few weeks, and I continue to struggle with not having an online computer at home. So, it's to the library (on the weekends, anyway).

Back to Work - Now, back to work, in full, at school I'm getting back into the routine of things. It seems like I've spent countless hours setting up my classroom and getting everything on the walls and such just like I want them. During this time we always go through the routine of the more mundane things like getting pictures taken for our ID badges, assigning lockers, doing morning duty - lunch duty - and after school duty and connecting computers. I guess the more interesting part of things is getting to know my new co-workers - those folks whose first year it is at Carwise. This is one of the more interesting things about the education "business" - it's not like anything else where you just go on and on and evolve - in education, we start over each school year. Everything seems new. I do like this aspect of it, though.

Fall - Well, Fall's not here yet, by any stretch - but the feeling is beginning to happen. It's not the feeling of the weather, it's rather, the feeling of the usual Fall events. The span of time from September until the end of December is my favorite time of the year. I always know it's on its way after I've watched the first Buccaneers preseason football game. I know it has arrived when I get home from my family reunion every Labor Day weekend.

PDL - Something my family calls "PDL" time is fast approaching. PDL stands for Ponce De Leon, which is a tiny town in the panhandle of Florida. US Highway 90 runs through the panhandle (as does Interstate 10 - but that's another story). Medium sized to small to tiny towns dot this roadway about every 10 miles or so, once you're west of Tallahassee. PDL is one of those towns. My father was born and raised there until he was about 10 years old. My late grandparents' family and numerous other relatives are from all around that area. For the last - at least 45 years (or maybe more) we have had a big family get together up there on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. With the exception of 1972, when our car broke down on the way up, and a couple of years in the mid 1980s - we have made this pilgrimage every year. It is one of the highlights of our year, as a family - and certainly a highlight of my year!