Let the Games Begin! :-)

  It’s August.  Kids are headed back to school, Summer vacations are winding down, and I’m getting ready for Parades with El Zaribah Shrine.  I’ll be kicking off with the Payson Rodeo Parade August 18, followed by the Kingman parade in September, Lake Havasu City in October, Anthem and Tempe in November, anywhere from one to three per month.  I’ll let you know exact dates, times, and places as the information becomes available.

     As Shriners these parades are all done at our own personal expense (transportation, lodging, meals, parade unit equipment, etc) in order to raise public awareness of our Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.  Hospitals where no child is ever turned away regardless of ability to pay.

Thrown in front of the Bus!

One of the neatest birthday parties I have ever played was for the hostess's husband's 40th birthday. As a surprise present to him she was going to take the celebrant and all guests (some 40 of them) "pub crawling". In a remarkable display of social responsibility she had rented a double-decker London Bus for the job.

I was to meet the bus half a block from the house and out of sight, and then when I received a phone call I was to Pipe the bus up to the house. The call came and to the skirling of Scottland the Brave and The Minstrel Boy I piped the bus up to the house where all were assembling in the front yard. I continued piping while guests and copious provisions were loaded onto the bus, and then as it drove off into the night.

I have always regretted not being able to accept their generous invitation to accompany them on their grand adventure. It must have been quite the party as late the next afternoon I received a call asking if I had found any items left on the bus!

Slainte! Pops :-)

A Local Legend

August 10, 2011: We raise a pint in honor of Frank Murray, a great man who passed away this week.

Frank, a Korean War veteran, moved to Arizona in 1954 and managed a cotton gin in the West Valley during the day while tending bar at night. For over 50 years, Frank was in the bar business in some way, shape, or form.

He worked at the Dubliner Irish Pub before becoming the manager at Seamus McCaffery’s – which he eventually purchased after ten years. And in 2009, he opened the Turf Irish Pub nearby. For those of you who knew Frank, you knew that Phoenix was his town. Frank was a visionary for downtown Phoenix and for that, he will always be remembered as a legend.

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

Slaintè Frank!