The trick this month was finding a place that would put up with us. No room at the inn, the library, or the pubs we’ve used in the past. As of Sunday December 1st, we still did not have a room, no crib for a bed, no baby to stick in it (yet), anyway. More on the babies later.
Rich and Steve finally scored us a place at The Derby Club, Cheyenne’s newest gambling/family entertainment center/bowling alley. Quite a place! We had a nice, spacious, quiet room. That is, until the ten pin lanes on the other side of the wall got some customers; then we had a sporatic rhythm section to accompany our selections.
Matt started us off with the story from World War I, where the combatants put down their weapons, left their trenches, and met in No Man’s Land in fellowship. While a heart warming story, it was still a sad song. We were counting on Gabe to put the ‘party’ back into The Party Room, which has been his M.O. thus far. What does he play? Neil young’s ‘Needle and the Damage Done’. So Nancy put on her sparkly antlers and along with yours truly broke out ‘Rudolph thr Red Nosed Reindeer’, and got the party started.
Sluaiman and Jill Zai came up from Parker. Jill’s wrist had healed up enough that she could play a little. They couldn’t stick around too long though, as there were some grandbabies scheduled to arrive at any moment. Theo Keith and Max Alexander Zai showed up on December 10th, bringing the Zai grandbaby troops up to seven! Jill described them simply as “Both are chunky”.
The last time Martin Gilmore was up visiting his folks, he left his 1938 D-14 behind for his dad to noodle on. As one of our traditional Christmas offerings, Steve plays Martin’s ‘Hallelujah, Hear the Angels Sing’ for us. Hence giving the golden opportunity for the caption for the above picture… Thank you Martin, Martin’s Martin, and Steve for that.
Our guest list this month: Maria Means! Also, thanks to Rich and Nancy for pictures this month, Rich for the tasty cookies, and the extra effort put in for securing us a place to play. Happy Holidays to you and yours, and we hope to see you all next year!
Playlist for December 2024
Matt Potter, ‘Christmas in the Trenches’, John McCutcheon.
Sulaiman & Jill Zai, ‘ Around 1560’, Sulaiman original.
Gabriel Floud, ‘Needle and the Damage Done’, Neil Young.
Nancy McKenzie & Keith Blaney, ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’, Johnny Marks.
Russ Williams, ‘Christmas Valentine’, Jason Mraz.
Ken Frederick, ‘Holiday #7’, original.
Rich Ryan, ‘O Holy Night’, traditional.
Group effort, ‘Snarfin’ the Cookies’, thanks Rich!
Matt, ‘Stille Nacht’, traditional German tune.
Sulaiman, ‘Scarlatti Sonata in E minor’, original.
Gabriel, ‘Southern Man’, Neil Young.
Steve, ‘Hallelujah, Hear the Angels Sing’, Martin Gilmore.
Keith & Nancy, ‘Holly, Jolly Christmas’, Johnny Marks.
Russ, ‘Let it Snow’, Julius Styme. Could be Tubs Stymie. (Doctor’s handwriting)
Ken, ‘After The Gold Rush’, Neil Young.
Rich, ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch’, Dr. Seuss and Albert Hogue.
Matt, ‘Sioux City Sue’, Gene Autry.
Sulaiman, ‘Pavanas’, Gaspar Sauz.
Gabriel, ‘Wagon Wheel’, Darius Rucker.
Steve, ‘We’re Going Down With the Ship’, Todd Rundgren.
Keith, ‘Merry Christmas From the Family’, Robert Earl Keene.
Russ, ‘Etude II from Musigue De Salon’, Ricardo Iznaola.
Rich, ‘My Father’s Eyes’, Eric Clapton.
Matt, ‘John Henry’, traditional.
Sulaiman, ‘What Child is This’, traditional, Sulaiman’s arrangement.
Gabriel, ‘Malaguena’, Francisco Tarrega.
Steve, ‘Zen Gospel Singing’, Mark Graham.
Nancy & Keith, ‘Christmas Hornpipe’, traditional Irish tune.