Identified Object

Story by Norm Richards

As I passed through a drug store, I ran into a fellow in uniform. I thought I knew him. His eyes and smile gave him away, I told him. "Aren't you a singer?" I asked while being cautious in case I'm wrong. His face lit up. "You sang for the UFO back in the sixties?" I said. He went on to acknowledge it and spoke of his follow-on group. I was as much surprised by his reaction to me as anything. He was amazed I remembered.

I witnessed his show with the use of a strobe light and the rock medley his group did. I told him it made such an impact on me, I got our group to adopt the strobe effect for our dances. He told me they were the first to ever use a strobe light effect on CKY-TV's teen dance show. He commented on my memory saying, "You know, it's women who remember what happened to them at four years of age, now you come along." It's about 43 years since his band passed through town so I suppose remembering that far back can be surprising. His band was remarkable and the players were all talented. They performed in our favourite hall to play in. That made a difference on how well they sounded. We exchanged contact information and he gave me two passes to his favourite bar where we might meet again and talk about the good old days of rock. His name is Wayne Forbister.

http://www.manitobamusicmuseum.com/theufo.htm

A Thousand Hello's

By Norm Richards


I attended a remarkable event last evening. The Winnipeg launch of A Thousand Farewells by Nahlah Ayed. Just in case you don't know who she is, I'll tell you. I'm a sucker for a pretty woman. I've always been. But I'm even more smitten by a pretty woman with brains. Somewhere during the wars of the middle east and subsequent stories, I watched on CBC Television's The National with Peter Mansbridge, I noticed a young reporter bringing assertive reports to us from the middle east. She spoke very good English and yet she had an Arabic name. The language dichotomy caught my attention. I watched her reports. She seemed informed. She had the inside story and gave solid reports. I was impressed every time I saw her report. I'm not sure when I learned she came from Winnipeg. I never went out of my way to find out but in a way it made sense.

Winnipeg is a city of many languages and cultures, afterall, we celebrate it each summer with Folkarama. I enjoyed Nahlah's reports. I thought if she spoke their language, it gave CBC crediblity for choicing her as a reporter. It gave her a great chance to not only prove she could do the job but to excell at it was great praise to her. I thought to myself, I'd like to know her. I thought I would like to meet her. Well, last night I got to meet her for the first time. I wasn't surprised by the huge reception she received in launching her new book at McNally Robinson Booksellers, Grant Park.

The respect I had for her television work was noticed by many others judging by the big turnout this night. They came and purchased her book and had her sign it. I stood in line for the signing. That's something I'd never done before. I buy a lot of book but usually do it in my own time. She was warm and attentive to those who reached her signing table. It was hot and the line was long. The sun shining through the west atrium made things even hotter.

Nevertheless, Nahlah's parents stood at her side. I got to greet them and shake their hand. I told Nahlah my book was being sold in this store as well. I wasn't as fortunate to have my parents accompany my book signing. They had passed on before my book was released. Nahlah was moved I said that. Earlier, Wayne R. Warren noticed me in line at the same time I noticed him. We both contribute stories at North Roots Magazine. He said he'd be pleased to snap a picture on my behalf when I got to meet Ms. Ayed. I asked Nahlah if she wouldn't mind posing for a photo. She accepted and Wayne was good at making us both smile. Here is the result. I loved meeting Nahlah Ayed. It was a magic moment. I hope you agree?

Photo by Wayne R. Warren

A Hometown Calling!

By Norm Richards

Goodness, it's April already and the hometown centennial celebrations are not far away. I chat about it quite a bit with the people who log in on the Facebook page "From The Pas." A lot of people have signed on there but few seem to participate. The ones that do are vital and love to chat and share. I'd like to see people post more photos of changes in there lives. Many have not seen each other since the nineteen sixties.

I haven't held much back of my own life. I moved away like most have, went to college and trained professionally, developed a career, got married, raised a family and went through struggles of one kind or another. Things haven't always been smooth but I've pressed on no matter what. I've kept my musical friends and made many new friends in the arts and elsewhere, in places I never thought I'd make time for. The trip through life so far has been fruitful and enjoyable for the most part. I've learned lessons along the way. I just always wondered where I'd employ these lessons. I suppose a lesson gets socked away in memory and one's character and standing in life. A lesson comes out whenever you need guidance and forethought. A lesson gives courage later on. You're somehow forewarned, man, don't make the same mistake twice. It comes in the shape of wisdom for one's future.

Anyway, I look forward to visits with people I haven't seen for a long time. Hometown gatherings is a new thing for me. Except, I went to my wife's high school reunion back in the 90's. That was interesting because back in the day, I knew a lot of people in her hometown and it was nearly like being among my own hometown friends. I did not feel like an outsider. I always found the people in her town friendly and caring. I kind of grew up having two hometowns, hers and mine. Of course, at various stages I was closer to the people I grew up with and that helped shape me. I will see many of these folks once again on this August long weekend. The sixties would never have been the same with the exposure we had to the development of rock and roll in our lives. Just as guys got kicked out of school or suspended for wearing long greased back hair and black leather, sixties types were shown little respect for having a Beatle haircut. Worse, we partied and listened to rock and roll on the weekend. We went to house parties, played spin the bottle and drank beer to all hours of the night.

