Willie Bays

The other day our email brought two photos from Randal Bays.  The first, of eldest son Willie was accompanied by this note:

A handsome young man, with his dad’s old trumpet, the one that survived the sousaphone collision in 1968.  We just got it refurbished and he seems to enjoy playing it as much as the alto sax, which he’s playing in the school band.   By the way, Susan’s PhD diploma is on the mantel over his head.

Hard on the heels of that message came the picture of Owen Bays, Son Number Two, with this information attached:

Owen is playing clarinet at school, taking private piano lessons, and playing one hell of a concertina.  As you can imagine, the competition for sonic space around here is intense.  I have to get my playing time in while they’re at school or else stay up late.

We feel so honored to be kept in the loop of this family’s doings! Without grandchildren of our own, we gladly accept the role of Honorary Oysterville Grandparents (although we are careful never to use the acronym – only the entire title!)

Owen Bays

Their real grandpa, Jim Waters, had this to say:

Jeezum crow, is there “anything” musical these guys don’t play?   Pipe organ, anyone?

Yep!  We concur with that sentiment!  And if we had a pipe organ, I’m sure it would soon be on their list of mastered instruments.  Willie was playing our piano last summer without a hitch and I’m sure Susan Knutzen could give him a pointer or two about the pump organ at the church and he’d be off and running (or pumping) there, too.

Hooray for the Bays Boys!  And hooray for their parents, Susan Waters and Randal Bays!