She was married when we met.  6 kids and 12 grandkids later, still is.  A freshly minted nurse and a newbie intern, we clicked in a way that’s sustained a friendship now into its 5^th decade, almost all at a distance.  It opens and closes, of course.  My curious letter that wedged the latest opening last year found in the updates some things I hadn’t known about her.  For example, she’s a budding artist, following in the footsteps of her very talented late father.  She was surprised I was still obsessed with a wild band from the 70s, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen.  Those would come together to produce a curious product, which I’ve just now seen.

As I bombarded her with all things Commander Cody, I shared a picture taken after a concert at Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts (1), Saturday June 13, 2015.  Bill Kirchen, once Commander Cody’s lead guitarist, was the headliner, and George Frayne (Commander Cody) himself was guest.  Those pairings were rare and precious, so it was worth the plane ticket.  The picture was just my wife Kathy, me, the Commander, and Kirchen, clowning around on stage after the concert. 

A few years back, I asked George if he would paint it.  An accomplished artist with 2 degrees from UofM Art School and an internationally recognized body of work outside of music (2), he occasionally did paintings on commission in addition to his own paintings and sculpture.  He said the picture was “too detailed” for his style and turned down my request.  He died a year later.  When I told my nurse friend this story, she offered to take on the project.  She put in some serious work over the summer, asking for more pictures and videos of Bill and George, and even for the TED talk Kathy gave (3), figuring she’d get a better take on Kathy’s looks from moving images than from stills.  She’s never met Kathy.  She figured she knew what I looked like, even if she hasn’t seen my face up close since 1982.  Tougher for her with my image was getting my very detailed “Hot Rod Lincoln” t-shirt right.  We had some general discussions about background color.  She’d hoped to have it done by my September birthday and came close.  Neither of us wanted to trust this treasure to the post, so we had to engineer a handoff.  One of her sisters lives outside of Grand Rapids, and Kathy and I were set to travel there in mid-September to meet up with some friends and family.  Her sister had an appointment that took her away when we would be by, but the package was on her doorstep as promised, and the handoff was complete.

I didn’t expect what happened next.  Instead of tearing into the box right after I brought it through the door, I carried it to a corner of our bedroom, where it sat till such a time when I thought I’d be emotionally ready to view it.  The artist would ask me periodically if I’d seen the work, chiding me for my reluctance, even citing how the paints she used had to breathe, and how leaving them in that box could harm the appearance of the picture.  Another issue was where to hang it.  Kathy and I have plastered nearly every square inch of our wall space with posters and pictures.  The solution came to me as I was folding laundry last week.  We’ve yet to attack that room, and there’s one good size wall where the picture would hang nicely.  Because of some clever things I’ve done with some of the other wall space down there, the room is now on the “house tour” on which we take interested visitors.  So, when I finally took the package down there and opened it, I figured I should tell the artist about it.  Here’s how it looked (the 4X6 photo is now a 24×30 canvas):

Here’s what I wrote (song interjects later).

“I didn’t finally see it till 6:36 this morning.  The pre-dawn unveiling wasn’t born of anything romantic.  I wanted to get all that cardboard into the recycle bin for the Wednesday morning pickup.  All my Tuesday plans, including the hanging, were a wash with yesterday’s 1:40 awakening.  I got up after 5 today, so it’s going to be a better one.  After doing the dishes, I snuck into the bedroom so as not to disturb the sleeping Kathy, picked up the package and headed downstairs.  I’d stuffed several sharp objects in my pockets, along with my cell phone and Oontz.  Setting up, I asked Spotify to play the Commander Cody channel, and it obliged with “Hot Rod Lincoln” right off the bat (4).  It didn’t take all those songs to get the job done, but I sure enjoyed “Willin’” (5), “Seeds and Stems” (6). and “Lost in the Ozone” (7).  The only sharp instruments even near your box were my scissors cutting the strings.  After that, I just peeled off the duct tape.  I swear there was a flash of light as I opened it.  Must be that amazing deep electric blue you used in the background.  But all the characters are very bright (at least on canvas).  Kathy looks nice, no trace of Wicked Witch I could see (the artist and my Kathy had had some earlier encounters that were a little contentious).  You made the two tall gray guys look better than they really are.  The Commander looks a little befuddled and simian.  Maybe the latter is apt.  He did share the bill with Godzilla in “Hollywood Boulevard”, the 1976 movie in which the band appeared (8,9).  But bottom line, I love it beyond belief and will be forever grateful for your efforts.

Oh, I had to cut off Spotify after “Lost in the Ozone” and turn back to WRCJ and my usual classical music morning.  The Commander’s music does not promote responsible behavior and I have a big day planned.”

And one thing I forgot to say: I may have blown this as a birthday present, but it sure makes a wonderful Christmas present!  Ho! Ho! Ho! Hic! (10)

P.S.  Commander Cody never made a Christmas album, but Kirchen sure did!  If you’re looking for some Holiday honky-tonk joy, check it out! (11).  You can see the whole show on YouTube, and see Bill in his COVID silver tresses! (12).

References

1. The Bull Run.  https://www.bullrunrestaurant.com

2. Commander Cody aka George Frayne.  Art, Music, and Life.  Q Book Press, 2009.  https://www.amazon.com/Music-Life-Commander-George-Frayne/dp/0984265007/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=george+frayne&qid=1612715941&sr=8-1

3.  Kathryn Clark @ TEDxUofM.  YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jONOd_J7EU

4. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Hot Rod Lincoln. (from Ten for Two, premiered 4/1/72. Produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono). Posted to YouTube by RW Ike 3/19/21. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TeHA4UL_8

5. Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen Willin’.  Powerhouse – ICP Promotions.  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TeHA4UL_8

6. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Seeds and stems again blues (from Ten for Two, premiered4/1/72. Produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono). Published on YouTube by RW Ike 3/4/21. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb_Bz4SssxM

7. Lost in the Ozone Again.  Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen.  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-btLulfFtds

8. Renshaw J.  Hollywood Boulevard “If it’s a good picture, it’s a Miracle.  The Austin Chronicle 6/11/02.  https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2002-01-11/hollywood-boulevard/

9. Hollywood Boulevard.  (2.99 to rent, 7.99 to buy). https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.d4b21240-28fc-0711-e4fb-1b9c11b25dde?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_pvs_piv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_pvs_piv-20

10. Commander Cody – Daddy’s Drinkin’ Up our Christmas. BarnestoneworthTown.  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHg1OxDFk1k

11.  Bill Kirchen – Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday.  Not On Label (Bill Kirchen Self-released).  2012.  https://www.discogs.com/release/5662456-Bill-Kirchen-Bill-Kirchens-Honky-Tonk-Holiday

12. Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show (from home!).  Bop Shop Records.  YouTube 12/18/20.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ1r7hDm4fg