❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
I am teaching piano to students ages 8 through adult. The adults don't tell me their ages, necessarily. All are beginners. I enjoy each one of the students. Here is just a regular lesson where we used my MAC's photo booth to do simple recordings. The sound isn't great because when I updated my MAC the new system was more powerful and more noise is created when the MAC runs.
We aren't polished here, but I wanted the girls (sisters) to be able to share what they are doing with their grandmother. who lives far from us and Maryellen and Caitlyn couldn't open the movie files of the lessons that I emailed to them, so I put this together for them.
I had never seen this movie. But it was on the fantastic TV channel, The Sundance Channel, today. With subtitles. I especially liked Tom Waits singing You Can Never Hold Back Spring and the poetry of the movie. Some great art - this movie.
.................................................. The Opening Scene of the movie Tom Waits sings You Can Never Hold Back Spring from his Orphans CD. Uploaded by scavosauras To view in larger screen ~ Double click the video and it will take you to youtube
After creating LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, the Oscar-winning comedy set during the Holocaust, actor/filmmaker Roberto Benigni takes on a no-less-audacious project: a romantic comedy set during the opening days of the Iraq War. Benigni plays a madcap poetry professor hopelessly infatuated with an elegant writer (Nicoletta Braschi). When he learns his beloved is wounded and lying near death in a Baghdad hospital, our hero impersonates a doctor and is soon dodging bullets and bombshells to win her heart. "Winsome, charming and irresistibly romantic" -Salon.
The Sundance Channelschedule - airing The Tiger and The Snow
.................................................. The Tiger and The Snow The trailer Uploaded by EuropaFilmes To view in larger screen ~ Double click the video and it will take you to youtube
Coach Hammel Columbia City, Indiana To enlarge ~ click on the pictures ................................................. .................................................
1959-60 Columbia City Joint High School Sectional Winners
From the back of 1959-60 poster picture Coach Hammel's writing
1960-61 Columbia City Joint High School
My dad left planet Earth May 10, 2010 at 10:05 a.m. while he was on the telephone with me - he in Indiana, me in Rhode Island. I would have been there, had I known he was waiting to die soon. My dad gave me a close up look at someone who lived with authenticity. So, I hold him dearly in my heart.
Dad wanted so much to write a book and have it published. He had a title and had written some of it. The title was to be "Why Coach?" He wanted to tell stories about the importance of making a difference in young players lives, not by teaching them techniques and skills of ball playing, but by utilizing the sport to get to the heart of the players.
I recorded his memorial funeral service. And I hope to get it in a format to be able to share. The community newspaper sportswriter, Roger Metzger, who wrote during dad's career and a basketball player,
Keith Doudt (pictured above with Dad) spoke and made moving contributions to the ceremony.
I feel so blessed to have been the one to be "present" with dad when he let go. I have that connection and it is so precious to me. I consider this a gift that he gave to me.
Months ago I was googling and went to the high school website where I attended high school.
Dad was a teacher and coach there. And I found this alumni page, which had an email address for one of dad's basketball players. I wrote and he wrote back. I share his email below with his permission.
1962-63 Columbia City Joint High School
Sectional Winners
A Tribute from Mike Barnes
A Flying Golden Eagle
Coach Mark Hammel
Sent: Mon, Jun 28, 2010 Subject: Coach Hammel
...When I saw the pictures of your dad, it brought back a flood of wonderful memories.
Columbia City Joint High School gymnasium
now called Columbia City High School
Photo taken in 2007
Photo taken in 1959
First tip off in the new CCJHS gym
Your dad influenced my life for eternity. He is the primary reason I became a teacher and a coach. I would like to share an experience with you that I had with your father. I came home from school and basketball practice one evening, and my dad was very upset with what people in the bleachers were saying about me during games. He planned on never coming to anymore of my games, because he was being embarrassed. I didn’t try to reason with my dad, but your dad had told me that if I ever needed him I was supposed to call him. I talked with my mom. Dad was not somebody that I “talked” with. That is not a criticism of my dad that is just the way it was.
1963-64 Columbia City Joint High School
Sectional Winners
The names provided by Mike Barnes ~
The cheerleaders from left to right: Judy Manter, Sylvia Binkley, Judy Johnson and Joanne Bates. The mascot cheerleader: Rhonda Johnson. The first row of players from left to right: Randy Cook, Mike Barnes, Rich Mills, Mike McCoy and Tony Smith. The second row of players from left to right: Tom Smith, Harry Staley, Jeff Culp, Tom Roe and Jack Stellhorn. The managers are Danny Worrick by Coach George Kind and George Hertzel by Coach Mark Hammel.Mike Barnes number was 22 for home games and 23 for away games. Thank you, Mike!
