All posts by Dave Hoekstra
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March 28, 2017

M. Ward & The 1933 World’s Fair

M. Ward solo. I’m a fan.

She collected bookmarks.

Before Monday night’s concert she sat down and tried to open a taped white envelope. She struggled with the paper as the old yellow tape would not give. She finally removed a 1933 Chicago World’s Fair bookmark from the envelope.

It was a brass work of modest art, just like the one my father saved when he attended the “Century of Progress” fair as a 13-year-old. A similar bookmark was found in my father’s belongings when we cleaned out my parents house after their deaths. People say there are signals from beyond?  Who knows? But her [...]

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February 20, 2017

The American Beat of Bobby Lloyd Hicks

Bobby Lloyd Hicks, 1947-2017

“Bobby” Lloyd Hicks.

What a great name, what a great man.

Bobby Lloyd Hicks–it sounded like he came from somewhere big and dusty, like Texas, an old Kansas City steakhouse or a Gary Cooper western. But no siree Bob, the modest Mr. Hicks was born in 1947 in tiny Marshalltown, Iowa, where in 1852 future Baseball Hall of Famer Adrian “Cap” Anson became the first European born in the farming community.

And Mr. Hicks was an ace of hearts.

He was the drummer-vocalist for the Skeletons/Morells/NRBQ and [...]

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November 4, 2016

“The Weight” for Wrigley Field

 

Me and Ernie at Billy Williams Hall of Fame Induction, 1987. No dress code.

With apologies to The Band…….

I pulled into Wrigleyville, I was feelin’ about half past dead

I just need some place where I can lay my head

“Hey, Mister Rahm, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”

He just grinned and shook my hand and, “No”, was all he said

Take a load off Ernie

Take a load for free

Take a load off Ernie

And you put [...]

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October 24, 2016

World Series Road Trip

CLEVELAND, OH.–It is 347 miles from Chicago to Cleveland, Ohio

And 71 years.

Slow down and enjoy the ride. Don’t let third base coaches Wendell Kim or Tony Muser wave you home.

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

That’s the call of the Cubs fan.

The autumn drive from Chicago to Cleveland is as humble as Kyle Hendricks. You cross the Calumet River, dart through the green, gold and yellow trees near Michigan City and see where homes are for sale at $499 a month at Arrowhead Lake near Toledo.

The red barns of western Ohio look like [...]

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