saying goodbye to charlie
we are heading out of town again. driving back to Denmark Oregon (small town about 2 hours north of the california border along the coast). we were there just a few weeks ago to see R's grandpa, Charles Jensen. last Saturday, june 18, as we were driving back from camp mather, we got the call that grandpa Charlie passed away that morning. i am glad we saw him when we did. and i could tell he was very happy to have seen us as well together again. "you got your family back Rafael", he said to him.
Charlie lived a full life. a descendant of the notorious Jesse James and a self taught jazz musician (he taught himself to play the piano), he sold pianos in Portland, where he met his wife Wilma, who was 20 years his junior (she's still young today, only 80!). he bought a farm in Denmark, about 85 years ago, before there was a highway, or electricity, or phones, he taught music in the high school and created the school band. he built his farm and his house with his bare hands, raised cows, raised all manner of vegetables and fruits, but specially blueberries and apples trees, cultivated his own land, raised seven children, dealt with the bears, mountain lions, deer, and the relentless and unforgiving storms typical of the pacific northwest. he cut down trees for the logs that would carry the electric and phone lines along the rugged terrain of what is now highway one. in the 1930's working as a musician, he was hired for a gig on a passenger/cargo ship that travelled to Asia, including a stop in Manila. this was the time between the world wars, and he remembered hearing the talented Filipino jazz musicians perform the music of Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington during the audacious Carnival Queen pageants in the once elegant dance halls near Manila Bay, with no music sheets. he had a keen memory and could recount for you the maiden names of most women from Gold Beach to Coos Bay, who got married to whom, who got divorced, who got remarried, who their children were.
Charlie was a true pioneer and a true musician. he was made of sturdy stock, was rarely sick. he was smart, kind hearted, loving, had a witty sense of humor, yet was firm, disciplined, and hard working. he played music with heart and taught generations of children in rural southern oregon the art of jazz. he was 103 when he died in his sleep, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren, in the house he built many decades ago. they placed his bed near the large living room window, so he could see his blueberry patch, the redwood trees, and the pacific ocean. he died peacefully in his sleep. Charlie left behind a rich legacy: of music, of children, of strength and courage, of determination, of apple trees and a variety of blueberries (not to mention the recipe for the best tomato juice and beef jerky that compares to no other!), and of timeless, priceless memories. here was a man who truly lived "joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware". Goodbye Piano Man! Thank you so much for the music and the life you've given.
Charlie lived a full life. a descendant of the notorious Jesse James and a self taught jazz musician (he taught himself to play the piano), he sold pianos in Portland, where he met his wife Wilma, who was 20 years his junior (she's still young today, only 80!). he bought a farm in Denmark, about 85 years ago, before there was a highway, or electricity, or phones, he taught music in the high school and created the school band. he built his farm and his house with his bare hands, raised cows, raised all manner of vegetables and fruits, but specially blueberries and apples trees, cultivated his own land, raised seven children, dealt with the bears, mountain lions, deer, and the relentless and unforgiving storms typical of the pacific northwest. he cut down trees for the logs that would carry the electric and phone lines along the rugged terrain of what is now highway one. in the 1930's working as a musician, he was hired for a gig on a passenger/cargo ship that travelled to Asia, including a stop in Manila. this was the time between the world wars, and he remembered hearing the talented Filipino jazz musicians perform the music of Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington during the audacious Carnival Queen pageants in the once elegant dance halls near Manila Bay, with no music sheets. he had a keen memory and could recount for you the maiden names of most women from Gold Beach to Coos Bay, who got married to whom, who got divorced, who got remarried, who their children were.
Charlie was a true pioneer and a true musician. he was made of sturdy stock, was rarely sick. he was smart, kind hearted, loving, had a witty sense of humor, yet was firm, disciplined, and hard working. he played music with heart and taught generations of children in rural southern oregon the art of jazz. he was 103 when he died in his sleep, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren, in the house he built many decades ago. they placed his bed near the large living room window, so he could see his blueberry patch, the redwood trees, and the pacific ocean. he died peacefully in his sleep. Charlie left behind a rich legacy: of music, of children, of strength and courage, of determination, of apple trees and a variety of blueberries (not to mention the recipe for the best tomato juice and beef jerky that compares to no other!), and of timeless, priceless memories. here was a man who truly lived "joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware". Goodbye Piano Man! Thank you so much for the music and the life you've given.
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