Monthly Entertainment at Rosthern Seniors Centre
Karey Quiring and John Reimer appeared at the monthly entertainment evening of the Rosthern Seniors Club. The duo used to be part of a bluegrass band but with its disbanding have continued to perform on their own. The men brought a repertoire that included both old-time music and country gospel such as Gene Watson’s Old Roman Soldier, Merle Haggard’s Silver Wings, and the Carter Family’s Keep It on the Sunny Side. Other melodies included Elvis’ Welcome to My World, Willie Nelson’s Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, and Bob Dylan’s Wagon Wheel which Darius Rucker recently re-released.
With the ease of musicians who have played together for a long time, the two men shifted easily from one song to the next and the comfortable banter was reminiscent of the informal musical entertainment that happened in living rooms and ‘parlours’ in prairie homes in days past. The one bluegrass song Karey sang, Grandpa’s Way of Life, spoke to those days and a longing for a simpler life in the refrain which questioned, “I wonder how things got so complicated, …I’d love to throw computers out the window, and go back to grandpa’s way of life.”
Throughout the evening, the more than forty people in the audience were encouraged to sing along if they knew the words and while some songs had only a few quietly joining in, others had a wider participation. Still-in-all the entertainment provided those in attendance with another enjoyable evening of music and the opportunity to socialize afterward over a cup of coffee or tea and a snack.
President of the Rosthern Senior Citizens Club, Darryl Callfas reminded everyone that the Centre hosts games afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays when individuals can participate in billiards, cards, and shuffleboard. The Club is one of the many recipients of assistance from Sask Lotteries, but fundraising is still a necessity for them. From April 29th through May 5th, the Rosthern Tim Hortons will be selling the franchise’s “Smile Cookies” in support of the Rosthern Senior Citizen’s Club, so people can satisfy their sweet craving and support the Club at the same time.
Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder