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To make a long story short, although we had a phone, I went next door to the neighbors and called your dad. As it turned out, he wasn’t home. I talked with your mother, and coach was at a meeting, but she would give him the message. Your dad came to my house that night around 9:30, and he sat at the kitchen table, and talked to my mom and dad about how important and valuable I was to our team. It was close to midnight when coach left. My dad never missed a game. When I walked out to the car to say goodbye to your dad, I thanked him and I told him that I loved him. That very night I decided what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Also, your dad planted seeds about the Lord that opened my eyes about a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life.
The last time I saw coach was at my father-in-laws funeral in Columbia City in May of 2001. It was great to see him. I will never forget the positive impact your dad had on my life......
Please give my best to your family, and thank you Sandy for sharing your dad with us.
Sincerely,
Mike (Barnes)
CCJHS class of ‘64
Photo taken in 2007
Second email ~
When I was writing about your dad’s influence in my life, I had tears in my eyes. If you want to post my story about your dad, you have my permission to use my name. ……I had a very surprising call from your mother several years ago. She put your dad on the phone, and we talked about the book he was writing or going to write. He told me I would be in the book. One of the greatest compliments I ever received came indirectly from Dewayne Kline, who had played for your dad. Dewayne said that coach ranked Mike Barnes as one of the 5 best players he had ever coached. I know Bill Schwartz was # 1, but I was shocked to learn that your dad thought I was one of his best players. I don’t think I have shared that information with anyone else. We had a great talk that Sunday evening after your mom turned the phone over to coach. That was the last time I heard his voice. Becky’s mom sent me his obituary. I would have loved to have been at any funeral or memorial service honoring “Coach Hammel.” As a coach for 30 years, my last sentence in the previous e-mail is a gigantic “thank you”, because I know the time away from family coaching requires. Your dad will always be in my heart.
Sincerely,
Mike
I tried to find pictures which included Mike Barnes but after a few hours of searching, I have had to give up as it is nearly 2:00 a.m. Maybe, they were in the external hard drive that died.
Update ~ Found the pictures! These are pictures actually of poster-size pictures. It is likely that the actual posters have since been thrown out. So I am so excited to share them here.
Columbia City Joint High School
Basketball Varsity Team
Photo credit: South Bend Tribune
I believe this picture is of 1964 Regional Champions
Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open 2009 Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew May 14, Thursday, 2009. Therefore, Rafa had a walk-over into the quarter finals, where he will face fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco.
The match will be at 2 p.m. USA EDT/DST Friday, May 15, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TRIBUTE to EVALYN JANE HAMMEL WOHLFORD
My dad's sister, the only surviving sibling of five children, and the only girl, has retired from her beloved music - her beautiful piano playing - due to physical limitations. A day she never wanted to come. Upon her retirement after 67 years of sharing her gift of music in the church I grew up in - in Huntington, Indiana - the church is honoring her soon.
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................................................. I Surrender All - hymn Uploaded by WorshipVideo
This is a note I mailed to her recently...
May 10, 2009
Dear Evalyn,
Something dear to me is the wonderful heritage that I carry with me from the days of sitting in the old sanctuary of the East State Street Church of God (the one with the sanctuary that included the sections that could be closed off for Sunday school classes and the nursery in the balcony). The most wonderful memories that are with me today, come from the music, the beautiful “old” hymns that you played and we sang. Thank you, Evalyn, for the gift of music you developed, cherish, nourished my heart with and shared with us all. I owe you a debt that I can never repay ~ I can just be grateful and pass on the blessing.
Also, very meaningful to me were those Sunday nights that the congregation spent the whole evening just singing hymns. I remember Deeny, Stanton and Melba’s daughter, and Karen, Vic and Frieda’s daughter, singing the descants to the congregational singing of He’s the Lily of the Valley. And Vic and Stanton singing the lines to Peace Like a River. I just loved the singing! I could sit as a child, let my mind wander during the sermons, but the music is what always brought me back into the service. A verse of Just As I Am, Softly and Tenderly, I Surrender All or It is Well With My Soul touched my soul where just words never could reach. The music of these hymns still affect me in a very special way.
Please accept my appreciation and gratitude for helping bring music into my life.
With love
................................................. ................................................. Another hymn I grew up with....Softly and Tenderly Used in the movie A Trip to Bountiful - (which I recommend) Uploaded byRRRGroup2
And I sent the following to her inside a card via the church, which is honoring her on May 31, 2009:
The Gift of Music
Dedicated to Evalyn (Hammel) Wohlford
by Sandra Hammel
Music reaches places in us that words just can’t.
Ah, yes, words can lift, inspire, summon us;
But what can wash over us like music?
