Kathie Fink
A Legacy Remembered
West Coast Tour (Spring '07) East Coast Tour (Fall '07) Midwest Tour (Fall '08) Germany Tour (Winter '08) West Coast Tour 2010
December Tour 2009
Tuesday, December 29
Now I am working on the next tour to Seattle in March. On the letter of agreement, Linda and I always ask for an overnight lodging where the host has "limited inside animals". jI am likely to get a stuffy nose if there are too many dogs and cats. I guess it wasn't too clear on the agreement because one of my hosts wanted me to explain what kind of animals I had and how many. LOL! Had to explain that the only animals I have are stuffed!
Thank you for your comments.
Monday, December 28
I am ringing at the Creation Museum in the lobby as Christmas revelers stroll by. All were quite attentive when I began ringing. My bell tables were behind a roped off area, but the cords were quite close to the front edge of my table. Some ADULTS would walk by when I wasn't ringing, reach over, and pick up a bell to ring - without asking! (My pet peeve). But this 12 year old kid took the cake. He walked up and asked "Are they free?". I thot he was talking about my free programs or the CDs for sale near by. I asked, "Is what for free?" "The bells" he replied. I replied,"They are free - if you have $150 for each bell to pay me for my shipping cost to get them here." I tried to say it nicely, but I think his father got the drift and quickly wisked his son away.
Thank you for your comments.
Sunday, December 20
Well, I was terrible in blogging for this December trip. The following story REALLY happened in Sun city, FL. A young woman approached me after the concert, and wanted to know how someone learns solo ringing. After referring her to workshops in her area., she asked about how I rang softly. I told her that in my head I made sure the clapper "kissed" the bell. She eagerly tried the technique and was quite successful. She handed me her business card so I could contact her next time I was in Florida. Her business card displayed an 800 number for telephone sex! No wonder she was SO good at kissing the bell!
Thank you for your comments.
Thursday, December 10
Thursday, December 10
By Linda
8:00am – I enjoyed breakfast with Andover Place residents this morning. One lady asked if I would tell her again what Christmas Treasure each letter in the word “Christmas” recalled. She wanted to remember the stories as she listened to her recently purchased CD. She asked me to write them down for her so she wouldn’t forget them. Then, she walked through the dining room telling the others that I had written down the meaning of each letter for her…..and 3 other ladies then proceeded to my breakfast table to request a list, as well.
Kathie and I planned to depart at noon to visit the Clinton Presidential Library, so there was plenty of time after breakfast to catch up on email. I even took the opportunity to join about 20 residents at their morning exercise class!
11:00pm – After the visit to the Library, Kathie and I drove to the home of Susan and Lane Morris. They are our hosts for our home-stay in the Little Rock area tonight. Susan had a great ‘taco chili’ simmering in the Crock Pot for supper. Their daughter Sonya, and friends from the Family Life Radio ‘family’ (The Powells, Michelle, and Nedra and her son Travis) joined us!
After dinner, we caravanned to Bethlehem! Antioch Baptist Church in Conway hosts about 6,000 people each year at their Living Nativity. It’s a beautiful, meaningful, and well-run event. Attendees are organized in to groups as they arrive at the church. We were in group #25 – a group of about 40 people.
Once we had our group number, we were ushered to a ‘holding room’ where large screens listed the group numbers – a good way to control the number of people roaming about in Bethlehem. When we entered the room, Group #14 was on the way to Bethlehem. While we waited for our number to appear on the screen, we were treated to wonderful Christmas music, interpretive dance, and carol singing. What a fantastic group of musicians!
We enjoyed our visit to the little town of Bethlehem. After we had visited the various market vendors who had samples of cheese, butter, lamb, venison, jewelry, brick-making, pottery, story-telling, candle-making, etc., we visited the manger in the back of the Inn. A ‘real’ baby was in Mary’s arms. The baby was just waking up as we left. Someone asked “Mary” and “Joseph” if the baby was warm enough. “Mary” explained that she that the baby was too warm…in fact SHE was probably too warm (obviously referring to her own infant daughter). I had to chuckle out loud when the little boy behind me said to his father, “I thought Baby Jesus was a boy!”
We are ‘home’ at the Morris house now. It’s laundry night! We have another busy day off planned for tomorrow – a tour of the State Capitol and followed by a mini-concert in the rotunda of Family Life Radio. We’ll be on the way to Tyler, Texas by mid-afternoon.
Thank you for your comments.
Sunday, December 6
Sunday, December 6
By Linda
10:25am – I’m off to ride the Wexford Place bus with Bonnie (a resident) to attend Platt Wood United Methodist Church. My ‘home’ church in Wichita is presenting their “Stan Kenton Brass Christmas” worship service today. I ‘really’ wanted to be at that service! I’m pleased to hear The Heritage Brass present the Prelude and Offertory at this service. Well done!
