Tuesday, December 27, 2022

 It's Christmastime in New York City.  With the pandemic "over" all the tourists are back, coming from all over the country and other countries to see the tree at Rock Center, go to a Broadway show and dine at all the big restaurants in town.  A few hotels (like the Four Seasons) and some hotspots (like the 21 Club) are still closed.  

It's been nearly five years since Dad passed away and 8 years since Mom left us.  Time heals all wounds they say, and while it does not hurt as much that they're gone it's still painful to deal with.  I think of them often, usually when I instinctively reach for the phone to call them when something happens that I know that they would love to see (grandkids being cute for example).  Or when I think of some memory and want to hear them either confirm it or embellish it with their own recollections (like the alligator in the pond by that hotel in Sanibel where we stayed in 1976).  So many things rattling around in my head and almost all of them are connected to Rachel and Joe Stewart.  Sigh.  

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this blog but I will try to keep it up.  Maybe a Tuba Skinny concert will come through NY and I'll cover it here.  I can share my Air Force stories as well -- I think I enjoyed my time in the service much more than Dad did his service.  Not that hard since he hated the whole experience.  

I'm still searching for Bill McKenzie, one of Dad's friends who was quite an incredible character.  He would work in a hotel in DC for a few months or years and then light out for some far flung location for a few years, living off his savings.  I think he lived in Mumbai (Bombay) in the 70s or 80s.  And then in Mexico for extended periods.  A postcard from Bill arrived at the old family house in Arlington VA after Dad had passed way, but there was no return address.  I can't find him in Dad's emails so it's hard to figure out how to contact him.  I'm not even that sure how to spell his last name.  

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Joe B. Stewart - RIP

This is Joe B.'s son and daughter posting on his blog.  Dad passed away peacefully on March 8, 2017.  It was a sunny day in Arlington and the daffodils were in bloom.  Dad was a wonderful father and husband and we all miss him dearly.

Since our mother passed away, he was given solace and some measure of joy by following a New Orleans street band called Tuba Skinny.  If you follow this blog, you will of course know this already since he often posted their youtube videos.

We wrote to Tuba Skinny after Dad passed, sharing his story and thanking them for being so kind to him.  A highlight of the last few years for him was going to Glen Echo Park in Washington D.C. to see Tuba Skinny perform.  He got to meet Erika and Shaye and to hear them in action.  He stayed out really late and had a fantastic time.

Shaye and Erika were kind enough to respond to our emails, sending their condolences.  And then, much to our surprise and delight, they recorded a spiritual in Joe's honor.  The band had just finished a tour and were in Wisconsin on St. Patrick's Day.  We are going to share this video here and also at Dad's memorial service today in Alexandria at 1pm at the Cunningham Turch Funeral Home at 811 Cameron Street.

THANK YOU TUBA SKINNY.

Adrian & Lorelei Stewart


Here is Shaye's email:

Hello, this is Shaye from Tuba Skinny. Thank you for your kind emails. We have recorded a spiritual in memory of Joe Stewart and posted it on YouTube. Please enjoy.
-Shaye

And Erika's email:

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.  I know him through the many emails and kind words he sent to us over the years. He was a great supporter of us and passionate music lover, as you know. I recall him at the show at Glen Echo with a big warm smile on his face. Thanks for writing.

Erika

Monday, February 6, 2017

Friday, February 3, 2017

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Monday, January 30, 2017