Big Jim And The Bad Breath Boys

Our friend Jim Lavinder died earlier this year. My husband, Andy, had known Jim over forty years as his CPA and friend. For the last three years Andy and I camped next to Jim, his son and two grandchildren at the Galax Fiddler's Convention. We shared our food, talked and laughed and, for a week, listened to bluegrass music.

I never knew anyone who loved bluegrass music as much as Jim Lavinder did. He had been to 43 years of Fiddler's Conventions. 43! His son: 36 years, his grandson: 16 (he is 16 years old) and granddaughter: 14 (she is 14.) That is how loyal the family is to The Galax Old Time Fiddler's Convention. It is an annual tradition. They wouldn't miss it.

They had a band, of sorts, called "Big Jim and The Bad Breath Boys." The band was not the kind to get up on stage and play, however. Too shy, I guess. Well.... all except Robbie, Jim's grandson, when one year he wanted to play the guitar in the competition. The problem was that Robbie didn't know how to play the guitar. So, Andy taught him one song: "The Wabash Cannonball."

 Robbie had practiced his song over and over again. He got up in front of literally thousands of people in the audience. He picked his song very slowly and carefully but he played "The Wabash Cannonball" all the way through and did a fine job of it. You have never heard such applause as our little group produced. We were all proud of Robbie. Especially Jim. One member of "Big Jim and The Bad Breath Boys" had finally taken the stage.

Two years later, nine of us stood beneath a big wooden cross on a little hill overlooking the grandstand. We were a sober little group coming together for the most important reason for being at the convention this year. Jim's memorial. With a catch in his voice, Jim's son said a heartfelt prayer amid sniffles and sobs. We spread Jim's ashes in the place he loved so much. As we watched the dust rise and take flight on the wind, Andy drew his harmonica from his pocket and played Taps. Andy had practiced for a month and could never get through the song but that night he played it perfectly, never missing a note.

There was not a dry eye as we said goodbye to Big Jim. Rest in Peace, Jim. We know you are listening to some great bluegrass music where you are now.

This will be the last Fiddler's Convention for us. It just isn't the same without Big Jim.