Tuesday, 8/12
Dear family and friends,
We had another wonderful program for Danny this past Saturday in New
London, New Hampshire (described below) and soon we'll head to Myrtle
Beach, SC, for the last of the four gatherings. If you can join us in
Myrtle Beach, it's this coming Saturday, August 16th, from 2 to 5 pm at:
The Myrtle Beach Shrine Club
9589 N. Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
The Club is about a mile south of Meher Center, on the right (west) of
the highway. There will be food and soft drinks and chai and lots of
great music. Billy Goodrum and Andy Owens will be playing again,
joined by Jane Brown, Raina Scott, Buz Connor, Jamie Newell and
Meherwan Irani. Dress is casual.
This past Saturday, after a week of cold, rainy weather in New
Hampshire, we were glad to doff sweaters and raincoats and enjoy a
clear warm afternoon and evening for Danny's program.
The First Baptist Church of New London's hall brimmed with around a
hundred and fifty friends and family. The Church staff and the Baptist
Women's Fellowship printed programs, set up chairs, served snacks and
drinks, and made sure everything flowed flawlessly and lovingly. In
attendance were lots of relatives I hadn't seen in a long time, as
well as people with whom I'd gone to college, high school and even
elementary school. There was also a contingent of our Meher Baba
friends. As I told them all, it was pretty overwhelming for me to see
friends from every phase of my life drawn together to celebrate the
life of the most impressive man I've ever known: my son.
The program began with Lynn once again expressing our gratitude to
everyone for all the love and support we've received over the past
three years. Then Pastor Jeff Zurheide led us all in an inspired prayer.
We had readings and recollections from Lynn, our niece Katie, who flew
out from L.A., and our nephew Jake who came up from New York.
Danny's brother Andy, who had driven across country with his wife
Tricia (they celebrated their first wedding anniversary yesterday),
remembered Danny in words and pictures as he again presented the slide
show of Danny's life that has moved around a thousand people.
And, as always, we had wonderful music. Billy Goodrum flew up from
North Carolina to play piano and guitar. Bob Een sang a heart-rending
"Danny Boy", playing cello while backed on the piano by Billy. Bob
also performed a tune he used to play for Danny in the backyard which
featured Tibetan overtone singing in which he turns his single voice
into an instrument capable of producing several tones at once, spell-
binding his audience.
Our longtime family friend Bill Jayne was in great voice as he
fulfilled Lynn's request by singing one of Danny's favorite Beatles
songs, "Things We Said Today" which Danny had been learning to play
just prior to his accident. Bill had often expressed his hope that
he'd be able to play music with Danny, and I felt Danny's
participation this day.
The program concluded with Andy performing three of Danny's songs,
backed by Billy Goodrum who then led everyone in a sing-a-long of "All
You Need Is Love", with Bob's cello filling in the string parts.
As in California, the gathering was uplifting, full of light and love.
Danny's presence was palpable for us and his happiness evident. As we
have for so long, we felt blessed to be able to remember him with so
many wonderful people who had been with us on the journey of the past
three years.
Then we adjourned to the banks of Messer Pond where a tent was erected
between my mother's house and ours and everyone sat down to food and
drinks, and later the musicians got together to play tunes while we
all harmonized. It was a perfect day that lasted late into a perfect
night, with folks gathered round a campfire built by my nephew Ben. As
the Irish would say: the "craic" was very good.
So tomorrow we'll head toward Myrtle Beach and the last program. It's
been suggested we have a Danny Maguire Memorial Music Festival in the
future so we can recreate the great experiences we've had on both
coasts. I can think of nothing Danny would like more. As his brother
Andy said during the program, we should try to honor Danny by being
like him: by not being embarrassed to get up and dance and sing; by
not sweating the small stuff; by letting go of grudges; in short, "By
leading lives that would make him smile."
As always, we're grateful and we send much love to all,
Jeff
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