Mary McCaslin's Roundup

Mar 21, 2002

MARCH 2002

This has been a startling year. In January I spent a week in Dominican Hospital for a serious case of pneumonia. Up until then I had managed to live 55 years without spending any time as a patient in a hospital.

The antibiotics my doctor had prescribed were not working like we'd hoped and I was forced to come to the realization that I needed the stronger medical intervention that a hospital could offer. A chilling prospect was that any treatment I received surely would involve needles.

I'm quite sure that in its entire history Dominican Hospital has admitted very few patients with such a severe case of needle phobia. I have to cover my eyes or leave the room when the television news shows people receiving their flu shots every fall. Why they have to show this time after time instead of just briefly talking about it completely escapes me.

In spite of early the morning visits by the folks whose job it is to draw blood for daily checkups and one other very unpleasant encounter with a needle, I managed to look at my time in the hospital as a sort of break from everything. Every staff member I came in contact with, from admissions, to the doctors, the folks in x-ray to the nurses on my unit, was truly caring. I would like to thank them all for their efforts to make me as comfortable as possible during what could have been an extremely frightening experience.

Like most hospitals these days, Dominican furnishes cable tv in the rooms. We've managed to do without this modern wonder at home, but having a large selection of channels to choose from passes the time when in the hospital and allows one to catch up on all those missed episodes of Law and Order. Of course my favorite cable channel is Animal Planet. But, apparantly even Animal Planet runs low on material. One day they aired a piece that followed a veterinarian who was being wheeled into surgery to have his gall bladder removed. Considering my situation at the time, I decided to go in search of a Law and Order rerun.

My father used to say that in the hospital they'd wake you up to give you a sleeping pill. I didn't quite have that experience, but in the middle of one night I was awakened by someone standing by my bedside in the dark asking in a loud whisper if I had used the bathroom. I roused myself suffiently to answer yes. Sometime later, this person returned, stood by the bed and asked in the same whisper, "Mary, are you in pain?" I told him no. Somehow , it seemed like a scene out of Shakespeare.

One thing I have come to realize is that it takes a while to regain any stamina after this kind of illness. I've never been known as an energetic person, but a night out requires a longer period of rest afterward than before. I'd certainly rather blame illness than age.

LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND

As most folk and blues music fans know by now, we lost one of the pillars of American music in February with the passing of Dave Van Ronk. In one of my December columns I wrote about him and listed an address for donations.

Dave had colon cancer and had undergone surgery. We all knew that it was touch and go because of other health issues, not the least of which was a lifelong cigarette habit that had considerably weakened his cardiopulmonary system.

Despite news that Dave was rallying, even through the chemotherapy, our hopes were finally and forever dashed on February 10. To say he will be missed is a great understatement.

Dave's musical peers and fans have put together some benefits for his widow Andrea, and there will be an official memorial service in celebration of Dave's life on Sunday, March 24. The service will take place at Judson Memorial Church on Washington Square in New York City. There will be readings from Dave's memoirs, reminiscences by friends and a brass band. On the front of the invitation we received is a pen and ink drawing of a moose by Dave himself. He loved Mooses and for years he had a paper cutout photo of a moose taped to the back of his guitar. And, of course, on stage he sang "I'm Proud to be a Moose", which was written for Mr. Moose to perform on the Captain Kangaroo show. But, as previously mentioned, Mr. Moose never had the pleasure of singing this great song on tv, because Mr. Moose did not talk. Dave's only recording of this song can be found on-line, but has yet to be released on a CD. Maybe very soon this will change.

Speaking of Van Ronk recordings, his latest CD, Sweet and Lowdown on Justin Time records, has recently been released. This is the jazz album that Dave always wanted to make and it features lots of well known and lesser known classics. Dave sings to the accompaniment of piano with trumpet, clarinet, sax, drums, bass and other guitarists. He does not play guitar on this album. Sweet and Lowdown is a great recording, but I must say that I miss his guitar playing, which was as much a part of his style as his wonderful gravelly voice. You can check out this Canadian label at www.justin-time.com.

A few weeks ago, Rounder Records sent me two CD re-issues of Dave's fine recordings, Somebody Else, Not Me and Sunday Street, which Dave did on the Philo label (now owned by Rounder) way back in the 1970s. To me, these recordings showcase Dave at his very best. His guitar playing is at its most grand and his choice of material, including his own Sunday Street, is first rate. I'm sure these three CDs, plus other Van Ronk recordings are available or can be ordered at any good record store.

Somehow things will not be the same without this world class crumudgeon who had a heart of gold.

COMING TO TOWN

This week, some special performances will take place in our neighborhood. On Thursday, March 14, KZSC 88.1 FM brings Native American artist John Trudell to the Rio Theatre. This is a benefit for KZSC and the Costanoan/Ohlone Indian Canyon Project. Pick up tickets downtown Santa Cruz at either Streetlight or Bookshop Santa Cruz. Or call 459-4733.

On Sunday, March 17, my favorite Celtic group, Wake the Dead, brings their unique and wonderful blend of Grateful Dead and Celtic music to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Tickets are available at Streetlight in Santa Cruz, Ananda Books in Boulder Creek and Business with Pleasure in Felton.

Other musical goings on include Saddle Up and Boogie at the Catalyst for a St. Patrick's afternoon happy hour running from 4:30 to 7. Then they return to the atrium stage at 8 pm to play more of their great western swing music. Patty Maxine is one of the best steel guitar players I've ever heard. No pedals, just great old fashioned steel guitar playing.

And Henflings hosts a St. Paddy's Day blowout, complete with corn beef and cabbage dinner and an Irish sing-along, starting in the afternoon and continuing through the evening.

AND FINALLY

The response to my illness from friends and strangers was extremelly heartening. Thanks to all who visited, called or sent flowers and cards and those who sent donations. Believe me, they helped.

And thanks to my friends at KZSC, especially Kevin Spitzer (DJ Sparrowhawk of Sunday afternoon's Freedom Flight), for keeping my radio show going in my absence and to KPIG for all their good wishes.

Thanks to my friends and co-workers at Sylvan Music for their patience. And, most of all, thanks to my husband Greg for his love and for being with me through it all.