I had my first dance with a girl at a house party. She wore a soft sweater and she smelt good. Her body against mine was wonderful. We got turned on. Discovering my own sexuality was a turning point and for most others around me it was too. We dated and travelled around in cars. We went to the movies and sat together. We went to dances. Teens were exciting and life was marvellous. Some over did it. Some drank to much, had unprotected sex busted up their dad's car and a few died on the highway from driving too fast. When drugs got introduced, it simply amplified the speed at which one over did things. We experimented with lots of things. We tasted life as it was handed to us. Did we have morals? Most of us did but somehow school and authorities, whoever they were, wanted us to have no part in the culture we grew accustomed to. Perhaps you should ask yourself if you were a goodie two shoes, always listened to your parent, teachers and outside authority or did you cross the line once and awhile or did you do it often? What was the consequence on your life?

Man, It's February and Nearly March

By Norm Richards

I like deadlines but this is crazy. My buddies and I are going to play a dance on August 4th. Now, to most of you, you might not think that's such a big deal. In preparation time it`s five months away. But, yes it is coming fast! This event has been known about and planned for for two years and longer. We will play to nearly 2,000 people, in our hometown, top 40 hits of the sixties rock and roll. It will be the largest dance we have ever played.

We all remained active and played over the decades but not together. Help! The keyboard player left a bit before me in the sixties. Within a year I was gone too, shockingly for the other guys, I left. I was no Mitch Mitchell but I was sure as hell a Ringo Starr to the band or more closely in style, Charlie Watts to the guys from The Pas. My personality was certainly the glue that held us together however brief it might have been.

The rest of us played with many different formations later. Groups of every kind. But we were onto something in 1968. Hard to pin it down but we were good and we played pretty well for the time. Technology may have helped and enhanced what we were doing. We could not afford big PA systems, We tried very hard to afford the instruments we did have. Serious recording wasn`t possible then. Who knows now how good we might have become if we stayed together. Other priorities took over our lives. We needed more education, we needed to live life, we needed experiences. Marriage would change our lives forever for each of us.

So today, forty plus years later, we reform to make something of what we are. Memories in baby boomer minds is what we are, for sure, but we think we will and can be more, on the August 4th long weekend. I think each of us has sheltered our bodies from abuse and age. Maybe not, depending on the first, but certainly the second and third rehearsals we`ll know how physically we are before concert time. We`ll see.

I`ve spent the winter before this gig protecting my health and limbs. A drummer has to do that. Yet, I`ve suffered breakdown in my knees. Also, I got a pulled legiment in the heal that takes months to heal. I`m still suffering with it as of today and it will go on. I`ve broken arms and my kick the bass drum leg got hit by a truck in 2005 and was shattered and rebuilt. The bass player had major surgery in 2011, to have his stomach stapled. He`s still recovering and losing weight. I pray he does not turn into the flat person on the floor you see in the tv commercials. I kid and I know he`s doing ok. He feels better everyday he tells me.

He and I have already got together to rehearse last May. We recorded basic tracks for the other guys to listen to and follow. Hope it helps. But I think we need to spark up our performance for the concert in August. Meanwhile, I`m praying it all works. Us getting together on time before hand will be critical and important. The band has to be tight. We have to know every lick and quick too. Let`s hope we are ready. So far, plans point to us being ready. I bought new drums for this event, so I think I`m ready. Still, time is catching up. Thank goodness the dance is sold out. Now, all we have to do is make sure we are ready and even more. Wish us the best. We need it.

Norm

Snow?

By Norm Richards

Boxing day! It's mild but there is heavy snow falling today. Future Shop opened at 5AM. Can you believe it? People need their media.

If electric power was lost, what would folks do? Life in a commercial world, I suppose. Can it be stopped? Should it be? Man needs progress, self imposed hope, no matter what seems to be the order of the day. 

I think faith, spirit and courage might stand a better chance in a world where unexpected challenges might occur. How does one prepare for that?

Cheers!
Have a good Christmas week and take care of your loved ones. 

My Christmas in a snowless north!

By Norm Richards

Got here on Thursday evening. Flight was good. Great to meet up with grandson Jamie after six months. At his age, progress in his development is fun to discover and I enjoy seeing and experiencing him again. My whole life changes seeing him. Anything I've gone through in the past half year just melts away. I love this little boy! He's special.

Christmas eve was great fun this year. I'm more at ease with this trip to northern Saskatchewan, made somehow more bearable by warm weather. I'm over dressed in my down filled parka since I didn't bring a lighter jacket with me. We shopped on Christmas eve day with little trouble with crowds like the city might have been. We had a wonderful evening at my son's in-laws for a big turkey dinner. There sure was a lot of people.

The families are growing. There is a house full of cats and dogs ( a hound ) that imposes himself on you right away. Lucky, I love animals. It's calming knowing the back yard has horses in it. I feel more at home here every year. I'm invited to come riding in the summer next year. I'm looking forward to that. I can ride and l love horses.

We opened presents Christmas morning and that seemed to take most of the morning. We topped it with a real nice breakfast of pancakes, bacon and sausages.
Tonight, its a late dinner and the day has been so relaxing. My son is a fine cook and has done a perfect job of making a fine dinner for just the four of us this evening. We are blessed and I feel that.

My daughter spoke to us from the Florida Keys today. They sun tanned and sat by the pool today while my other two grandchildren swam. Tonight, they are having a barbecue of local sea food. I quietly, to myself, give thanks for the good fortune, health and happiness we are all experiencing.

Merry Christmas everyone, to you and yours!

Cheers!

Norm

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Me and the mall Santa shared a snort in the maintenance office today between photo ops. The guy's cleaning up this year. Never seen so many kids, including me. Ho Ho Ho!