The Music is Silent Now

Those of you who have been following this blog over the past year may recall a post I wrote from Oscar Scherer State Park last year about Betty and Carl . Carl plays a banjo and sings upwards of 300 American folk songs. The real folk songs which define our heritage from the beginning century of our country. Betty, his wife strummed along with a homemade percussion instrument and tried to keep him on track. Every Wednesday evening they would entertain the campers in the park while we ate ice cream. On Thursday afternoons, a group of local musicians playing all sorts of instruments would gather at the activity center and jam under thier guidance. They were warm and welcoming to anyone who chose to participate regardless of  level of skill. Betty had a sweet smile and gentle giggle and always appeared to be enjoying herself even as she listened to Carl's endless stream of jokes which she must have heard over and over.

We were disappointed when we arrived this year to find that Betty has passed away recently of breast cancer. There is no music this year as Carl is taking time to grieve. We hope that he will return next year and we will enjoy him as much as ever, but it will be a different kind of enjoyment without Betty's sweet countenance sitting beside him and drumming on her whatchamacallit. Betty, you will be missed by so many more people than you could imagine. People who have sat in the crowd admiring you from afar, but never got the chance to know you personally.