Recent News & Happenings

Mort Langstaff

We regretfully report that we have lost yet another of our fellow Airmen. Mort Langstaff passed away on December 7, 2009. Mort will always be remembered as a wonderful musician and he was always ready at the piano for the entertainment of all.

Mort and his orchestras were fixtures in the Northen Virginia entertainment scene and for nearly four decades he enjoyed playing Dixieland Piano with the "Not So Modern Jazz Quartet(2)" in the Alexandria, VA. area. Those of us that attended the 2007 reunion in Gettysburg will remember Mort jamming with Bill Mojica right outside the cocktail lounge (much to the delight of the 'paid' entertainer of the evening). He joined Roger Quiron (on the gut bucket bass) in an impromptu set following his accompaniment of the glee club.

Mort was always ready to entertain on the piano, he attended most if not all the reunions and he will be missed.

Lu Crawford and John Dowlan

Both Lu and John have had some recent health challenges, but it is happily reported that both are at home, and are in the process of healing. Thanks to Bob Zarfoss for keeping us all up to date on the health and welfare of our members and their families.

Tom "Gibby" Gibbs

An icey and very slippery driveway snuck up on Gibby, and down he went... It is reported that other than an over-all soreness, his episode left him with no major injuries. Not bad for a hard landing on his back. The report further suggests there is concern that the underlying concrete driveway sustained major damages. Gibby.... BE CAREFUL!

Report From Switzerland (11NOV09)

Gentlemen,

On Saturday I had a phone call from our Oman/Switzerland drumming friend, John Bosworth. It was a rather bizarre conversation. Let me replay it for you, at least in part.
"Hi, Bob, this is John."
"Great to hear from you, John. Where are you?"
"Switzerland. I am here with Jimmy Dinkins; I wanted you to hear some authentic Basil drumming."
"Rup a dup dup, Diddle diddle diddle. Etc."
"John, how are you?"
"Rup a dup dup, Diddle, diddle, diddle."
More questions, more "Diddle, diddle, diddle." Finally, "John, when are you coming home?"
"December 15. Diddle rumpa didle. They're going inside, I have to go. Rumpa rumpa diddle."
"Nice talking to you John; I'll see you in December."
"Rumpa diddle, click!" It was good to hear from Bos. It really was.

One thing when corresponding with Bos, who has no computer; there's no chance or practicality to closing with "I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places!"

BOB

In Our Prayers

Many of our group are battling family illness and some serious injuries and need our prayers. During the Holliday Season, please remember to include all of your former Airman Buddies, and their families, in your thoughts.

THE SISTER'S

Those of you that might have missed the email exchange will enjoy the following account.....

Gentlemen,
Here's our friend KB, waving Merry Christmas to all his AF friends while he takes a break from shoveling. There's about six inches on the ground, with another six to twelve inches coming. The second photo shows KB being rescued by his "granddog". The only thing missing is the keg around the dog's neck.

I think his message to KB is "Follow me, I'll show you where Bob keeps his wine." Stay warm, wherever you are.

Merry Christmas,
Bob and KB

Christmas Snow in York - 2009

Bob,
    Thanks for the flicks of my sister KB. While I always enjoy seeing flicks of Sis I must admit I find these somewhat appalling. Apparently her hypocrisy knows no bounds.

    Her standing there in the snow holding a snow shovel projecting the "Look what I've just done" image is akin to me standing beside a cardboard standup of Nicole Kidman saying "Look with whom I just crawled out of the sack." Her predisposition for receiving undue credit is legendary. With her penchant for enjoying others' free wine it is entirely possible that Vash, KB's dog, is indeed saying, "Follow me, I'll show you where Bob keeps his wine." However, I would rather think that what Vash is attempting to communicate is, "Come quick, come quick - Liz can't get off the couch . . . something about her back going out because of all that *#!#*#@! snow shoveling."

   KB, what a sister; you gotta love her in spite of all her oddities.

Jan

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My AF friends and Sister Jan...............

     After shoveling my way through 18 inches of snow on Sat. with my grand dog Vash, I come into the house to be greeted by an e-mail from Sister Jan. I am not sure just what he had to say, cause I was cold and somewhat numb from my outdoor activity, but I am sure it was complimentary, cause we only think the best of each other.

     At the same time I received a phone call from my daughter Angela, who was skiing in Colorado, telling me about the picture of me and my grand dog in the snow, which she received on her Blackberry or was a Strawberry? I told her I hadn't seen it yet, but Sister Jan had something in his e-mail about me and my best pal Vash and the snow. What an amazeing world we live in. A friend takes a picture from across the street, while I am shoveling snow. The picture is sent out on the internet and before I get back in the house, I get a phone call from the Colorado mountains, telling how good it was to see me in the big snow on Greendale Road.

     Thanks to the internet we can keep in touch and wish each other well. Here's wishing you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

KB