Desert Messenger

12 www.DesertMessenger.com November 18, 2015 Read Desert MESSENGER E-edition online @ www.MyQuartzsite.com Traveling with Gypsy Jane by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) Music with an Attitude (Dawn and Skipper) Key West, Florida. You can go dancing every night in Key West. When I discovered that, I gave up doing aerobics in the park to my rock 'n roll tape. Danc- ing to live music is a lot more fun (and a lot cheaper than a psychia- trist!). Many cities have dancing only on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Some cities have no dancing at all; I'm not there long. I used to go to the Schooner Wharf every night. They have a lot of different groups: some locals on a regular basis and some imported for the long weekend. Their music is usually good, but one night it wasn't so hot; so I branched out. That night I discovered The Bull, Captain Tony's, and The Green Parrot -- all with excellent music. Now those are my regulars. One Saturday night at The Bull, I heard Fremont John. He was absolutely terrific, and I danced and danced. The next day at the Unitarian Congregation, I was amazed to see that he was the singer -- a little bit of synchronicity in my life. When I went to hear him at The Bull that evening, I asked him which woman was his wife and was surprised to hear that she was the speaker at the Unitarian service. She spoke on the spiritual significance and healing quality of labyrinths, a subject that fascinated me. She is spearheading a movement to have a labyrinth in Key West, hopefully on the hospi- tal grounds -- a perfect location. I asked her to contact me when the project got off the ground; so I could contribute toward this very worthwhile endeavor. Before I move on to the reason for this story, I have to mention Miss Vicky. Miss Vicky is the skip- ping, dancing, high-energy, quick- as-lightning, butt-pinching (some- times breast-bearing) waitress at The Bull, and she is PRICELESS. She didn't pinch my butt for the first few times I was there, but now I get my butt pinched regularly and for some strange reason it makes me feel like I belong. She has the most upbeat attitude I have ever seen in a waitress and obviously loves her work. Miss Vicky is one of the reasons that make The Bull great. She is by far the best wait- ress in Key West, and whatever she is paid, she deserves a raise. (Tell your boss Gypsy Jane said so!) I discovered a REALLY great singer who sings songs I love and can dance to at The Bull two nights ago. I went back last night, and I'm going back again tonight. (I usu- ally arrive well after dark; so I can enjoy every single minute of the Florida sunshine and Key West's spectacular sunsets.) Dawn, the singer, sings alone on the stage. I've heard tell that her husband used to accompany her on the gui- tar. When they divorced, she was kind of left high and dry; so she bought one of those music ma- chines that can be programmed to provide different accompaniments and learned how to use it. And how did I get the title for this story "Mu- sic with Attitude?" Well, Dawn has lived long enough to have learned some of life's lessons, and she often shares these with the audience. (I've never seen Dawn take a break, and when you sing for four hours straight, you have to include other stuff.) One time during spring break, I saw a young guy approach the stage, but he didn't stay long. Dawn said over the microphone so everybody could hear, "Don't come up here and tell me you're going to 'rock my world' and something about being an older woman." Many women in the audience ap- plauded, shouted approval, and Dave's DIESEL DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE David Atherton 605-999-0720 • Pat Atherton 816-797-5460 Located at Quartzsite Marketplace 50 E. Kuehn WELDING & FABRICATING SERVICES Mobile Shop - Machine Shop Services - Hydraulic Hose Repair - THRIFT STORE Benefitting the La Paz County Animal Shelter in Parker Supported by your generous donations! 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 held a clenched fist high in the air. I can't remember all Dawn said, but one thing was, "I want some- one who wants to learn." Now I've heard many talented singers in my life, and Dawn is one of them, but here's what I've never seen before: a singer with a dog act. Dawn has a tip jar by the stage that says "Skipper's College Fund." Skipper is her tiny, white poodle -- reminds me of those cuddly stuffed animals or a wind-up toy. (Dawn says Skipper is the best thing she got out of her divorce.) Skipper sits patiently in the background until he sees a person approach the stage, money in hand. Then he scurries to the front, pokes his head between the wooden bars, takes the money in his mouth, and drops it at Dawn's feet. Each time he is rewarded with a doggy treat from Dawn -- a great incentive. From the number of treats he gets, I am surprised he is such a small dog. Dawn says Skip- per prefers the taste of larger bills.... smart dog (smarter owner). ~*~*~*~*~*~ You are the music while the music lasts.....T. S. Eliot ~*~*~*~*~*~ Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Liv- ing the Ordinary Extraordinarily (Stories from the Road). For an update on Jane's travels and writ- ing, visit her website (janefinley. com) and/or read "Traveling with Gypsy Jane" and "Poems from the Road" in The Desert Messenger (desertmessenger.com) beginning March 5, 2014. In the November 4th Edition of the Des- ert Messenger, the article appearing on the front page contained a typographi- cal error. The statement: "The Picnic at Gunny's Museum is a Thrivent Action Team Event." should have read: "The Picnic at Gunny's Museum is ALSO a Thrivent Action Team Event." We apologize for any inconvenience this error may have caused. CORRECTION

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