For those of you who are not Rush fans, you will probably not appreciate this post so much, but for me, it's a hoot!
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Rush is celebrating his 20th anniversary in syndication and we are being treated to highlights of shows over the years. On the way home from lunch with Justin, I even got tears in my eyes when he mentioned and then re-played the show which started "Dan's Bake Sale" back in 1993. Dan had called in to sort of ask for a free subscription to the newsletter since his wife wouldn't allow him to purchase it himself. His friend photocopied his newsletter and then mailed it to Dan, which is really not lawful, copy write-wise. At this time in our nation's life, it was all the rage to have a bake sale, especially kids, and then send the money in to Pres. Clinton to help pay down the national debt. A real "feel good" movement. So, when Rush heard this poor man's lament about not having money to buy his own subscription, he encouraged Dan to have his own bake sale!
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Well, this opened a wellspring of calls, supporting the bake sale in Fort Collins, CO, including printers in NJ offering to make posters and T-shirts for the event, a billboard company in CO donated a billboard, a famous restaurant in New Orleans offered the services of their chef to go to the bake sale and make his delicious foods. It simply mushroomed and became a huge success, with folks from all over the USA and other countries showing up for his bake sale. Estimates were upwards of 80,000 people and Rush even flew out there to make an appearance. Dan sold out his personal baked goods in less than 5 minutes but there was plenty available to purchase, being donated from all over the place. Rush presented Dan with his very first legitimately obtained issue of the newsletter. It was awesome at the time, to hear the reports about it and such, and it was stirring to hear it replayed today.
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The part which actually brought tears to my eyes was when "Mick from the hills in New Mexico" a regular caller, called in to report he was going to the Bake Sale and taking roasted poodles, 2 cats, 3 goats, and a small pony. Of course, he was only fooling around, but he did offer "mother" to make some Indian bread to sell at the sale. I remember when Mick died and how moved Rush was when someone from his family called to let him know Mick wouldn't be calling anymore....but told Rush how important his program was to Mick.
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He is also playing clips of when Calypso Louis had his so-called "Million Man March" in Washington and ended up far fewer than a million. The clips flash back to when Farrakhan was going on and on about everything adding up to 19 (I can't help but chuckle even thinking about it!!!) and the faces of the audience wondering what in the world was he talking about??? 19??? What is the connection with anything? How tall are the presidents' statues? 19 feet tall. If you add the third president's number to the 16th president, you get 19! What????? It was so weird, so very out there, and no one really understood the significance of his speech. Supposedly Obama was there for the speech--I wonder if he knew what it was about?????
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This is so fun to listen to the accolades pouring in from different folks, some dignitaries, some are from politics, many are sports people who have been friends of his for many years, all sorts of connections. I wonder if Benjamin Netanyahu called in with a greeting. He was given a personal tour in Jerusalem by him several years ago.
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Oh, oh, oh, President Bush is on the phone right now, live, calling with Bush #41 and Jeb Bush, "fixin' to have some lunch" and decided to call in and say congrats to Rush!! #41 just gave him some advice---slow down your back swing! Always good advice! They are up in Maine for the weekend, hanging out with "Mom and Dad" before heading over to China. #41 just said the whole family is lined up to speak with Rush and give him their best, fans all! Rush was just blown away by this phone call!
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I remember when my former spouse came home one day and said, "You just have to listen to this guy on the radio. He's a bit arrogant, but is right on." This was from the same man who commented, when WISN in Milwaukee was going to an "all talk" format, that it would never last. We started listening to Rush during the start of the first Gulf War and I've been a fan ever since. One day our lumber salesman called me at home to ask if I'd heard Rush's announcement about his hearing loss, and I said I was listening with "half an ear", no pun intended. This was in 2001 when I was no longer in the office every day but listened at home over the surround sound system, even outside.
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This makes me think about Justin and his sudden hearing loss, which is nearly a year old now. Every now and again we'll hear about someone else who's experienced this same thing as Justin, including a friend of Julia's who is a band instructor! Man!
1 comment:
Good morning Kim,
I just read your blog. I was listening to Rush yesterday too, when Pres. Bush and his family called in. I had just pulled into the garage and sat and listened until he went to break. I quickly went in and turned on the radio.
I had the repair man come to fix the fridge, and I knew he is a Rush fan, so we both enjoyed listening while he worked. It was great to hear him talk about "Dan's bake sale" . That was such a cool thing, the way it mushroomed. The thing that stuck with me, was the fact that when it was all over, there was no mess left behind for anyone to clean up, unlike "other" gatherings!
Have a blessed day!
Love and hugs,
Linda
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