Call your mother, or I’m sicking my brother on you

By BRENT ENGEL
Of the Courier-Post

My mother reached for the cassette deck of the car.
“I’ve got something I want you to hear.”
Oh, be joyful, I thought.
“Oh, what’s that?” I asked.
“You’ll recognize it,” she said.
I knew the tape was old because it wasn’t in very good shape.
The youthful voice came through the speakers like a bolt of lightning.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are...”
It was me from 1969, when I was 6 years old. Like President Nixon, Mom loved tape recorders.
Unlike the commander-in-chief, she had a more high-minded purpose.
Mom wanted to play back the sermons she gave as a lay speaker in our church. To have a little fun, she decided to record the voices of my brother and me.
Thirty years later, as we drove north on U.S. 61 after dropping off a family friend at the St. Louis airport, the tape brought back fond memories.
Mom would never admit it, but I think she still plays that tape from time to time.
Even today, she’ll say “I hope I’m not interrupting...” when she calls.
That old tape recorder is long gone, but dad has a Walkman she can use.
I think she just wants to be reminded of a time when her two sons didn’t have worries such as bills, kids, jobs and the like.
Bruce is now a prison guard ... sorry, the preferred term is ”corrections officer”.... and could probably whup me like I used to beat up him.
They teach them all that Eastern martial arts stuff, don’t you know.
Anyway, if you’re lucky enough to have a mother who’s still living, be sure to at least give her a call this weekend.
If you don’t, I may sick the prison guard ... er ... corrections officer on you.

Fountain of youth

I’ve found the fabled Fountain of Youth, and it’s right here in Hannibal.
It’s called the 13th annual Loafers Car Show.
It’s happening today in downtown Hannibal, but you’ve probably already seen the cool cars cruising around the area.
Look for more than 275 vehicles of all shapes, sizes, models and colors along North Main between Broadway and the Bluff.
They’ll compete in 32 classes, with 3 trophies per class and 8 special awards.
The event attracts thousands of car enthusiasts, and one of the organizers knows why.
“It makes people feel younger,” said Loafers members Allan Wideman. “They really enjoy the cars they had when they were in high school or college.”
Wideman has a 1940 Ford street rod, which he calls a “Mustang in disguise” because it has all the modern handling characteristics of its younger cousin.
Wideman also owns a 1955 Chevy, a ‘49 Plymouth, a ‘55 Dodge pickup and a fiberglass dune buggy made from a Volkswagen.
And speaking of Bugs, Wideman’s daughter is driving around a ‘62 VW that once belonged to her great-grandmother.
“It’s been through four generations of women,” Wideman said.
Hey, who said the ladies don’t know how to take care of cars?
If it was still around, I’d rumble my first car, a ‘73 Buick, into the show.
There’s nothing quite like having leather seats, truly comfortable seating for six and an ashtray the size of Delaware in your vehicle.
If you’ve got a car to enter, just bring in down before noon today and be ready to pay $15.
They can only fit in 300 vehicles, so you’d better hurry.

Pitch, Hit and Run

Want to step onto the field at Busch Stadium in St. Louis or Yankee Stadium in New York?
The official Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run competition is from noon to 3 p.m. today on the softball field in Hannibal’s Huckleberry Park.
It’s for boys and girls ages 7 to 14.
There is no cost to sign up, but parents must bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate or baptismal record for age verification.,
Winners advance to the regionals in St. Louis. The finalists will compete during July’s All-Star Game in New York.

Hawkeye, the gang

You can see a live version of Hawkeye Pierce and his wacko buddies.
The Quincy Community Theatre production of “MASH” continues at 8 tonight.
For tickets, call (217) 222-3209.
If you miss it, the production continues next weekend.
 
Heads up

It will soon be Memorial Day Weekend, and that means the unofficial start of summer.
Visit this space next week for a few of my personal favorites.
Heck, the list is so long that I can already feel a sequel in the works.