Enter our inner most sanctuary and become one with our being?
Permeate our mind, our heart, our spirit
and be present with us in our hour of joy,
need
or sadness?
And never fail to be there for us?
Nothing better for the hungering soul
or brimming delight is the music that is always
there for the simple taking and giving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An die musik ~ To Music Composed by Franz Schubert
Lyrics O gracious Art, in how many grey hours When life's fierce orbit encompassed me, Have you kindled my heart to warm love, And charmed me into a better world!
Oft has a sigh, issuing from your harp, A sweet, blessed chord of yours, Thrown open the heaven of better times; O gracious Art, for that I thank you!
May 10, 2009
Dear Evalyn,
You have nurtured your gift of music and shared it with so many of us. I want you to know how it touched me and helped me find my own personal relationship with the gift of music. A Chinese grandfather of one of my students once said to me, that a music teacher gives of her soul to her students. We have all been your students in a way. And we have all benefited from you as you have given of your soul to us. I can’t imagine life without the communion music provides for my best self. Music is a sacred gift and it was entrusted to you and you let it sing out beautifully.
With love and affection
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................................................. Softly and Tenderly - another version Uploaded by hoover4000
Evalyn is the girl in the middle My dad is the one holding the ball.
Ferne Wiles Hammel Mother of Evalyn, my dad, Mark, Harold, Jerald and Richard
In a portion of a tribute to her mom, Evalyn wrote this:
...Mom walked with me to Salamonie Avenue to Bessie Branstrator’s home for my piano lessons, which was about 3 ½ miles one way. (Before this, Bessie came to our house.) Mom’s day was busy, but she still took the time and would wait for me, and we returned home and she never seemed to mind the walk. She sat beside me while I practiced because I wanted her there, not because I wouldn't practice, which Mark tells folks. She played hymns, but I don’t recall her helping much with the music.
I enjoyed helping Mom wash clothes because we had a wringer washer, and it was fun sending those sheets, etc., through, but Mom was always watchful that I didn’t get my hands caught in the wringer.
Pop was busy earning a living for his family, and Mom would walk to Grandma and Grandpa Wiles’ home on Walnut Street which was about four miles, and we all walked to church, but I don’t remember minding this. But maybe, my brothers were afraid to say if they did. We had no car, and we attended revival meetings for two weeks, every night except Saturdays, and then sometimes we had church on this night, also. Church was 1.8 miles, and some nights were mighty cold or hot. One cold, cold day, Mom walked to John Tipton school with extra blankets for we kids and then while some of us got rides home, Mom walked back to our home in the frigid weather. I never understood where the other coats came from. This brings back sad memories to me, thinking how cold Mom must have been!
Mom was the buffer between we kids and Pop who was always serious; at least, this is my recollection of him. The summer before I entered high school, Mom made an appointment for me to get my pigtails cut and permed. A cab brought me back to Grandma and Grandpa Hammel’s who lived next door to our house, and as I stood on their sidewalk, Pop asked Mom who that was standing over there. I never knew what Mom told our Pop, but he never said a word to me about me shorn locks.
....our Pop ...said to me as we stood by Mom’s casket, "There lays an angel!"
I’m sure there was mental as well as physical suffering when Mom’s body was taken over by acromegaly (caused by dysfunction of the pituitary gland) which made here bones grow. She told me this happened when she was pregnant with our brother, Mark, so this was the way I always knew her...
...Mom loved to work outdoors and especially in her flower gardens. She had a beautiful variety of Iris, and I wish we still had the yellow rose bush which grew by the sidewalk in the back. She also, mowed the lawn with a push mower, and she would say she walked to Mt. Etna and back when she completed this job. I remember how she would rinse out her wet clothes and hang them on the clothesline to dry before they were laundered.
Evalyn's mom - my Grandma Hammel
On May 10, 1963, Mom had been working in her flower garden in the front of the house, and Pop had been working in his shop in the garage when he looked out and couldn’t see Mom. He found her in the house where she had laid all of the grandkids pictures down, face up. We think she had a premonition that she was not going to be here very long. Pop asked Mom if she would like to ride along to Baer Field to get some lumber. On the way Mom gasped a big breath and was gone just that quickly. Pop said he thought she was choking on her tongue so he tried to get hold of it to help her but with no success. Pop called me from Ft. Wayne with the news. I had lost my best friend and my precious Mom. Our pop was a very distraught and lost man after the death of our Mom, or Mother, as Mark always called her.
I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music
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Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
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Spain Time
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Melbourne Time
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Hawaii Time
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
Double Click on Videos to Enlarge
Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
Want to help? Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
"May I Suggest" by Susan Werner
Satchita - Playing for Change
Stand By Me ~ Playing for Change
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Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.
