May 21, 2024 – MOMMY & ME - BLOG #0018 – COMING OFF THE STAGE

When I left her that warm summer evening, I sensed that there may be an issue with the heat. I always visited Mommy before I left the house, on my way to a gig. On this particular night, it was a Big Band gig at Baker’s Keyboard with “Ben’s Friends” about five miles away. I asked a good friend of mine, Sandy (whom Mommy often referred to as family), to call Mommy and check on her as the evening grew. It was about 10:00 pm or so while we were on the bandstand, when my phone began to ring. I finally looked at my phone between songs and it was Sandy.

As a sinking feeling hit me, I answered to hear her tell me to “Get home now…Mommy isn’t sounding right.” I whispered to Stan, sitting next to me on the bandstand, that I had to go as I reached for my gear behind my chair, packing up in seconds. I called Mommy while running down Eight Mile Road and yes, she was slurring her words and just not making sense. She was suffering from heat exhaustion.  Sandy met me as I arrived at Mommy’s. Mommy sat alone in the dining room, looking confused as she tried to smile and welcome Sandy and I as visitors. We immediately cooled her down with water and a fan. In a few minutes, Mommy began to recover, and Sandy got her going, joking with her, and starting with their “hey girl” routine. You really should have seen those two go at it.

When I moved Mommy into the house next door to me, it was without central air. I had planned to purchase and install window air conditioners later in the summer. However, I went out the next day, purchased them and installed them. That surely wouldn’t happen again to Mommy.

She had a custom installed air conditioner in both halves of her house…which she just UNPLUGGED when she wanted to turn them off and on.

Mommy immediately became very fond of Sandy upon meeting her months before. She was the perfect “gal pal” for Mommy. She uplifted Mommy and what a good time they would have. They laughed and cut up all the time. Most of the time, they laughed and talked about me. I remember seeing her car in front of Mommy’s house often, but they would talk about me so badly when I came over, I’d just leave. It was all in fun, to keep Mommy smiling. RIP Cassandra “Sandy” Munn