Happy Birthday, Johnny Boy!
Many of you remember our friend, John Ritchie, who helped us out several months ago by filling in on piano while Sondra was recovering from surgery to repair a broken tendon in her finger.  John is our dear friend of many years, an accomplished musician on many instruments, and his birthday is in August.  Gil’s brother-in-law, Chuck Baxter, is also a musician in a Jacksonville based blues band called VuDuBlu, and the proprietor of Blue Hippo Recording Studio in Ponte Vedra Beach.  Chuck’s big project for July was to remodel his studio and clean out his storage area. Chuck told Gil that he needed to find a new home for some older musical equipment, including a 30 year old Baldwin organ in excellent condition.  Gil asked Bobby if he thought John would be interested, and Bobby reminded Gil that John’s birthday was coming up the following month. Before you could say "make a wish and blow out the candles", the Birthday Caper was in full swing.  Here’s what happened....

John is a creature of habit and they knew he would be having dinner at the same time and place near his home.  So while he was away, Bobby and Gil loaded the organ into Gil’s truck, took it to John’s place and left it right at the front door.  Then they arrived at the restaurant just as John was about to dig into his Egg Foo Yung and told him they needed his help with some furniture.  Obligingly, he climbed into the truck asking what they were moving and to where.  But all they would say was "It’s REALLY heavy" and that they had to deliver it pretty close to where he lives. When they turned into John’s neighborhood, he said "Hey, this is the road I live on!", and Gil said "Oh, really?"  When they pulled into John’s driveway he got a little suspicious.  And when they got to his front door, it was totally blocked by a huge Baldwin 56R church organ complete with bass pedals, built-in leslie speaker and a bench. As John stood gaping and trying to make sense of it all, Bobby and Gil began offering possible explanations such as; "Maybe one of the neighbors wants you to store it for them", and "Are you sure you didn’t buy this on eBay?".  It was so big that John couldn’t get to the front door to open it and had to get in through the back.  They got the organ moved and set up in the living room and by this time John didn’t know what to think.  Then they told him that it was his early birthday present.  He was so surprised you could have buttered his backside and called him a biscuit.  But it didn’t take him long to figure out what all the tabs, buttons and stops do, and now he’s searching for music written just for that type of organ.  It sounds great, John is thrilled, and Bobby and Gil had a hoot giving it to him.  We hope he enjoys it for many birthdays to come.



We’d like to send a shout-out to all the fine folks at the Keystone Heights Social Club and thank them for their wonderful hospitality.  We play for their dance every month that has a fifth Thursday.  So on July 29^th, it was our turn to join Myrtle, "Alley Oop", Glenora, Bob, Miss Willie and all the gang down in Clay and Bradford counties at the Shrine Club Building for a great evening of fun, food and fellowship.  (That’s right, for all you trivia fans - Keystone Heights is situated in both counties.)  We’re looking forward to seeing yall again at the dance on September 30^th, which is the "next fifth Thursday".  Mark those calendars!

A Friend in Need 
Ernie Bennett was a high school class mate of Bobby’s.  They were both members of the marching band and concert band, Bobby was in the drum section and Ernie played trombone.  Some of the many hats Ernie has worn through the years include that of husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, Ford salesman, member of First Baptist Church in Middleburg, Rotary Club, Safari Club International, Quail Unlimited and Jacksonville Skeet & Trap Club, graduate of Wolfson High School Class of ‘67, Vietnam era Veteran, and an avid hunter & fisherman.  We have learned that Ernie is also a Lymphoma warrior and survivor.  In 2006, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  In May of 2010, the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma recurred in his stomach and duodenum of his small intestine. Currently, Ernie is receiving aggressive chemotherapy leading to a bone marrow transplant which is projected for August.  This will result in his inability to work for a year.  If you would like to help, there will be a benefit Ride and Car Show next month in Middleburg.  If you don’t ride a motorcycle or have a classic auto, you could have fun attending the event as a spectator.

Car Show @ 2 PM ~ $25 Entry Fee

50/50 Drawing

Live Entertainment

Happy Birthday 
to Sondra’s Mama!
Another July baby. 
She just turned 83 and 
she still wants a Margarita 
with her birthday cake. 
You go, girl!
Feliz Cumpleaños a ti Mama!