Spouting Off

Alright, that's it--I have had it!! I know many people will say that I am opinionated, narrow-minded and old-fashioned. I don't care, I've had it!

I figure that I have heard the American national anthem over 2,000 times in the past 30 years. What with all the sporting events I have attended as a spectator and as Official Scorer for the Everett AquaSox, I must have heard at least that many.

At yesterday's AquaSox game I heard it again; it was horrible!!! Wrong words (it's 'perilous' NOT 'perolis', o'er' NOT 'for') wrong notes (hard to describe, I have heard it more and more with a half-step where there should be a whole-step in the ascending scale that occurs three times in the song), show-off key (started way too high and then had to scream to complete the song).

Oh, and by the way, the American national anthem is not jazz, pop, rock, rhythm & blues, or any other contemporary style. It is not being performed for an individual to share with a large audience how great a singer they are. It is not being sung for the self-aggrandizement of the singer. The purpose of the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner is to remind all those in attendance how very fortunate we all are to be able to attend that event in peace.That's all; it's not a time reserved for the singer to mock the song by inventing a new rendition. Sing it right, that is, honorably, and get off the field!!!

If you are going to sing it, learn the words and what they mean! It is poetry, not everyday language and if you are going to sing it, then learn the poetic words and their meanings. If you don't mean what it says, don't sing it! Millions of men and women died for you to have the honor of living in a country that is free of oppression. Millions more sacrificed their lives, even though they lived through combat.

I have sung this song many, many times. It was an honor to do so each and every time. I love this song and what it stands for. I am one of those who did not serve in the military but I am deeply grateful to every single person who did. This is my small way of thanking them.

The next time someone sings this song at a sporting event, I hope they remember that it is not 'ABOUT THEM'!!!

The Gospel According to Castro

If your young children are in the habit of reading this blog, you need to do two things:
1. help them get a life
2. shield their eyes from some of the profanity I am about to use

I am so damn sick and tired of the Mariners losing ball games at the last minute, I could just spit! They did it again tonight. That damn David Aardsma was pitiful in relief. He is supposed to be a major league pitcher - how come he can't throw strikes?? What a bunch of crap!

And offense?? I tell you what, their inability to score runs is absolutely unacceptable! I think their upper-management people should be fired immediately. Seriously!! This is just bull_ _ _ _ !!!

Now, the real topic of my tirade. You know who I am even more sick of??? Fans who are not fans at all!! They are no more than immature, self-centered babies! Their team doesn't win so they have all the answers. They think that the Mariners' upper-management people should be fired immediately!! And they whine about the pitching and the offense being so weak.

Now, before you point your finger at me, let me say this: I haven't missed a game in at least six years, I watch them all. (Just ask RaeLyn, the Queen of Sainthood.) I am a baseball fan and my favorite major league team is the Seattle Mariners. End of discussion.

Baseball is a game. One team wins and one team loses. There are players and they play. Sometimes they play well and sometimes they play less than well. There are umpires. Sometimes (most of the time) they make the right call and sometimes they don't. All of these folks are people, not automatons, nor robots. They are doing the very best that they can at that moment. And by gosh, I hope they win. But when they don't, although I may be angry, they are still my team.

If you don't like the Mariners, that's fine. Then choose a different team to support. But don't you ever give up on your team! Real fans don't ever give up. They just "wait'll next year!!"

Happy Birthday, Dad (Louis S. Castro 1923-1994)

Today would have been your 87th birthday. And very unlike many of the past years at this time, I would like to wish you a Happy Birthday. You and I never seemed to have ever gotten onto "the same page." You were all about 'work' and 'responsibility' and because of that, I was always about 'play' and 'taking it easy'. You know, you could have backed off a little. It really might have helped us a bit. And you know, it sure would have been nice if you could have played catch with me or taken me to a movie or concert or game or whatever once in a while. On the other hand, I guess I could have been a little more understanding. But I wasn't and you didn't. Perhaps it was the cross that we both had to endure.

RaeLyn and I have two wonderful kids, Jason (32) and Julie (27). Jason is married and has two little girls, Bailey (4) and Madison (2). They are very smart and very cute. Both Jason and his wife, Jill are teachers; he at the high school level and she at the elementary. Both of them hold a Master's degree. He is also the baseball coach and he's very good, Dad!! He was actually voted the 2A Washington State High School Baseball Coach of the Year this year. We are all so very proud of him. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is way smarter than his dad ever was!!

