Balladiers' Swan Song, Claire's Baptism & Karleen's Visit

Alas! It seems we have reached the age 

when we have just probably had our Swan Song reunion with the Balladiers!

A few months ago, Dane Graham, USU's Director of Stewardship and Alumni Engagement, requested in an email that he would like to visit with me, a longtime-ago member of USU's Balladiers, on iChat.

What's this, I thought! 

He, Craig Jessop and Don Gardner, our music director, were planning a reunion with a dinner and a program for us and our spouses in September at USU to honor us.

He was very friendly and engaging, and, over time, he talked with most of the Balladiers, and the time was set for September 24 and 25.

What fun it was to again be together! Have you had the same experience that sometimes when it is really an exciting and memorable occasion, you forget to take pics?

That's what mostly happened during this reunion, but we got a few.

So I have included pics from the past of Then and Now with the few pics we took.

Here are Marilyn Miller and Greer Baird with me Then . . .

. . . and luckily Greer's husband took a pic of us at the dinner. Wish I'd have gotten a pic of Marilyn; she looked beautiful that night.

Caine College of Fine Arts had a lovely formal dinner with tables of six set up in the lobby of the Caine Lyric Theater, where they served a delicious surf and turf meal. After we ate, we all went into the theater for a presentation/program. 

Don had put together a video of our Balladier story through the years that we were together. They would pause it between chapters and different Balladiers, in turn, shared memories.

The banner under the screen greeted us on our USO Tour in Chun Chon, Korea.

Roger took pics of some of the Balladiers who shared memories between each chapter.

Doug Brenchley in the SLC airport, just as we were leaving on our USO tour, Then . . .

. . . and Now.

Kent Smith Then (goofing off) . . .

. . . and Now.

Carol Koerner (and Pam Baird singing with me) Then . . .

. . . and Now.

Craig Jessop Then . . .

. . . and Now.

After the program, Craig, who has been the head of the Caine College of the Arts (and past Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director) offered to take us on a tour of the newly renovated Daines Concert Hall, where we had our farewell concert before we embarked on our USO Tour some 54 years ago. It has been installed with state-of-the-art systems and the acoustics are incredible!

Such down-to-our-toes meaningful moments for us to reunite again with all who were there! (Nate Day and Morris Angell live in California and because of compromised health concerns with Covid at the time of the reunion, cancelled coming. We missed them!) We have already lost John Layton (our first banjo player), Rob Fackrell (our adored drummer and the only one of us who didn't sing while we performed) and Jon Bouwhis, an original member. Time goes by so fast!

We all stayed at the University Inn, and the next day the Balladiers attended the USU-BSU football game, a barbecue and a jam session together, then ordered pizza at Fredrico's.

As luck would have it, our precious Claire's baptism in Boise was that same day at 2 that afternoon, so we couldn't miss that. We left in the morning from Logan and headed to Boise.

What a beautiful baptism it was! Claire was the only one being baptized from their ward, so their family made up the entire program. Her sister, Ellie, offered the opening prayer, Dad Jedd and Mom Missy spoke (both outstanding and heartfelt talks), Claire and her friends sang, "I Like to Look for Rainbows," with Claire singing the solo parts and her brother, Anderson, gave the closing prayer. Her brother, Sam, just before he left for his Church mission to Washington, D. C. (waiting to go to Bolivia when it opens up) baptized her and her dad confirmed her as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Claire with her cute friends who sang with her

Missy had a fun ice cream bar at their home for Claire's cute friends.

We were so tickled to get to be there with Missy and her super family for this important occasion. Claire was so happy we were there and we adore that little sprite!

We stayed overnight with them, had a yummy dinner, then headed for SLC, which is halfway to St. George and stayed with Rick. Roger met with his siblings about their mom's estate, then we hurried home because my dear friend, Karleen, was coming the next day to stay with us.

It has been our tradition for every year since we moved to St. George that Karleen come visit and we go to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. She rides the shuttle from SLC and stays with us for three days, then returns on the shuttle. She arrived Tuesday morning, I made BLTs with Missy's tomatoes from her garden for lunch and we talked the day and, after I fixed Asian/Mexican fusion street tacos for dinner, the night away.

Next morning, we headed for Cedar City to spend the day, going to the matinee,"The Comedy of Terrors," which was absolutely hilarious and the evening performance of, "The Pirates of Penzance," which Roger and I had seen in an off-Broadway production of many years ago. We are amazed every year at the level of performance at these wonderful plays, always saying, "I think these were the best ones we've seen yet!" 

Karleen and I, waiting for the matinee, masks required

The next day, we traveled to Las Vegas to spend the day shopping  

and we had a wonderful lunch at Mon Ami Gabi.

We both love Karleen and always enjoy our time together.

After so many of our plans were cancelled during the worst of Covid, 

it seems things continue to stack on top of each other.

Isn't that how life is - Feast or Famine?