Best Mom in the World
Originally posted on May 10, 2009
A note about Jacie and Ben and Bluegrass:
The music of Alison Krauss and Union Station was my initial inspiration for these two new characters. Although I’ve lived in West Virginia for almost twenty years now, I only recently “discovered” Bluegrass music, and have come to appreciate it very much. If you would like to listen to some classic Bluegrass while you’re reading, click the link below and open it in another window/tab.
Sawin’ on the Strings/Alison Krauss and Union Station:
Sawin' On the Strings on YouTube
Jacie May MacOnochie is Ben Bluefield’s mother.Ben’s intro story is here:
Under the leadership of her father, and along with assorted second and third cousins, Jacie and Ben played with a Bluegrass band who called themselves “The Musical MacOnochies.” The band played festivals, concerts, and local gatherings for many years, and had recorded several tracks with the goal of compiling an album and broadening their audience. Two years ago, Ben’s Grandpa passed away and the heart and soul of the band was no more.
*Jacie warms up, starting with a few scales*
*She plays a few bars of an old favorite….*
*…and then stops*
*She wishes again for what may never be*
*and wonders for the millionth time what the future holds*
Ben: Hey Moms, you were startin’ to sound pretty good there. Why’d you quit?
Jacie: What’s the point, Ben? I was never that talented with the fiddle –
Jacie: …And I don’t think I could stand bein’ onstage again and not singin’.
Ben: What did the doc say?
Jacie: Nothin’ I haven’t heard a dozen times already. I have to be patient, I need to give it more time…..
Ben: More time than a year and a half?
Jacie: I guess. He said I should be grateful I can talk let alone sing.
Ben: Bet he didn’t say how much time, either.
Jacie: He never does.
Ben: Hey, maybe it would be fun if I practiced along with you, huh? Kind of like the old days?
Jacie: But without your Grandpa.
Ben: Yeah, but we could always pretend he’s here. I can still hear his banjo in my head, can’t you?
Jacie: I surely can, Ben. Go ahead and get your guitar, Darlin.’ I’m more than willin’ to give it a try if you are.
Ben: Don’t forget to sit up straight, Ma. Posture is important if you’re to play that fiddle proper-like. I’ll play real slow so you can keep up. Don’t be a slacker, now.
Jacie: I’ll give you “slacker” – you just try and keep up with me, Benjamin Bluefield.
*They play a fast energetic tune*
Ben: OK, Moms, fiddle takes the lead ….
*Jacie improvises around the melody while Ben plays in the background*
Ben: Go, Moms, way to saw on that thing!
Jacie: Bless you, Ben - that was wonderful.
Ben: And fun?
Jacie: Yes, and fun.
Ben: Look, I even remembered your traditional after-the–performance flowers.
Jacie: A mother never had a better son than you, Ben.
Ben: Hmmm, guess we’re even then, because somehow I ended up with the best Mom in the world. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.
Jacie: *thinking to herself* If I never sing again…. “Best Mom” will be better than enough.