Dear Reader, 

Have you ever heard of a “kitchen band”? I’ve seen them over the years, but I did not know that was the name. You see, I’m from southern Pennsylvania – a country girl. Over the course of my childhood, my family traveled to numerous bluegrass and country festivals throughout the east coast. Often, you would see a musician, foot propped up on an upside down washtub, a stick up the middle of the pan connected to strings of some sort as the musician plucked out the beat. This is called a washtub bass. That, and someone scratching across an old-time washboard – yes, the kind used to wash clothing – were fairly common sounds in those small country bands. Readers, do you play an unusual instrument? Tell us about it.

It was quite a surprise for me to find those same instruments over a half century later in Colorado, but not so for Mori Glidewell. This Texan gal had a mother who played the washtub bass. Fifteen years ago, when Mori’s mom, Bernice, moved to Colorado, she brought her washtub bass with her and the two women joined the Senior Center’s kitchen band. That band had musicians playing such instruments as washtub base, pot and spoon, washboard, harmonica and kazoos. Within a few years after joining, a leadership position opened, and Mori, a skilled musician, took over the role. Just as an aside, Bernice – Mori’s mom – played her washtub bass until she died at age 103. 

Before telling you more about this delightful band, I would be remiss if I didn’t introduce you to Mori Glidewell in more detail. She’s a woman who, as the idiom says, “marches to the beat of her own drum”. This 82-year-old woman has loved music and dance from childhood. “Music is a way of expressing yourself,” she said. What quote might describe you, Reader?

As a young girl, Mori played the tonette and a plastic ukulele. By age seven, she also started with tap dancing, tumbling and ballet. In her high school years, she added saxophone playing to her instrumental skills. She met her husband at age 18 when she was a ballroom dancer; he was 21 and also a dance teacher. Now, her instrumental repertoire has grown to include the djembe drum, tambourine, clavis (two sticks), Native American flute, and the Irish drum called bodrahn. Likewise, “I’ve been dancing for 71 years” she said. She also enjoys dancing the Latino dance the “cha-cha”. Even, three years ago, her love of dance had not waned when she and her son, Chuck – then 57 – took a tap dancing class together. Mori has also performed as a member of the Longmont djembe drum orchestra. 

In her career life, Mori worked for more than 22 years as an administrative assistant for the Boulder County Health Department in both Boulder and Longmont. Then in 1999, at age 63, she retired. However, this energetic woman, by year 2000, and for the next seven years, served on the Senior Advisory board and also reviewed proposals for low income housing in Longmont. As well, during elections she worked as a precinct judge for over 20 years to help manage the Longmont election process at the polls.

Mori, a Longmont resident since 1979, has other interests too. She plays pool. She started at the Senior Center and played for three years; then she joined a league and has been playing league pool for the past 16 years. She wins between 40 and 50% of the time for 8-9-ball pool. 

I asked Mori if she had a “bucket list” – you know – that list of things you want to do before you die. Mori does; she continues to scratch off her check-list of dreams as they are accomplished. Four years ago, on a Senior Center trip to Costa Rica, one of Mori’s hopes came true when she skimmed across a zip-line. A zip-line, with the use of a pulley system, takes a harnessed rider across a cable suspended in the air above the tree-tops. It’s often used by tourist attraction sites as a way for the rider to see and experience the forest, jungle or landscape without disturbing the environment. On another Senior Center trip she checked off a bucket-list item when she rode in a hot air balloon. Mori still has a number of yearnings to accomplish. “I don’t know if I’ll get to do them or not,” she said. Three items still in her dreams: trips to Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. Reader, what are some of your bucket-list desires?

 Another interesting fact about Mori – she wears her hair different colors. At the time of this writing, her hair was splotched with reds and purples. When I asked her about it, she said, “that’s who I am. It’s my way of saying this is me. You must take me as I am”. Do you have a style that reflects you? What is it, Reader?

 When Mori took over the former Senior Center Kitchen Band, she changed the name to Swingin’ Seniors Rhythm Band. She thought this would help with her initiative to blend in more participants and more traditional instruments. There are now about 15-plus members and their ages range from youngsters in their 60s up to a gentleman who is 99 years old.  Depending on the performance, the band now sports instruments such as ukulele, drum, recorder, washboard, kazoo, harmonica, washtub bass, djembe drum, violin, piano, trumpet, trombone, guitar, glockenspiel, triangle, maracas, bones, cabasa, ukulele, sax and other various percussion instruments. At any given show, it is common to see all the band members singing and truly enjoying their music. I’ve had the pleasure of attending their shows several times. The songs are dessert to your ears and the walk back in time triggers lovely memories. 

The band plays songs from 1912 up to some of the familiar tunes of the 80s. Most listeners like the songs from the 30s and 40s, Mori told me. They play weekly at assisted living facilities, day care centers for adults and occasionally at churches. The songs from that era “help people with dementia; it pulls their memory and they react to the songs,” Mori said. Two favorite oldies for the band are Spring-time in the Rockies and McNamara’s Band – both songs from the 30s.  What Mori enjoys about the band is “working with all that talent. They always amaze me. It’s their band [talking about the Swingin’ Seniors]. They have a say in how the music is arranged.” Readers, what’s a favorite old song of yours? 

