|
STORIES AND LETTERS FROM THE FESTERS
THEMSELVES
PAGE 1
Thanks John for making music. Cuz of you We've met some of the best folks in the world!
Priners and Shriners are full of gold! Nuff Said. ~donna (and the rest of
the festers)
Just for starters.....I wanted to Thank you
all for going the distance. I knew that all people connected by John Prine are good
people. There is some kind of magic in those lyrics that has given us some kind of
bond, glue, window into each other that makes us friends. I knew that some of you
were apprehensive, and came to the shows and the fest anyway. Maybe you were a
little scared, but didn't I tell you that you needn't be, you found out. I am so
thankful to all of you, you do justice to the man and his music. Most of all I want
to thank John for allowing me to invade his life, for letting me in and allowing me to
share it. He's a lucky lucky man, and it has overflowed into our little cups of
life ~Reeda
(some of these letters have been edited to protect the guilty, the
innocent, insane, drunk, wet , muddy, cautious, irresponsible, responsible, tired, hungry,
tin-eared, scared, bold, committed, uncommitted, those who should be committed, and a few
who have had their brains blow up....)
I've been
reading all the letters from Crushfest, and I started thinking we (PMS, Crusher, babyruth)
knew nobody when we ventured to La Crosse yet everywhere we went Prine fans were there! I
really think Prine fans have that family kinda of feeling. I never knew anyone but Crusher
before we left on our trip but i sure came away with a whole bunch of new friends! (even
PMS even if she won't admit it!) Thank you all for a really special time.
~jikes
I can't believe how wonderful you all are! I met so many Priners and Prine
Shriners at the 3 WI shows and Crush..fest that I can't say enough. People who appreciate
his music have a certain appreciation for life's little treasures. They don't need to be
coddled or catered to...they are easy going, even natured, sensitive, (and some of them
who live in a town that smells like chocolate are in tune with their feminine sides) I
just can't get over how Mother Nature just stomped all over us and nobody minded...as long
as we were all together, like old friends. It will always amaze me...and I will continue
to instigate these gatherings as long as John continues to instigate these feelings. I
thank you all for being there, for showing up, for sharing your stories, your
personalities, your love for a kind man and his music and for just being the real folks
that you are! See you all soon.......or sooner or later..............Geez, I just want to
hold on to that thumping in my heart and those smiles in head forever!! ~Reeda aka
PMS*red
It's a rainy Sunday morning at Lake Marie and all the shriners have left
for home....All that's left is a Big old Goofey Man, Wearing this Big Old Goofey
Grin....This was a few days of singing and smiling with lots of real wonderful John Prine
Fans and a chance to enjoy old and new friends.....I want to send out a big Thank You to
everyone who came to Lake Marie and the concert with us....What a thrill to hear John say
before he sang our song "Have a Great Time at Lake Marie Shriners" and also what
a thrill to be able to call all of you my Friend!!! From My Heart...THANK YOU ALL.....Love
Ya...Crusher
I've had a couple days to collect my thoughts and smile a bunch so I just wanted to
tell you how wonderful it was having met such really nice people last week....Every place
we went all week had some special time or event that made us smile and laugh and I think
it must have been the company I kept...I will always admire and be thankful for all the
work you do and how it joins so many nice folks together and now that I got to know the
person who does all this work I really am a lucky man to call her a friend cause you are a
Special Lady....Thank You for sharing that week in Wisconsin and I hope you and Terry can
come and visit some weekend...I hope everyday brings you and your family lots of Big Hugs
and many Smiles...God Bless ya....Thanks..XXOO ~Crusher
I know this is late but I
wanted to wait until I had just the right words. I believe the song " You've Got
Gold" was written just for you and Crusher. This was the first time Lighten' Head and
I have ever been out by ourselves and you guys made it a trip that we will never forget. I
think everyone we know is tired of hearing about how much fun we had and how special
EVERYONE we met is to us. We honestly had a WONDERFUL time. Thank you to everyone that was
there. You folks made a special time for us EXTRA special. Special thanks to Donna- you
are the absolute best, I would quit my day job any day to play for you while you sang. It
was an honor to play and sing with you. Also, Crusher, Q-ball and Jike- THE BOYS FROM
BURLINGTON- We have NEVER felt so much at home than when we met you guys. EXTRA,EXTRA
thanks to you. To anyone who may read this.... If you EVER have the chance to meet these
people,, Go out of your way to do so, I promise you will not ! be dissapointed. Thank you
all so much for making this a truly unforgettable trip. We can not wait till we get to do
it again. You ALL have an open invitation to our place ANYTIME. Sincerely, Rich and Julie
Barnett.
