THREE PEAKS
The writing life can be a time of many changes.
There are years when you write in a continuous flow and you do so without causing more than an occasional ripple in the lives of others. Then, there are times when you feel that things you have written have actually brought welcome changes to other people. You know it for the simple reason they tell you such has been the case. It males you feel better.
We – writers, musicians and artists - I suppose, for such genuine perks from time to time. It is common with anyone who writes consistently. There are high spots and I have hit three such times which have meant a great deal to me.
One came when I was just a kid. I had written a short poem which I submitted to our national church paper for young people. It was published in the paper which served as a program guide for youth groups. The minister's wife at our church helped gather program materials for inspirational programs at the weekly youth meetings. One Sunday evening she handed me a clipping to read to the group. I read it to them as it was including the initials “A.L.M.” by which it was signed . I never told her or my classmates that it was the poem I had written, but the experience encouraged me to write more.
Later, in 1970 it was my privilege to write the book and score for a musical comedy which was produced as the annual musical by the local high school music department. It ran for a week plus a Saturday matinee for grade-school kids bussed in from all over the county. All went well. The big thrill for me, playing string base in the pit orchestra, was on opening night when the house lights faded slowly and the roll of kettle drums and a slash of brass became the overture. It overwhelmed me - completely. What a thrill! All week long I saw and heard what I had written come to life before me!
The third incident is a puzzler.
While in the U.S.Army Air Corp. at Langley Field, Va., I had written a short article concerning the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace,located in Staunton, Virginia. My parent lived a block away on up the hill from the birthplace, and I walked past it almost every day I sold that piece to Christian Science “Monitor” for twenty dollars and, at about that same time, I was shipped overseas and wasn't state-side when it appeared in print. As the mail caught up with me, I received clippings from a score or more of papers which had reprinted the Wilson piece I had a letter from the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace asking me why I had not signed the guest register.
That was just a part of the surge. Years later, in 1978, a book was published “Woodrow Wilson in Retrospect” edited by Raymond F. Pisney (Library of Congress 78-51213) with an Introductory essay by Dr. Robert G. Hartje, Professor of History, Wittenburg University, Springfield, Ohio.
The kicker for me was, and is, that of the twenty-nine selections in the book – mine was the fourth. Just ahead of my comments are those of Franklin D. Roosevelt and I am followed by that of Colgate W. Darden, Jr. a Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and a President of the University of Virginia. Today, when I look at that book, I can't believe I was every among such an exalted company ...names like Wertenbaker, Stanley, Gaines, Sir Leslie Munro, Barkley, Stevenson, Dodds, Krock - governors, historians, publishers, writers, politicians!
In addition, on page three the esteemed writer of the preface chose to make use of two quotes from my tribute to Woodrow Wilson.
I know, now, a great deal of what artist Andy Warhol meant when he spoke of everyone's"“fifteen minutes of fame"
A.L.M. May 26, 003 [c978wds]
