Magic carpet disappears
I want to tell you about the beautiful carpet in my front yard. It is a gorgeous, colorful, shining object. I hesitate to step on it and if I do I feel like royalty. In my back yard there is a solid, bright green carpet. You can't see a bit of earth peeking through. It is magic! If only I could do like the boy in the story, just stand on it and fly away to some wonderful, fantastic land. Oh dear, I just saw my neighbor carrying a menacing-looking rake in his hand, coming this way. I'm afraid my magic carpets are going to disappear.
It is such a tragedy when fire devours your home and all its contents. Diane Bish, the great organist, has just had that experience. You know she plays organs all over Europe and has a Sunday afternoon TV concert program. Among her possessions were stacks of music, some very rare, musical instruments, maybe a harp and of course, all those beautiful sparkly clothes she wore at her performances.
I have known quite a few organists. In El Dorado there was Mabel Graham Newcomer and Frances Ambrose. Both were very talented. Frances became a professor at Wichita State University. There is Marilyn Mason (my husband's cousin), who teaches at Ann Arbor. She was the first and maybe the only woman who has played the organ in Westminster Abbey.
We have some fine organists living in Marion. There is Ruth Jo Penner, who has played many years at Valley United Methodist Church; Anita Brookens, who plays at Eastmoor United Methodist Church; Burton Tidwell, nationally-known; and Laura Brose Williams, who plays at the Presbyterian church. We must not forget Marge Nelson, who is up there playing for the angels now. When a musician dies where do all those little black notes in their heads go?
— Norma Hannaford
