>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)

Re: Easy Swing Band Dance
    Sunday afternoon, my wife, Jeanne, and I took my mother
to the cemetery and we placed flowers on my old hunting and
fishing partner's grave, my Dad's. We had a nice lunch and
then we went to the Richland Community Center. Now, I, being
of less than sound mind and slippery memory drove to what I
remember as the Community "House" or Center on GWWay. The
building is still there, but the lights weren't on and
nobody was home. I violated one of the most sacred of male
principles and asked for directions and was informed that
the institution but not the building had slid down the hill
and was resurrected into the new Community Center. 
    Jeanne and I limped into the building with Mom leading 
the parade in her stroller (she's a month shy of 85 years 
now). And, we were reunited with old friends, Ron Monk and 
his mother, Marie, also 85. During my "Bomber Days", they 
had lived north of us a few houses on Wright Street. Ron 
went back to playing piano in the Easy Swing Band and the 
joint was jumping. I got to meet Betty Bell Norton ('51) 
who was responsible for us being there. Her posting in the 
Alumni Sandstorm about the dance caught my Sister, Marilyn 
Swan Beddo's ('63) eye and since she is much younger than I, 
she recalled that Ron was playing with the Easy Swing Band. 
So, I called Ron to confirm and he said if we were bringing 
my Mom, he would bring his. And, the rest is the history of 
a small reunion, because Mary Judd Hinz ('60) was there also 
and she thought I was Ron's father. Now, Mary would not 
remember me because even though I was a senior when she 
was a junior (remember that I was that Fonzie-wannabe 
camouflaged as a wallflower). But, how could I forget the 
lovely "Mary Judd?" Ya know, she still looks like she did in 
my '59 Columbian.
    It was a very enjoyable time and even though neither 
Jeanne nor I dance anymore (not sure I ever really could -- 
Thank you Jesus for Boogie, at least I could fake it), we 
enjoyed the music and the people. And, some of those folks 
can really, "Getta down and getta funky!" I still backpack 
and hunt hard but all that twisty-turny stuff with dancing 
is out since my knee went on strike.
    Thanks again Betty for the posting and you might want to
reiterate when the dances are again. Also, Ron told me that
he plays at the Pasco Senior Center on Wednesday evenings
and somewhere else on another day that my much older than
Marilyn's brain can't even partially recall now.

-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ See, I do got culture too.