An Iowa Concert

Jack, my brother-in-law,  was visiting Iowa in winter.  Besides constructing snow men and throwing around balls of frozen water, I wanted to entertain him.  Iowa style.  I asked if he would like to go to a concert?  He would.  I informed him we could have supper there also.  "Great!  We have places like that in Houston with outstanding new bands," he replied.

"Yeah.  Just like that."  Sort-of.

I told Jack the name of the place we were going was called The Corn Crib.  He came back with, "I don't want to go there.  I don't want to eat outside."

Outside?  What was he talking about?  This was Iowa in the dead of winter.  It was 7 degrees outside. Did he think I would eat outside?

Then my light bulb came on.  There is a spot on my acreage we call the corn crib.  It is a cement slab in the middle of the property with a fantastic view of the river and fields and tractors rambling down the road.  This is the spot when work is done and relaxing is called for.  It's also where the corn crib used to stand.  This Texas boy thought anything called the corn crib was for relaxing outside.  I've been called crazy many a time, but not that crazy to eat a full meal outside in near subzero temps.

After clarifying this was indeed a restaurant with heat and indoor plumbing, he was in for the adventure.  Jack dressed in his best blue jeans and a fine looking shirt.  He was in for a surprise!

We hurried out of the icy wind into The Corn Crib.  Jack took the place in.  Informal restaurant seating on the left, a convince store on the right with random tables scattered through out.  A large circle was cleared by the windows with chairs around the perimeter. The band was warming up in them.

"Look!"  I cried.  "There's a table right next to the band."

Jack squeezed into his chair.  "This is it?  This is the band?  I don't think there is a person under 80 in it.  And the instruments...That lady has a...What is that anyway?"

"Well, it's a...I think it's a...."  I had no idea what it was.  It appeared to be a large cane with a cowbell, a bicycle horn, a metal box, some jingle bells, and another kind of bell decorating the top.  She was armed with a drum stick ready play it some how.

There were a few guitars scattered around the chairs, a banjo, several harmonicas, and a man with two spoons.  A couple the chairs just held people sitting and smiling.

Jack inspected the menu.  "What do you recommend?"

I informed him The Corn Crib had won an award for it's hot beef sandwich.  I had not actually tried it.  This was going to be the night to indulge in an award winning meal.  Jack agreed.

The band began to warm up.  An elderly man was sitting at a table with a suitcase at his feet.  What appeared to be the band's spokesman inquired of this man if he was playing tonight.  He shook his white head no.  My curiosity was aroused as to what was in that suitcase.  I supposed I was to never find out.

Our meal arrived as the band started to play.  Steaming tender roast nestled between two soft pieces of bread.  Mashed potatoes adorned the rest of the plate.  All was drenched in brown gravy.  Our server bet I could not eat the entire thing.  I proved him wrong!  Jack had to roll me out the door!

Everyone in the chairs took turns choosing songs.  The mike was passed around the circle so all the participating band members could sing.  The lady with the musical cane used her drum stick to tap the cow bell or the metal box.  One man strummed his guitar while simultaneously blowing his harmonica.  The man with the spoons thumped them against his knee.  It was loud, too loud for a conversation.

Jack did manage to yell at me.  "I suppose the spoon man has a sore knee by the end of the night."

I supposed the man had a calloused knee from playing those musical spoons.

Six songs into the concert the man with the suitcase rose and joined the band.  The mystery as to what the suitcase held was soon to be solved.

Slowly he opened the lid and pulled out an ordinary board cutting saw.  Was he the resident magician?  Was he going to saw someone in half?  Was I sitting too close to the band that I would be volunteered?

I started to rise to sprint out the door when the white haired man began to play a tune with the ordinary saw.  That was a musical instrument?

Yes it was!  He played a couple of solos.  It was easy to recognize the song.  The saw laid across his legs as he bent it to and fro.  I have no idea how the tune was actually played.  I decided it was just talent.  That or he had goofed off many times when he was supposed to be actually working with that saw.

Everyone in the band had a genuine smile on their face.  There was ice and a bitter wind outside.  But inside The Corn Crib everyone was warm, toasty, full, and having a grand time.  Jack suggested we come again some time.  Next time we should bring Claudia.  I suppose that will happen when the temperatures rise above 80.