2 lane highway
One woman's reflections of past and present - people, places and things that contribute to the joy and sweetness; the sorrow and hurt of an everyday ordinary life.
Friday, October 10, 2025
From The Start
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Hope, & Walking to End Alzheimer's
The annual Quad Cities (Lewiston, Clarkston, Moscow, Pullman) Walk to End Alzheimer's was this past Saturday, September 27. It was the second time I joined the walk. The first time was September 2021. My husband, Gary had passed away with Alzheimer's in October the previous year. I was blessed to have the support of several friends as they joined me to walk for Team Gary Dobbs.
The following years I stayed away from participating. It seemed the 'Walk' date always conflicted with other appointments, activities, travel plans I had on my calendar. Or maybe there was another deeper, darker reason. I didn't want to associate with the enemy - the wretched disease that stole my darling husband from me. From our sons and grandchildren. The evil Alzheimer's who left me without my soulmate; my life partner, my love. I didn't want to be reminded of Al. - of the thief and killer it was. And is.
But somewhere tendered away in my heart I understood it's not just me and my family Al has robbed and shattered. 7.2 million people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's (with projections reaching 13.6 million by 2060). Nearly every one has known someone - family member, friend, neighbor who has been touched by this dreaded disease. At Saturday's gathering each participant was asked to choose a colored cloth flower to hold while walking. Purple to represent the death of a loved one, Blue for someone living with Alzheimer's or Dementia, Yellow for a caregiver, Orange for someone who supports the cause, and White for hope there will soon be a cure. Hope. There is always hope. One reason for The Walk is to give witness to Hope. To encourage one another. Those of us who have taken this unplanned for, unwanted journey, and those on it now. To bring awareness, and raise funds for studies that will have positive results in finding a vaccine to defeat, and eliminate the evil Alzheimer's. Hope that there will be a cure.
And yes, to be reminded. Sorrowful though it is. Reminded Alzheimer's doesn't strike just one family, one household, one community, one country but attacks wherever it chooses, to whom it chooses. Unexpected. Always leaving anguish and heartache, and loss in its path. To be reminded the battle goes on, even after the passing of our loved one. Until there's a cure there will always be someone else suffering the slow ravages of Alzheimer's and needing the support of a kindred spirit.
While researchers believe age, family history, Genetics, and certain medical conditions contribute to Alzheimer's, as of yet there isn't a single link to what the cause is. According to some studies there are multiple factors, including mutations in genes, and the accumulation of two proteins in the brain. According to the Alzheimer's Association web site, of 7.2 million people age 65 or older with Alzheimer's in the U.S., 4.4 million are women. Another study shows a higher percentage of Latino and Afro-American men have Alzheimer's over white males. And because Finland has the highest rate of Alzheimer's, climate is being looked at as a possible cause.
To Hope. To believe. To walk and carry on. I've already committed to next year's Walk to End Alzheimer's. Along with the Purple flower signaling my husband has died, I will also carry a White flower showing I remain hopeful that someday there will be a cure.
*** For more information about Alzheimer's, in of need help and support, or looking for a Walk to End Alzheimer's event in your area please visit Alz.org
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Walt. & Birthday Musings
I hear stories sometimes about siblings who didn’t get along when they were growing up. Due to age difference, rivalry, incompatibility. Or something. I’m glad to say that was never the case for my younger brother, Walt and me. Even with our 4 year age difference we had a special bond from the day he was born and made his very welcomed entrance into the world September 4, 1954. That’s right. Today would be my brother’s 71st birthday. He’s been gone 15 years. I wonder what he’d look like now, and the timber of his voice, and what he’d be doing in retirement. It seems to me Birthday’s are to celebrate, and look back; to recall other birthdays and milestones. So today I celebrate my brother, and remember fun, happy years together.
When we were very young we shared a bedroom. Well, you might say Walt shared a room with me and my dolls. We played with the same neighborhood kids - Linda and Debie, Richard and Lauri and Pam building forts in the vacant lot at the end of the cul-de-sac, played school in Lauri’s driveway, Hide n Seek and Freeze tag. And with our bowl of cereal and Oreo cookies Walt and I would watch Saturday morning cartoons and the Roy Rogers show together. Roy Rogers was Walt’s favorite. He had a Roy Rogers cowboy shirt, a Roy Rogers hat and holster; and to this day his Roy Rogers guitar is still tucked away downstairs. Walt liked Roy Rogers so much he even started telling people his name was Roy Rogers!
