Foghorn Finds America

This is a Internet Coffee shop in Ft Meyer that I found at a Catholic college down here. Its called Holy Grounds. They have restaurant in front and coffee, internet and folk music in the back.


These guys are the Fish Creek Ramblers.
This guys name is Dave Ruch or Dave Ruck


Back room at the Holy Grounds.

Peg and I have been in Ft. Meyer for the last few days. Her mom's been ill and at 93, we aren't taking chances. She hurt her hip which was replaced last october and we were worried they'd have to go in again. But not necessary.

This pic is from the condo where mom lives. It's been darn humid and hot, in the 90's and T-storms most every day. This was the first nice looking sunset while we've been here. This was Wednesday night

"We're goin' hoppin' (Hop!)
We're goin' hopin' today
Where things are poppin'(Pop!)
The Philadelphia way
We're goin' drop in (Drop!)
On all the music they play On the Bandstand.! "

This is a photo Ivan took on the tv screen when we were in Philly visiting his parents in 1953 right after I turned 19. They moved there in 1950 when his dad went to work for a company called Nordac or Norcon. They made aluminum siding for houses. It was new business back then.

That's Ivans little sister Wendy (really Gwendolyn) dancing with the guy on the right that looks like Eddie Cochran. She was like my age and Ivan was almost 40. His mom and dad were pretty frisky I guess. I dont remember if Dick Clark was on the show then. I don't think so. Does anybody out there remember when he took over the show? Was it when they went national? I really don't remember.

I didn't dance much back then. Like I didn't have rhythm. The music was already getting to processed by like 55 and everyone was starting to get overproduced. I liked the rockabilly cats though like Carl Perkins and early Cash. Jerry Lee and Buddy Holly was the best. But I really didn't pay attention to music too much until later.

Sorry I havent posted for a couple days. Been scanning photos and thinking what to write about. Sometimes I get a cramp betwixt my ears and nothing wants to come out, hey.

In the summer of 1951, we moved from Flint to Burton, about 12 miles east. I was used to the big cities and big schools, but this place was really hicksville.

Mom and Ivan commuted to Flint every day and, lucky me, I got to do my senior year in Po-dunk, USA. Made a couple good friends at Dewey HS. I'm the guy, 3rd from the right in the back row and my buddy Wilmer is second from the left in the back. Louella (now Peg don't be jealous), my H.S. sweetie that year is third from the left bottom row. Enrique, best man at my wedding, is second from the right in front between Gladys and Carolyn. I've lost touch with everyone but Wilmer who lives in Indiana now.

I miss Enrique. He died in '73 in Nam. He was a lifer in the Marine Corps and died in a barracks fire near Saigon. Hard way for a Marine to die, in his sleep. Louella had cancer, I heard and died in 1979. She had married Wally Sinclair the tall blond guy in the back row. He still livs in Burton in the house his dad built after the war.

I just added a link to the web site of LARRY WIDEN. Hes a good guy and he writes about music, mostly blues, and a lot of other stuff. He does publishing with Leo Sadorf at SONORAN WIND. I read about a wrestler and Milwaukee History and a homeless traveler with a rock and roll past on Larry's site. This guy is a good writer and hits a lot of interesting and cool topics. Definitely check him out.
Larry Widen, on the right with Blues Legends Bob Margolin (middle) and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Photo borrowed from THE GROOVE another groovy site to hit. This photo was taken by another Blues Legend, Bob Stroger who used to play Bass for Muddy Waters band and other Chicago Blues Greats.

This is Ivan Dziedzek (pronounced Jay-Jak) in front of Dooley's market in Flint in about 1946 or 47. Ivan and Mom got married when we were in Chicago about 5 years after dad died. He was about 10 years older than her. His birthday was the same as Lincoln's, February 12. He was born exactly 100 years later though. He grew up in DeKalb and they always had a parade on Lincoln's birthday and his brother Morris said Ivan would always think the parade was for him when he was a kid.

I never called Ivan dad, but he was as good a one as any kiddo could have. He treated me like I was his. Since I was an only child and he and mom never had any together, I guess I was his.