The service opened with the children singing a selection from their Christmas musical – ‘A Calypso Christmas.” Also, well done!
4:00pm – “Christmas Treasures” is presented twice today – the first one was here at Wexford Place at 2:30pm. The weather is a bit ‘iffy’ – and sleet is in the forecast. After Kathie played “Let it Snow,” I stepped to the window near the piano and pulled back the curtain to see if it might be snowing!!!! BRRRR!
The staff at Wexford Place was wonderful. Just as had been the case at Park Meadows, Kathie and I felt as though we were staying in our own homes, with our own families, presenting a concert for them. Manager KC, Linda, Penny, Anita, Valerie….and Bonnie…..thank you!
10:30pm – The 7pm concert was on the other side of town at Villa Ventura. Kathie and I stopped at a nearby Applebee’s for a quick bite between concerts. Our welcome was warm and enthusiastic. Activities Director Linda Smith sprang in to action, helping us unload the car and set up for the concert.
Kathie and I agreed that the piano should be moved to the other side of the hall…..about 20 feet. It was a large grand piano, but the three of us managed to complete the task easily. We enjoyed a good chuckle when one of the residents passed through hall and asked, “wha’ja do with the piano?” He was so used to having the piano remain in its ‘usual’ place. He got used to the idea that we had moved the furniture.
Thank you for your comments.
Saturday, December 5
Saturday, December 5
By Linda
10:10am – We’re off – and just only 10 minutes behind schedule. This is the first time in my life that I have gone from one side of Wichita to the other (about 20 miles) and did not have to stop for a red light! I LOVE HIGHWAY FLYOVERS! I a)m reminded of a popular “you know you’re from Wichita if…..” statement. “You know you’re from Wichita if Highway 54 wasn’t completed in your lifetime.”
The drive to Kansas City takes through the Flint Hills of Kansas (some Kansans affectionately call these rolling hills the “Flint Mountains”). Lots of succulent grass-fed beef is raised on this grassy rangeland. Unfortunately, it’s December, so Kathie and I do not get to enjoy the bountiful wildflower displays offered during the early summer months.
“Christmas Treasures” will be presented in three “active living communities” in the Kansas City area. The first concert is this afternoon at Park Meadows in Overland Park, KS. Concert #2 is at Wexford Place in northern Kansas City, MO, and the last Kansas City concert will be at Villa Ventura in southern Kansas City, MO.
4:30pm – The staff and audience at Park Meadows welcomed us warmly. This was the last concert to be scheduled for this tour. I confirmed arrangements with Activities Director Ryan Alexander just 10 days ago!
“Christmas Treasures” is a story of music and story of song, woven together with a story-telling style narration. Kathie and I use the word “Christmas” as our outline. I experienced a “first” during this concert.
I had just finished reading the narration that introduces the letter “I” which represents “ice and snow” and Kathie’s arrangement of “Let it Snow!” I left the microphone, returning to ‘the pit’ (aka piano bench and laptop/CD station) to start the accompaniment CD.
“And what to my wandering eyes should appear……?” Kathie leaning over the table, flathead screwdriver in her left hand and Phillip’s screwdriver in her right hand and a very sick E5 on the ‘operating’ table. Poor bell…………….. Kathie had the ‘patient’ in the recovery room quickly, gave me a nod and a big smile, I hit the “start key” and off she went - - - - and the audience barely noticed what had happened. I was stunned!!!!
5:30pm – Next stop – Wexford Place. We’re over-nighting here and will present “Christmas Treasures” tomorrow afternoon. Some of the home-stays for this tour are in actual ‘homes.’ Some of our home-stays are in active senior living communities. These properties have apartments that are available to family members when they visit “Grandpa and Grandma.” Many of the communities have ‘reserved’ these accommodations for Kathie and me.
6:00pm – We have reservations at the “Prime Grill by Hereford House.” What a wonderful meal! Not much better than a good steak when in Kansas City!
9:00pm - Or maybe there is?????? What about enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights display in the Country Club Plaza? The evening is not cold. Kathie drives as my passenger side window is down – my head and camera out the window to snap pictures.
Sidebar Story – For several years, Kathie and her friend Keith have placed friendly “bets” on the University of Washington vs. California at Berkeley football game. I was on tour with Kathie when she was in her “Starbucks” phase – University of Washington had lost – and Kathie had to give up caffeine for 6 months! NOT a fun tour with Kathie experiencing caffeine cravings! We’ve been following this 2009 game this evening – with great relief I learn that Washington has WON!!!!! HOORAY!
10:00pm – Kathie and I agree that a late night drive-thru coffee would be fun on the way back to the “hotel.” Just a simple, drive-thru order, right? NOT! I can’t begin to write the variations or “iced vanilla coffee with vanilla syrup” and “Cappuccino with one sugar and a stirrer” were placed by Kathie – spoken through the drive-thru speaker box. It was clearly one of those “you have to have been there” moments – but, a fun few moments that Kathie and I will remember for a very long time.