Through the years we continued to play games - Monopoly, Clue, Cribbage, Ping Pong and watch TV together. And listen to records. Mama would say one of her favorite things was listening to Walt and me as we sat on the living room floor laughing and giggling, playing some board game. I believe the reason Walt and I were close, and got along like we did was because of the loving environment our Mother created, her joyful spirit and guidance to always be good to one another. Mama worked hard to provide for Walt and I. When she walked in the front door at 5:30 each weekday she didn’t want to hear my brother and me squabbling. And I can say with great certainty, she never did.
The Christmas before our parents divorced Santa brought me a brand new pink and white Schwinn bicycle. Walt got a bike, too. My old one. I remember Dad took a lot of time cleaning it up, painting it red and putting new grips with streamers on the handlebar. A few years later Walt would get a brand new bike for Christmas. One year a red Stingray, the following year a Schwinn 10 speed. It was pearlesque green. By that time I was in the 8th grade and had outgrown the pink and white bike so would often borrow my brother’s cool 10 speed to go riding with classmates from St. Rose. Lucky me, my little brother always so generous in allowing me to use his prized bicycle.
As we got older our chores increased. Walt and I would take turns doing the dishes. Or sometimes we’d both do them, Walt would wash and I would dry. Or vice versa. Only on occasion because of our silly antics did a dish get broken. Mama taught me how to iron (although Mama still did most of it), but because Walt didn’t like the way I ironed his shirts he started ironing his shirts, and some of my blouses! He did do a much better job of it, too. For a while we didn’t have a washer or dryer so we had to bag up our dirty clothes, towels and sheets and take them to the laundromat around the corner from where we lived. It was walking distance. It seems a funny family outing now, Mother, brother & sister trekking to the laundromat. But that’s what we did. We’d do two or three loads at a time. When the dryer cycle ended each of us would fold clothes. If it were a movie musical I’m sure we would have been singing a song and dancing on the washing machines, but instead we just chatted back and forth. Looking forward to the day we’d get a new washer.
One of my cherished memories, long before we all left California is Walt and Patty, Gary and me playing marathon games of Ping Pong on a warm summer night in Mom’s garage. Seals & Crofts on the radio singing Darling if you want me to be closer to you, get closer to me… It was such a sweet, happy time. Each of us full of hope and dreaming big.
I miss you, Walt. And all we shared.
Happy Birthday little brother
Sunday, August 24, 2025
SUMMER NIGHTS
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
The Amazing Judy Garland
In recognition of National Vinyl Record Day today I'm playing one of my most prized vinyl albums. JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL RECORED LIVE SUNDAY, APRIL 23 AT 8:30 P.M. If I close my eyes and just listen it's almost like I'm there when the great and talented Judy Garland sang and danced for 3,000 people in a sold out performance. She was on stage for two hours with only one brief intermission singing song after song like nobody else can. By all accounts its was an incredible night. Like no other. Considered by many critics and fans to be the greatest concert of all time. At the time of its first album release it was on the Billboard chart for 73 weeks, including 13 weeks at No. 1. It won four Grammy awards: Album of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance, Best Album Cover, Best Engineering Contribution. Since 1961 Judy At Carnegie Hall has never been out of print. In 2003 Judy at Carnegie Hall concert recording was selected by Library of Congress to be added to the registry. According to the registry the recording captures her iconic Carnegie Hall performance from April 23, 1961- a landmark event in her career.
Most of us have a favorite entertainer. One we like and admire more than any other. One whose music when listening to touches our spirit and makes us smile. And sometimes cry. In recent years the word GOAT has been tossed around a lot. Given to someone recognized as the greatest of all time in their field. For me, there's no doubt about it! Judy Garland is the GOAT ! The greatest, most talented entertainer of all time. And I'm not the only one to think that! The also extremely talented and gifted Bing Crosby when asked in different interviews who he thought the most talented performer was would always say Judy Garland. He would cite her singing, dancing, dramatic acting and comedic ability. The most talented woman I ever knew was Judy Garland, Crosby said.
Like so many, my first experience of Judy Garland was when I was a child and watched The Wizard of Oz for the first time. She was Dorothy. Her portrayal so real and genuine. So believable. Dorothy and Judy Garland are intertwined; melded into one. Bound together. For all eternity. It's impossible to think of any one other than Judy Garland as Dorothy. Or anyone other than Judy Garland singing Over the Rainbow in the magical, transcendent way she did. A song that was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg specifically for her.
