Taz and Edith Henderson lived between Hardin and Benton, KY, in the far reaches of Western Kentucky. They were fans who came to my shows on numerous occasions, and became friends. In 1975 I moved to New Concord, KY in the Kentucky Lake region and started a theater show. That is where I met Taz and Edith, and learned to love their simple way of life, their love of family and their basic goodness.
After we became friends, I invited Taz to ride along with me on a road show I had booked in Peoria, Illinois. I went by and picked him up at his house and we headed North to Peoria. We got in with plenty of extra time, I checked us into a Motel close to the club, and we sat out front of our rooms, in some leisure chairs that the provided for just that reason. It was in early Summer and the fresh air felt good. We had been sitting there, talking and drinking a Co'Cola, just minding our own business, when this lady of the evening (it wasn't even late afternoon, yet, so she was starting early) walked up to where we were sitting, in front of our rooms, with the doors open. She was a pretty nice looking black woman, her dress just barely covering her clean undies that she had worn for the occasion. I nodded good afternoon, like my Mama taught me, she said, "You boys wanta ____________or _______________with a____________________and a __________________or we can do it_____________________and that will be $50 dollars for both parties.
Well, the shocked look on Taz's face is something I shall never fortget. I raised the cool beverage I was drinking, in a toast, and said, "Preciate it, Maam, but I reckon we'll pass, but good luck on down the row." She smiled and moved off, just a lady trying to get by with maybe the only asset she had to bargain with. Taz turned to me, as she was walking off, "Stan, does that happen all the time?" "No, Taz, just ever now and again, but it is nice to be approached, don't ya'think?? I never Judge other people, I don't know what drives them to do what they do, but a traveling musician sees all kinds of folks, and you learn to just smile, thank them and go about you own life.
I've always found the ladies of the night, whether in Las Vegas, or Peoria, Illinois, to be kinda sad, it's gotta be a rough life, and ever since my first encounter with a one legged prostitute, in Subic Bay, Philippines, when I was fresh in the Navy, 18 years old, and innocent as a little lamb, I've felt that way. I tell all about it in my book, "At The Corner Of Music Row, And Memory Lane", and I guess there is no sense going into it again, but it was also a sad occasion.
Can you imagine, being a young woman, leg blown off in the war, above the knee, when you were a little kid, trying to keep from starving, in a Hell Hole like Subic Bay, Philippines, by trying to sell your body, that is so mangled, you have strapped on a short piece of 2X 4 board, so you can walk the streets...offering yourself to Sailors from America...It was an encounter that I will never forget.
I saw a lot of sights like that, in the Far East, and I came back home to America, never to take it for granted again.
Growing up in the country, surrounded by family, secure in the knowledge that I was loved and cared for...I just figured everyone lived like that. My four years in the Navy and my three years helping to run a Ranch for Homeless Boys, taught me different, everyone does not live like I did.
Yes, Taz would say, "You're cutting 'til the world looks level", but I know, that the world is not really level for a lot of people across the world. It is, "Do what you gotta do to survive", so I smile, thank you very much, but no, and wish them luck on down the row.
Taz is gone now, and I miss his wonderful sense of self. He was a good man, married to a wonderful Lady, and I think of them often.
So, looking down across my yard and fields, it does look mighty pretty, green and lush as only Spring with a lot of rain can bring to us. The Robins are hopping across the lawn, looking for bugs and worms I might have stirred up, my Mokingbird is still singing, boy what stamina, I used to think four shows a night was hard, but he has been singing all day.
God bless us all, with an evening of family and friends, a peaceful and restful sleep, and the return of a good day tomorrow. Stan
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