Thank you for your comments.
Friday, December 4
Friday, December 4, 2009
By Linda
11:00am – Great night’s sleep! In the past, Kathie and I have stayed up ‘til the wee hours catching up on what has been happening in our lives the first night she arrives in town. That didn’t happen last night! I’m not sure if either of us heard the stroke of midnight!
We’re on the way to pick up programs – then on to the afternoon concert at Larksfield Place in Wichita. Something else is new for this tour – we’re carrying 2,000 programs! In the past, a link has been provided at
www.kathiefink.com where hosts could download, print, and provide programs for the concert audience. The practice produced mixed results. We decided that since the printed program is the first thing an audience member touches – that an off-set professional printed program would put our ‘best foot forward.’
12:30pm – Larksfield Place’s Janie Jones greets us with a big smile and an even bigger and much appreciated “what can I do to help you ladies?” The performance space is perfect! The piano is lovely! ahhhhh……. The set up is easy – leaving us time to enjoy a bowl of soup and a sandwich in the Larksfield Place Bistro.
3:30pm – GREAT AUDIENCE! Fun concert! Kathie and I tour the Hospitality Suite – enjoying delicious hot mulled cider and 6” diameter decorated Christmas cookies! YUM! We’re discovering that active senior living can be pretty comfortable!
4:30pm – We’re all loaded up AGAIN, and off to The Grand Chapel on Broadway for this evening’s concert. Kathie and I have been contracted for a flat-fee to present “Christmas Treasures” as the headliner entertainment for a community fundraiser. The Kansas Food Bank and the Advocates to End Chronic Homelessness will be the beneficiaries of a free-will offering and the non-perishable food items that will be considered “admission” to the concert.
9:00pm – What a lovely setting for a Christmas concert - the old Christian Science Church building in Wichita. Kathie and I are heading back to my home for the night…….we’ve got some repacking to do tonight – then we’re off to Kansas City tomorrow morning. We’ve got a 3pm concert in Overland Park!
Thank you for your comments.
Thursday, December 3
Thursday, December 3
By Linda
1:00pm – Now the fun begins! It’s time to unload and set up for our first “Christmas Treasures” concert. This afternoon’s concert is at the Presbyterian Manor in Wichita, KS. My 82 year-young mom lives here now. Kathie and I presented “Christmas Treasures…before the first snowfall” in October in Kentucky and Ohio. We are confident that we have the program ‘down’ and can present this concert without a full run through.
The basic program remains the same, but, the ‘gadgets’ have changed! Kathie now has a Gateway Netbook….instead of her trusty old laptop. For the first few concerts, the CD accompaniments will be played from a portable CD player. We think we’ll simplify that in a few days.
I am excited about this concert. The Manor’s Chapel is a delightful place to play. I have accompanied ‘Windsong’ in this Chapel many times. It’s ‘intimate’ and the ‘inmates’ (that’s my mom’s word for the group that will gather here this afternoon…..NOT mine!) are always an appreciative audience.
Who is ‘Windsong?’ ‘Windsong is a group of VERY ACTIVE folks who are the age (well, at least on paper) they should have slowed down LONG ago. These five folks started singing together very informally while playing Mexican Dominoes a couple of years ago….they decided that they would like to form an ensemble and do some fun singing….and they needed an accompanist. (This is beginning to sound like a familiar trend for me, isn’t it?) More about ‘Windsong’ later….
Oh yes, something else is new for this tour – SCIERRA….Kathie’s new Toyota Scion. It seems everything fits quite nicely in to this little box of a vehicle. But wait!!!! My ‘stuff’ isn’t even in the car yet! Since this is a ‘local’ gig for me…..I’m traveling pretty light today.
4:00pm – The first of 22 concerts is now history! The audience was great! The concert went very well. ‘Windsong’ is here…..we’re going to run through “White Christmas” with them – as they are performing on the concert with us tonight...and will join us for the final selection.
4:30pm – Not only can ‘Windsong’ sing…but, they all make pretty good roadies, too! We’re all loaded up, going to grab some deli soup at the supermarket for supper and get to the next venue…Covenant Presbyterian Church. Before we leave the Manor, we drop in on Mom so Kathie can tour the cottage apartment and I can say ‘good-bye.’ While Kathie and I tour during the month of December, Mom will be cruising through the Panama Canal.
5:30pm – The ‘Windsong’ folks are confirming what great roadies they truly are! They are here to meet us at Covenant – to unload and to set up for this evening’s concert.
8:15pm – What a fun concert! This one was “Christmas Treasures” – with a twist. ‘Windsong’ sang four selections – adding to or in place of my story-telling narration. Quite nice!
We’re off on another adventure together! Come along with us, OK?
Thank you for your comments.