Judy was 16 years old when she starred in Wizard of Oz, but even before she was going down that yellow brick road looking for home her amazing talent was evident in earlier movies like Pigskin Parade, Broadway Melody of 1938, Everybody Sing, Thoroughbreds Don't Cry, Love Finds Andy Hardy and Listen, Darling. In Listen, Darling Judy sang Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart for the first time. It would remain on her 'songs to sing' list throughout her career. A fan favorite.
Judy Garland starred in 34 feature films including Meet Me in St. Louis, The Clock, Easter Parade, The Harvey Girls, The Pirate. Several that teamed her with Mickey Rooney. Often referred to as 'Backyard Musicals' (Babe's On Broadway, Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy). Each one a huge success for MGM Studios. And helped to make Judy and Mickey super stars of their day. I have watched all of the Judy Garland movies, many times in fact. My goal now is to watch each one in order they were first released. Starting with Pigskin Parade (1937) and ending with I Could Go On Singing (1963). A fun fact about I Could Go On Singing is in the scene where Judy (as Jenny) is on the ferry with her on screen son while her real son Joey Luft and daughter, Lorna are in the background, playing other passengers on the ferry. One gets the sense Judy liked being a Mom, and having her kids around. I'm thinking of the final scene in The Good Old Summertime where her oldest daughter, still a toddler, Liza Minnelli makes an appearance. And the many times her kids were on her television show. One image I recently came across and one I like very much is a photo of Judy Garland on stage at the conclusion of the Carnegie Hall performance and all three of her children are with her. Her arms around Lorna, with Joe and Liza next to her. Such a momentous, fabulous night for Judy Garland!, and who does she bring up on stage to share her triumph? Her kids. Very endearing.
Besides starring in 34 movies, Judy Garland made over 200 Radio appearances from 1935 to 1953 (referencing IMDb), did 26 episodes of the Judy Garland Show and 60 TV appearances. According to Wikipedia she appeared in concert over 1,100 times, always receiving a standing ovation. It has been 56 years since Judy Garland's passing, yet her fan base remains strong with popular (and recommended) sites The Judy Experience and The Judy Room introducing Judy to a younger generation. Both can be found on Youtube and Facebook. Along with many other sites and videos about Judy Garland, showcasing her many talents.
And so many talents she had. It has been reported from more than one source Lana Turner, after watching Judy Garland sing I'm Only Chasing Rainbows in Ziegfeld Girl, a movie they made together, said I'd give up all my beauty for half of Judy's talent. In Babe's On Broadway, Mickey Rooney asks Judy Garland to sing for him. She answers by asking, How do you know I can? Mickey again, You sing when you talk, when you walk. Your eyes are singing right now. That might have been a movie script. But it could also be said of Judy Garland, not just the character she played. One reason it's so fun to watch her perform is because she sings with her whole body. Not anyone telling her how to move or look. It's her innate, natural instinct. I believe a God given gift. In watching segments of her television show on Youtube I've observed something interesting, and lovely when she's with a guest. How she always reaches out to touch them or link her arm in theirs. Or take their hand. It always appears to be very spontaneous and natural. I think it's both her wanting the guest to feel welcome, and also to ease any anxiety she might be feeling. That reaching out to another is very much a part of Judy Garland's persona.
Not only her great singing, but her dancing. She could do it all ! In watching some of her numbers with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and Mickey Rooney those dance steps are complicated, and fast moving. And in most of the routines, she's not only dancing but singing, too. Judy also danced beautifully with choreographer Charles Walters in Presenting Lily Mars. Just recently I came across a Judy Garland dance number on YouTube that has become a new favorite ! Judy dancing to Irving Berlin's song Mr. Monotony (click below). It was meant for Easter Parade, but in the end was cut from the movie. I can't imagine why? It is brilliant! Judy is fabulous! Perhaps the director thought it made the movie too long. Thankfully we now have Youtube and have access to seeing Judy in numbers that were previously locked away in some studio vault. Like Doin What Comes Naturally from Annie Get Your Gun. A movie, and role that should have been Judy Garland's. But that's a blog for another time.
In 1987 Peter Allen, the Australian singer, songwriter and musician (who along with his brother was for a time the opening act for Judy Garland, and also once married to her daughter, Liza) said, I had never seen a top rate American entertainer before Judy. So when I watched her pour her heart into every performance and literally capture the audience I thought that was normal in the U.S. It wasn't until I worked with other stars that I realized how tremendous she was. There was Judy Garland , and then all the rest.
I say Judy Garland was like a bright, dazzling one of a kind comet streaming across the sky making everybody look up and smile and say, Wow! Aren't we lucky we got to see that!