Festivals come! Festivals go! Memories linger forever!
I noticed a small announcement in the local newspaper recently… “WHITE LIGHTNING FESTIVAL, June 29 and 30 in Cumberland Gap!” The information presented the name of our Director of Tourism, Carl Nichols as the contact for information, including the telephone number and email address. This valuable information will be listed at the close of this month’s column. In the meantime, just the thought of this upcoming event triggered my thought processes, and I experienced another Avalanche of Memories!
With the opening of the White Lightning Festival just a few months away, I can already envision myself creeping, almost silently, through the least likely avenue of resistance into Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, on that fateful day. I will be on my way to the weekly breakfast encounter that I look forward to with much delight. My mother, Geneva Burchette will celebrate her 92nd birthday, come September. Honestly, she and the Good Lord are the only two who can recall just how many breakfasts and “shoot the bull” sessions she and my late daddy and I enjoyed before he went on to “sing in the heavenly choir.”
Now, it is usually just the two of us (though my big, little brother Randy might venture in once and awhile). With my fairly new “self imposed personal improvement plan,” she stays on the fringe of frustration. Instead of mother stirring up an old time country breakfast that would feed a small army…bacon…country ham…pork tenderloin…sausage (always at least two selections)…biscuits…fried eggs…milk gravy…coffee…juice…ACCENTED with butter, homemade jelly, home grown sourwood honey…sorghum molasses…and a closing helping of a “big pone of hot bread” to dab into the sweet stuff…she now cooks to my limited order!
Admittedly, this is the only day of the week that I “break down” and treat myself to those tasty little biscuits and the finishing touch we have always called “hot bread.” Usually, NOW, it is either a few slices of ONE of the meats mentioned earlier…one fried or scrambled egg…a glass of juice…and about three cups of hot coffee! Surely, in my heart, I do agree with her when she says, “Well, it wouldn’t hurt you to eat a little milk gravy once a week!” but I always resist and stay with my “program.” As of this writing, I have a goal to shed 40 pounds in exactly 150 days…only 31 more pounds to go!
Looking ahead, I will bet you that the White Lightning Festival will be the starting topic of our discussion…the traffic problems…the congestion…wondering about how many people will attend…speculating on the benefits it brings. Now, the pages in my memory book are already starting to turn back in time! I am fondly remembering the birth of another great festival that was created by three great Americans who just happened to meet on the main street on a sunny Saturday morning, “way back when”. Hopes…dreams…big ideas…bounced off the walls of the small gift shop that stood behind us… “What about this? What about that? Crafts? Music” Two of my late, great, very good friends and I laid it all out…” What is the best thing to call it? asked Mrs. Helen Ramsey…long time resident of the “upper end” of town. (She just happened to be the retired Registrar of Lincoln Memorial University, too).
“I think we ought to call it the Cumberland Gap Folk Fest”, exclaimed Mrs. Mary Hopson…proprietor of the crafts shop…wife of Mayor Curtis Hopson…and local history buff…mother of a houseful of boys to keep straight AND an expert on picking wild mushrooms…AND the wonderful authority and collector of priceless mountain wild flowers! Of course, I chimed in with my “two cents worth” and we all agreed! The birth of the first Cumberland Gap Folk Fest had just occurred. We then divided up what we thought were “fair” roles for each of us to perform in the early organizational stages and set our calendars in synch. What great thoughts come to mind as I recall how we worked tirelessly to bring original crafts, music, food and fun to the town of my rearing.
I won’t attempt in this writing to list all of the names of the folks who jumped on board and helped to make the first few years of “folk festing” an overwhelming success…BUT, I must mention a few names, lest they take me out to the woodshed and “whup up on me.” Mrs. Judy Barton and Mrs. Betty Howard are the first two ladies that come to mind…always willing to do anything they could to make the little town of Cumberland Gap show off its best face. They were always down in the trenches…working…promoting! Other folks like the late John Cawood, early morning icon at WMIK; David Kirby, LMU PR Director; Ray Carter, patriarch of the “New Carter Family” bluegrass band extraordinaire. (Is that where Larry got his music talent and love for Bluegrass for Breakfast)? The Daniel Boone Walkers from North Carolina; Mountain Empire Community College’s Arts and Crafts department, especially, Sandy Butler…the greatest potter I have ever known. On and On! I could write pages on top of pages about the fun and fellowship that we all enjoyed. What a success it was…even on a budget that is probably best described as a “shoestring.”
How fast time flies! Though I can remember much, but in my “aging state” I have forgotten a whole bunch, too! Some parting thoughts and memories from the best of times:
Lincoln Memorial University, with its long standing reputation of community service, served as host for the closing event…the picturesque outdoor amphitheatre at the Spring House welcomed from Nashville, Tennessee…the world’s champion bluegrass band. Folks, you have never heard as much good bluegrass in such an idyllic spot. The first outdoor concert was wonderful!
In the second year of the Folk Fest, we were honored to have reached an agreement with the Hall of Fame Great, Lefty Frizzell as the featured entertainer…following a couple of warm-up group’s music and comedy musings…the packed audience waited patiently for the star of the “Grand Ole Opry” to come on stage…and do his thing…
Finally…cheers turned almost to tears as “old Lefty” finally walked from his camper dressing room…up the limestone steps and out to the grass covered “center stage.” He tried and tried to sing, but finally apologized and said he was “so hoarse” he just couldn’t perform…Obviously, we were all so disappointed, but little did we know the real story. Sadly, it all made sense to us a few weeks later…Lefty Frizzell passed away from throat and lung cancer.
Festivals do come and go…great memories flood our souls…People work hard! They devote many hours toward a making events a success…hopefully, we will all volunteer and help folks like my friend Carl Nichols and the many other folks who will labor so intently for the success of the White Lightening Festival, 2012. Looking even farther ahead, I surely do hope we have a “4th Annual” version of it next year! Festivals come! Festivals go! Memories linger forever!
Hey…I almost forgot! There are some earlier AND later events scheduled for our own little world as well. First, it is such a pleasure for Phil Greer and me to help showcase talented gospel music artists for the Tri-State area. Again with the generosity of LMU and their willingness to devote the wonderful facilities…we will host the eighth successive year for our friend Michael Combs and his concert of music and Christian witness. This happens at Tex Turner Arena on Friday, April 6.
THEN, it is our honor and pleasure…because of popular request of our Sunday morning listening and viewing audience...to present another great singer and witness returning to the Arena after a few years’ absence…Carroll Roberson will be in concert on May 18.
Finally…I wish to “put a bug” in the ear of all of the old Pennington Gap High School graduates who may be living locally or within the distribution range of our Avalanche of Memory publication. My friend, Tami North tells me that excitement is mounting about the CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AND REUNION of all Pennington Gap High School graduates OR attendees. Everyone needs to come and be a part of this great event…whether you graduated or not! Dates to remember: June 29 through July 1.
Great summary of upcoming happenings, too, on the new alumni website…http://alumni.lmunet.edu!
As always, my sincere pleasure to share my musings about the best of times. Hope I have helped you to have your own personal Avalanche of Memories. Don’t forget to send that Valentine…might also be sweeter to add a dozen roses for her. Give credit to Cupid!
See you on the radio!
