In Memorium

In keeping with the spirit of Samhain, I wanted to remember my Uncle Fred, who passed away this past spring. Fred loved theater and film, and wrote several humorous plays on idealistic themes. My favorite was "The Enchanted Saddle," a story about a magical saddle which helped protect a small western town. The play opens with "The Ballad of the Enchanted Saddle":

( The Ballad of the Enchanted Saddle )

At the end of the play, the cast sings a final chorus:

So now at last we've reached the end
Of the legend that springs from Wishbone Bend
And the saddle that guards that town on the old frontier.

A great reward I will have earned
If just one lesson you have learned:
Always stand up for the things that men hold dear.


Fred was a teacher, a political activist, and an endlessly imaginative and patient uncle. He always stood up for the things that men hold dear. And he is deeply missed.