Nashville June 2009, part 2 of 3: All that jazz

I was only home for a couple of days for more QT with the fam and party time at the Ball. As such, not much to report as it was only a Friday night to Monday morning trip. I also can't comment on the Ball until the Nfocus issue hits the stands as there will be lots of overlap.

But Sunday night, after recovery from the ball, and a parental luncheon at Provence, Mom and Dad invited the kids to join them at "the jazz."

Mom and Dad have become big fans and ardent supporters of a particular Dixieland jazz band. They have followed them around for years with their friends Tom and Milbrey Andrews, even going on jazz cruises. Dad hired them to play Mom's surprise birthday party a couple of years ago.

They're groupies.

Since the bar/restaurant in Green Hills closed doe to the recession, they've been playing Sunday nights at Lowe's Vanderbilt Plaza, in the restaurant simply called "eat." (The bar is called "drink.")


Mac and Emily, with Leland joined us too. Leland is two and a half. And in constant motion. He bounces around like a pinball, and like most two-year-olds generally bounces back. Unfortunately, sometimes kids break instead of bounce, and a couple of weeks ago he broke his arm at the Daddy and Me time at the gym.


It is not surprising he broke his arm. Even in the temporary cast, he is still hurling himself about and into things.

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Then he giggles.

Good grief this kid is adorable.

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He also thinks that anything with wheels is a toy and expects to be given a ride.

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Sometimes Mom and Dad (Franna and Papa John) take Leland on their own. Leland loves music. Always has. Leland loves the jazz, and is mesmerized by the men playing instruments.


And Franna loves sharing this with Leland.

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The music and the company are superb (in their 70s, Mom and Dad are considered "the young ones") and with my family together with the music, it is just a deeply heartwarming time together.

Mac, as he sometimes often is, was asked to sing his signature song Mac the Knife. Mac was a little scattered with the lyrics this time, but he was a bit distracted with a new band (who does not generally play with vocalists but this was by request of their parton Senior Mac), a new crowd, and a 2.5 year old crawling up into his arms.

Brother Mac introduced this number with "This song is for all of the guys here tonight named 'Mac" I know there are at least two of us, and for all of the guys named 'Mike' who have really thick southern accents."



Seriously. I'm the shy child.