Julie is also a college graduate and is employed at a physical therapy clinic in Everett, as the office manager. She runs a tight ship, Dad, and they love her!! Her fiance, Tyler, is a fine young man who is hoping to become a teacher soon. And they will be married within the next year or so. (I will sure miss her! She is just a delight to be around---just like her Mom!)I know you would have loved her very much!

RaeLyn is still teaching Preschool with Head Start. She is so good with the little ones and they sure love her. She is really looking forward to retirement soon, though. Her job is very demanding and it really takes a toll on her.

I retired from teaching 5 years ago and work now for a mental health agency in Everett as a courier. It is a good job for me and I like the driving. The money comes in handy and it keeps me busy. I really loved teaching music and I honestly found some success there. I really think I was a help for some kids and that makes me feel good.

You know, Dad, although you and I were never much for being friends, I do miss having you around from time to time. I see other men who still have their dads around and I am jealous for that blessing. When I spend time with Jason I realize how much he has to be thankful for. I am not "blowing my own horn" as a dad, but just noticing that Jason still has his father around. I guess in that sense, I miss you.

I thank God, Dad, that you brought me into this world. I am very sorry that we never got to honestly and truly know one another and I look forward to the day that that can happen. You know how much I love baseball (yes, I still love it!!!!). I hope that when the time comes for us to join you, you will take in a game or two with Jason and me. We'd love to have you. Happy Birthday!

Success is Where You Make It

We all have dreams. You know, dreams for the future - what we would like to do with our lives. I was wondering today what it is that pushes each of us toward a particular dream for our lives. What is it that causes us to want to become a fireman or doctor or teacher? Is it our environment at home? Teachers? Friends? Church teachings? I don't know. But what I do know is that we do not have to be raised in the big, bustling city to be successful.

My first teaching job was in a very small Eastern Washington town called Dayton. At that time, Dayton was very busy for a community of about 2,800 folks. Although they produced a lot of wheat, they also employed many people at the Green Giant vegetable canning company. You remember them, "Ho, ho, ho---Green Giant"!! My teaching assignment was four band classes (grade 4 - 12) and one choir (grad 10 - 12). The kids I had were, on the whole, really great and I truly enjoyed them.

One of the classes we did not have in the daily schedule was a jazz band. So I decided that we would start one that would meet after school and maybe we could convince the principal to eventually offer it during the school day. Immediately I had a student ask me if he could play the electric bass. I told him we did not own one and that I really knew nothing about teaching it. He insisted that his parents would buy him a bass and an amplifier. They would even get him lessons!! I could not argue with that. So I said that he could play electric bass. Well, the rest is history. He did very well over the next two years. He played bass ALL the time. He absolutely loved it.

Todd was his name. He went on to become one of the world's finest electric bass players. No really, he truly is a world renowned six-string bass player. He lives in southern California and teaches and travels all over the world. He has written books and has produced teaching DVDs. He even teaches bass lessons online. And he started playing bass in a beginning jazz band in a small wheat-farming community in the middle of nowhere.

But the story does not end there. He was not the only one who had a dream and made it happen. There were many others from my stay in Dayton (only four years) that went on to find an important and successful niche in life. I know I will leave many of them out, but these people come to mind: there is Joe the Ph.D in Pharmacy, Rick the Psychology professor at Idaho State University, there is Ken the Radiology Tech and Jennie who runs the Port of Columbia. There is Vicki who runs her own beauty salon, Steve who is an electrical engineer and his wife, Jeannie, who is an Early Childhood Education professor at Washington State University. Keith is a Network Analyst and Scott coaches high school girls' basketball. There is Taffy who is a Property Manager and there are even three music teachers: Kim, Sharli and Liz. Becky is doing her part to keep our children in safe homes as she works as a social worker and there is Heidi, the physician. Many others, whose names and jobs escape me came from Dayton. I really wish I could remember them all!!

I knew all these people as clarinet, flute, trumpet, sax, trombone and tuba players. There is even a drummer in there. All these people grew up in a community of folks who really cared about offering something important to life. I miss those people and I miss those days. They were good people. People who cared about one another.

One of these days I am going to find a way to see them all again and visit with them. I want to tell them how proud I am of them and how honored I was and am to have been allowed to be their leader for a short time.

Dayton is a place for which I have a special place in my heart. It's a lot smaller now since Green Giant left town. But the people who still live there are the same folks who I remember from the mid-1970's. When I left Dayton, I moved on to bigger things and more advanced musical performers. But the people from Dayton were and are still in my heart. I guess "Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!"

Do You Have Heroes?

