Twenty-three years ago, I was co-teaching general music with a very fine guitar player, Kyle. I did not see it coming: have brought two books of autographs to share with the kids from my dad that my dad had got for me when he worked as a musician at Harrah's Tahoe. They are all signed to me, Kevin.
I had passed out two books of 8 x 10 glossy photos, and at the end of the hour, only got one back. I asked the kids to stay for a few minutes past the bell, but folded, and went back to ask the principal the following week if it had shown up. Looking back of course, I wish I had made the kids stay and made a scene, but it was just so shocking that somebody would steal something so personal, that I really didn’t know what to do. As I'm known for being assertive and confrontational, can't tell you how uncharacteristic this was of me. When theft happens, it is sometimes shocking - especially when it is from a group of 10 and 11-year-olds.
I had passed out two books of 8 x 10 glossy photos, and at the end of the hour, only got one back. I asked the kids to stay for a few minutes past the bell, but folded, and went back to ask the principal the following week if it had shown up. Looking back of course, I wish I had made the kids stay and made a scene, but it was just so shocking that somebody would steal something so personal, that I really didn’t know what to do. As I'm known for being assertive and confrontational, can't tell you how uncharacteristic this was of me. When theft happens, it is sometimes shocking - especially when it is from a group of 10 and 11-year-olds.
Wanted to post this plea at the holidays of 2020, but felt too disappointed in humanity. Asking after a quarter-century for the return of something is a bit of an ask, but imaging hearing nothing back felt too depressing. I also have no idea why this has been particularly on my mind and bothering me lately, but the metaphors for loss during a pandemic are pretty obvious.
The signatures are all made out to me, Kevin (the stars would get a list of names, and thought that everyone on the list was in the band or on the crew, so you'll see many "thank you's"), from everybody from my musical childhood musical hero Mac Davis, to Dolly Parton, to Jose Feliciano, and as my dad died in 2006, the collection is one of the few things from him left that I really treasure.
Kids are not really able to keep secrets: I know that somebody at the school, who is now a person in middle-age, (sorry to break that to you if you hadn’t thought about it before), as the 10-year-old of yesterday is now 33, knows what happened to it.
The signatures are all made out to me, Kevin (the stars would get a list of names, and thought that everyone on the list was in the band or on the crew, so you'll see many "thank you's"), from everybody from my musical childhood musical hero Mac Davis, to Dolly Parton, to Jose Feliciano, and as my dad died in 2006, the collection is one of the few things from him left that I really treasure.
Kids are not really able to keep secrets: I know that somebody at the school, who is now a person in middle-age, (sorry to break that to you if you hadn’t thought about it before), as the 10-year-old of yesterday is now 33, knows what happened to it.
Condolences are kind but unnecessary: all I seek is their return. Please think of anyone you know from Petaluma, and share this posting with them. If you heard something, please run it down/check it out before sharing it with me. I have no desire to hassle the innocent, or even really the guilty.
Thanks for spreading the word. I'd like that huge, 3 ring binder full of my childhood back.
