Dear Barry,

 

I’m writing a letter sharing some childhood memories to help celebrate your 70th birthday.

 

“Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away….”  My dad taught that song to Barry, Jeff, and me. Singing and performing was a great part of the our family life. Barry and I sang “He’ll be coming down the chimney” on the Shamokin,PA  radio  station WISL when we were still little tykes.

 

We both graduated to minstrel shows. My Dad wrote and directed these to help raise funds for our church and another church in town that had suffered a fire. I didn’t have a speaking part, but Barry got to jump up out of a boat and yell the ”SHRIMP BOATS ARE COMING!” (I hope that story is accurate)-if not, it catches the flavor of the corny but fun shows we did. My favorite one was Mom and Dad singing “Side by Side”

 

We had a wonderful family life centered in the church, family and music. We all played with our neighbors and cousins and enjoyed summer visits to Pillow, PA., the Shroyer family early farmstead. Swimming in the creek was a highlight.

 

Barry was a great big brother and I don’t remember any fighting, I guess we always were too busy. One story shows he wasn’t perfect-He was a great Student and I did well except in algebra. Mom told Barry to help with my homework. Barry lost his patience and said he didn’t know how I got past 6th grade!

 

One of my favorite memories is about a treehouse that Barry and friends built. I wanted to get in there-there was a chain ladder they could pull up-Barry said I could, if I could crawl up and not use the ladder-so I did!

 

Back to music-Dad played the guitar and we all sang. Barry plays the guitar but probably not enough. “Scotch and Soda” was my favorite. When Barry was at Lehigh, he was in the Glee Club. The family visited there and one time went to a Peter, Paul and Mary concert. Wow!

 

Well enough rambling. Happy Birthday to a man who has it all-kind, generous, brains, talent, good looks(?)and nice thick hair!

 

Hope your birthday is wonderful and may you have many more years to learn new songs!

 

Love Sandy