Until this week-end, I thought rednecks were found only below the Mason-Jefferson county line. Not true, which proves even senior citizens don't know everything.
A friend, Lowanda, invited me to travel north with her to her 'home town' to meet her friends and enjoy some good ol' country music. That wasn't a surprise as the old sounds are popular all over the country. However, the rest of the time spent in East Peoria was not what I expected.
Friday night we attended a jam session.....in a garage that was part music studio and part storage area. Seating was odd chairs, stools and a couple of couches plus a couple of tables with food and a frig filled with drinks. Everything that was needed for an evening of dining and dancing. Of course, dancing took place in the driveway under the basketball hoop between the sagging swing and unsteady picnic table.
The musicians ranged from aging seniors to a young teen-ager, including my red headed friend who, in time passed, had played and sang professionally with some of the musicians I met that night. So far, things seemed fairly normal.
Saturday night we visited 'The Center Tap' which is where I saw some sights that, had I not known better, would have guessed I was in the 'Iron Horse' (better know as 'the Ghetto') on Saturday night with the same assortment of odd patrons. One old guy, wearing a poncho with wolf designs printed on it, was stumbling around trying to give away pizza that looked like singed cardboard, girls in tight tank tops paired with shorts or skirts 2 sizes too small, the barely legal young drinkers proving how tough they could be and one passed out with his head resting on the table while the music assaulted your ear drums. More men with pony tails, head bands and missing teeth were there than I had seen in a long while....Maybe they just like to hang around together or fight each other which could account for the teeth situation. After all, if you can't fight with your friends who else can you fight with. Kinda keeps it in the family.
Next stop was the Eagles with two other friends, Eddie and Jack, playing chaperone to us, or us to them. The band played the old country music and most of the crowd was dancing and enjoying themselves. It could have been anywhere in the country on a summer Saturday night. On Sunday a benefit was held for a seriously ill man with a mountain of medical debts piling up and needing help. Some of the people there did not know this man nor care. All they knew was he needed help and that is all that mattered. Not if he deserved it, or would use it wisely. That to me is part of showing Christian love.
The same people who played friday night were in the group of musicians entertaining. All matter of items were auctioned off to raise more funds and food was served. While in standing in line to get a soda, a tall, thin man leaning against the wall tried to start a conversation with me. Neither he nor I could hear as the music was so loud. With an apologetic smile, I shrugged, got my soda and returned to my table. Too bad, you say? He was 95!
For some reason, I expected Peoria to be citified, maybe like Chicago, but found it much like Franklin county. People are just as friendly, generous and out-going as home folk. Invitations were extended to me for anytime I cared to come to the big city with the small town smack dab in the middle of it. I would, only if I don't have to go to the Center Trap...excuse me that is Center Tap!
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