Just a note to say how nice
it was to finally get to meet you in person. You are as much fun in real life as in
cyberspace. Sorry we couldn't meet ahead of the show for a drink and chat. Maybe next
time. I have meetings on Monday nights usually, so please say hi to everyone for me and
tell them how much I enjoyed just being with people who were having as much fun as I was,
loving every minute of JP. I'll try to drop in when I can. Regardless, you all seem like
old friends. Thanks for being such great folks. marymac
Hi, First, I would like to thank you for making Sue feel like part of the Prine Shrine
family. I told her people in the midwest were friendly, but it sounds like you made her
feel especially welcome. I have to say I was a bit uneasy about sending her off to meet
people through the internet. However, any misgivings I might have had were put to rest
after her first phone call. You all have made quite the impression on her. Must be that
John Prine connection you all share. Sue hasn't stopped talking about what wonderful
people she met and what a great time she had. Well, other than that long and lonely drive
to and from Wisconsin. We tried to sell all of her belongings before she returned to
Vermont.. however her cat gave us trouble. Now we don't have any money to set her up in
her new life in Wisconsin! By the way, you made up some really nice Crush fest t-shirts. I
really like the one she brought back for me as a souvenier. Please feel free to e-mail me
if you have any messages you would like to have conveyed to Sue. . ..Kristi (Sue's
middle (wo)man who has a computer
Now, for a note from Sue:
I hit Niagara Falls as the sun came up Sunday morning. I had a lot of fun (at
Crushfest), really glad I came. What better way to spend a few days than to hang out
with a bunch of cool people playing, drinking, eating, singing, (raining) all with
something in common. It was great meeting you and hanging out with you and the whole
gang. I think we all might have made some long lasting friendships . I hope so. I'm
sure I'll be seeing you again in the not too distant future. Hell, if I can get to
Milwaukee to see John Prine - I can go anywhere! Thanks for putting some excitement
& adventure into my usually dull, normal life. Sue
Reeda, the pics are great! and the memories and smiles flowed! A review? Well, here
goes a try at it: I just love a Kentucky boy in a suit and tie! John had a ball pickin and
grinnin for us, but one thing I noticed and throughly enjoyed was watching Dave playing.
He gets so into his music that his body and instrument appear to become one entity. With
his eyes closed and sexy smile I would become intense watching him and listening to him.
Lots of Priners are gonna have lots of things to say so I'll make this short....The Crush
Fest? Shoot, any friend of Prine is a friend of mine! nuff said...Well done, hotdog bun,
his sister in law is a nun!!! p.s. I'm still packed, we could do this again anytime soon
if ya want!!!! ....wanna do fest here next year? or next time depending on
tour schedule? friend of mine said all the shriners oughta email the casino I work at
(inundate them actually) requesting they book John. We have a new entertainment theatre
that seats about 1200 being built and will be completed this fall. He said if we just e'em
to death and request Oh Boy to communicate with the Grand maybe, just maybe...hmmmm who
knows? John at a casino, bizarre? I don't know...Bonnie Raitt played one, Ringo played,
Robert Cray, Steppenwolf, Stephen Stills, list goes on and on....see ya hunnybunny! ~Donna
A Big Hug To You for opening your front and back door for all of us Big Ole Goofy Guys
and Gals during the Fest. Thanks for the shower, towels, bed, hot water for coffee, nutty
bar when I needed chocolate, chance to do a wheelchair ballet, meeting Edd, watching the
birds in the early a.m., the opportunity to see you in your Fruit of the Looms (haha) and
escpecially the blue umbrella between my legs with the wind in my hair and the smell of
chocolate in the air! You're the Best!!!!! sugar on a donut.. It was so neat
spending time with y'all. It makes an old Priner Proud to know that there is another
generation to get teary eyed in the dark while the man shares his soul with you. I plan on
going to the Indiana show too along with Fannie and Spin (whom you haven't met yet) and
Crusher will be there too! Hope to have a couple of my daughters with me. As time draws
nearer let's work on a meeting place ahead of show for a toast. I also have a great
Picture of y'all that I took that I'd like to share with you. see you soon Thank you so
much Reeda...thanks for being born, and growing up (well, getting older anyway), hearing
Prine music, loving it, getting a computer, learning to use it, creating a shrine, getting
obsessed with it, and making it possible for Priners everywhere to get together and do
really cool things like eat in the rain, sleep in the rain, sing in the rain, dance in the
rain, did I mention drinking in the rain? Just plain ole thanks from the bottoms of my
"still" muddy feet, pal!!!!! Real life bites, lets be groupies! Right Here
John!!!!!!!! ~Donna
And Donna....thanks for just being Donna, I never imagined you were who you were, and
could not have enjoyed the whole thing as much as I did without you. You are truly a gem
in the world of Prine - you put the goofy in the big old world and you add the measure of
treasure that gave us the pleasure. Darnit, and we never did get to have the grits!
Reeda aka PMS*red
next page--->
|