When I was a kid, I had many heroes. Roy Rodgers, Superman, Marshall Dillon were a few of my TV heroes. I had sports heroes, too. Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roy Campanella and, of course, Roger Maris. Any minister was a hero to me and most teachers, too.

When I first arrived at Snohomish High School I met a woman who became one of the stellar lights of my life. She was in charge of the Special Education Department at the high school and she was a "special" person. There was no one who was exempt from her loving and tolerant treatment. There was really no infraction she would not overlook. Of course, she had standards, and they were high. But she simply loved all people, smart or not, handsome or not, wealthy or not. It made no difference to her who you were, she was going to love you. No matter what!! I mean it, too. She simply made up her mind you would be loved. And you were!

She once asked if I would be interested in teaching a music class for older special ed students. She thought if I could just lead them in some kind of music lesson each day, they would enjoy it. She told me that they may not remember tomorrow what I taught them today, but that was not important. I was pretty reticent but she assured me that there would be an aide to bring them to class each day and would stay in the class to keep an eye on them. So I finally acquiesced.

I will never forget those kids! They were awesome! They were polite, they listened everso attentively and they asked the best questions. We learned about how a piano was made, how sound came out of instruments, we had a composer come and write a new piece of music right before their eyes (and ears). At the end of the year we acted out the story of the Herdmann kids from "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Somebody read the story and the kids acted. It was hilarious! They had so much fun and I learned so much from them. They were my heroes!

Whenever there was a problem on campus, this wonderful "special ed lady" knew exactly how to handle it. I will always remember her with fondness and respect. Her name was Doris Wentworth and she passed away this past Tuesday, aged 83. In 1985, I had sung for some school event and afterward, she asked me if I would sing for her funeral. I laughingly said that I would, knowing that we both probably would forget about it. Well, we didn't. I got a call three weeks ago and she was calling to say that the time would soon be nigh and would I still be willing to sing for her funeral. I told her I was not singing anymore, but that for her, I would be honored to sing.

I went to her house and we had one last visit. Even as she was approaching death, she was humble and joyful and smiling. I really believe that when God was creating Doris, He was sending us an example of what real human love is all about. Thank you, God for people like Doris. Thank you, Doris for being one of my heroes!

Good 'ol S.H.S.

"How'd you like to be a Panther?" It was Ray Johnson's voice in my phone. I had applied and interviewed for the Choral Music position at Snohomish High School and he was calling me to see if I would accept the job. If I said "Yes" I would have to give up a brand new, beautiful brick home that my father-in-law built for us in Port Townsend. But it was the job of my dreams and I wanted it badly. My family would have to move and start all over again, but I knew I had my wife's support. I said I would take the job!!!

Over the next 22 years I worked my tail off. I spent many out-of-school hours in the office planning, rehearsing groups, going to workshops and spending hours at the music shop looking for new tunes. I loved it!

I took the choirs on some wonderful trips: Victoria, B.C., Vancouver, B.C. Eastern Washington, Oregon, California. We even made two trips to the People's Republic of China. We competed in many vocal jazz festivals, sang for churches, concerts and celebrations.

There were Donn Pratts and Tom Campbells, there were Kelley Gintys and Erik Flynns, there were Amy Kings and Eric Verlindes, there were Melissa Enzs and Tom Storks,there were Zach Trandums and Shanna Weatherbys. I thought they were all very special.

My walls at home now are filled with photos of groups of singers that were my "pride and joy". Some of these groups were festival winners and others barely received a certificate. It wasn't about winning. It was about making music and enjoying the "journey" in doing so.

If you haven't been there lately, you should stop by. Snohomish High School is no longer the Snohomish High School I knew. In fact, where the Music Building was and where my office and rehearsal room were, is now a patch of beautiful green grass; like a bare lawn. For a while it was just sawdust, but then they planted grass.

The saddest part is: it is as if I was never there! If you go by, and you should, you will not see any evidence that Pat Castro and the Concert Choir, The Women's Ensemble or The Crimson Singers were ever there.

We go through life believing that we are so very important and that the world cannot go on without us. Boy, do I have news for you!!! I guess it will go on just fine!!

The thing that I learned is that the most important things that happen in life, stay in our hearts and in our memories. I am learning that that is where life really matters the most. I have many memories from my years at S.H.S. Not all are good, but they are all memorable. Life goes on, with us or without us. I'm just glad that I got to be a small part of all the wonderful people that were placed in my life at Snohomish High School. I am certainly a better person because of them!!!