At every performance, I heard the band sing Happy Birthday to the crowd for all audiences’ birthdays. I’ve recently heard Mori lead the spectators and Swingin’ Seniors in a four-part round of Row Row Row your Boat. The band also included stories and one-liners that make you laugh. For example, at one show, Bill, who plays the harmonica and other percussion instruments, put on a bunny ears headband (common around Easter time). As one of the band members told a story, Bill kept the crowd laughing with his “I’m all ears” one-liner. The crowd loved it. I saw band members encourage and cheer each other on as they played. Recently, the oldest member of the band, Duke Sablo, age 99, played a delightfully solo haunting version of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean with his harmonica. As the show ended, the Swingin’ Seniors played So Long, Farewell from Sound of Music. Jo Ladika, age 94, added a delicate tingle to the song as she played her triangle. At the concert’s end, the band members tipped their hats to say good-bye and the crowd cheered with calls of “bravo” and “come again”.  Readers, do you do something in your life that gives you great joy and puts a smile on the face of others? Truly, Swingin’ Seniors puts a smile on my face. 

I was also inspired to try playing the washboard. I’m not good. I spend a lot of time Googling other washboard players. It delays the time when I have to start chicken-scratching my way through what should sound like musical clicking and delightful rhythms. Yet, it does make me laugh with pleasure. I did say, “I’m not good,” but, gosh am I having fun!

Last month’s blog created a surge of responses. Readers enjoyed the quotes and the thoughtful discussion. As well, readers sent in suggestions for gift ideas. Here is a sampling of some of the lovely emails sent by you all!

Reader Maria says that her husband paid it forward when eating at Perkins and anonymously paid for the lunch of an older couple – the gentleman was a veteran from World War Two. 

Reader Martha shares that the blog addressed the fact that “folks reject others and their opinions without first checking”. She agrees with how important it is to listen and respect others’ opinions.  

Folks loved the quotes. In fact, Reader Debe decided to change her signature on her Gmail account by adding this quote: “Discussion is impossible with someone who claims not to seek the truth, but already to possess it.”   Nobel Prize winner, Romain Rolland.

Georgia Bertin from Longmont addressed the problem of gift giving to folks who don’t have room for items in their home or really don’t “need” anything. Her thoughtful ideas were:  “give consumable things. Like a wine or beer or gift basket of the month membership”. She gives examples such as Italian deli, chocolate, flowers, fruit, chutney or jams & jellies. Georgia also recommended consumables like candles, bath & body or beauty products, stationery, gardening gloves and seeds—“they are things that hang around longer than food or drink”.  She said, “The only gift cards I give are for restaurants or gas stations!” 

Linda from Florida said her favorite gift giving and receiving idea is gift certificates for massages. “I do enjoy a good massage!” Linda also shared that she was motivated to look for an opportunity to pay-it-forward. Let us know when you do! Have others been the recipient or receiver of a pay-it-forward gift?

Readers, I can’t believe it, but next month will be the one-year anniversary of the Drop in With Debbie blog. I’m so excited to think that we have come this far. Stick along for the ride. There are so many more interesting stories to come: the Wild West, professional roller skaters, artists, actor, singers and more. Each story is like a present waiting to be unwrapped. 

Debbie Noel

We have several ways to interact with Debbie!

• Email her at DroppingInWithDebbie@gmail.com

• Register at the blog site (very bottom of the page) to have your comments viewed online

• Send your letters to:

Debbie Noel
C/o Longmont Senior Center
910 Longs Peak Avenue
Longmont, Colorado 80501

Swingin’ Seniors Rhythm Band practices the first Monday of each month from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. This group performs regularly at senior residences and organizations in the community. Traditional and homemade instruments are welcome. The ability to read music is not required. Call Mori Glidewell at 303-651-0960 for more information.

Picture of band member includes –

Front row left to right: Terry Wallace, in her 60s – ukulele; Virginia Germer, age 80 – ukulele; Mori Glidewell, age 82 – leader, drum; Norma White, age 97 – washboard and kazoo; James O’hare, age 83 – harmonica

Back row left to right: Joe Mattis, age 68 – washtub bass, djembe drum, violin; Charlene Russell, age 76 – piano; Mark Springfield, age 67 – trumpet, kazoo; Joyce Ecker Herod, age 71 – trombone, piano, guitar, glockenspiel; Jo Ladika, age 94 – drum, harmonica, kazoo, triangle; William “Bill” Brooks, age 69 – harmonica, maracas and other various percussion; Duke Sablo, age 99 – harmonica, bones, cabasa, ukulele, sax. 

Band members absent the day of performance – Anne Keller, in her 70s, – recorder; Betty Morgan, in her 80s – washboard, kazoo, harmonica; Maggie Newman, in her 70s – harmonic, kazoo