The Beautiful Party

It may have taken us two attempts but we got the story recorded, or at least a story recorded. I'm still not sure the details are 100% accurate but I'm 100% sure that we got the most important detail. Andrew is very proud of his two sons, Andy and Matthew. Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Not many folks get a second act in life. Not everyone needs another bite at the apple. Need it or not, Andrew got that second act, and he's pretty happy about it.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Our visit with Toni Brock was so much fun that we’re continuing the theme of talking to others who knew Grandma and Grandpa as Uncle Donald and Aunt Katherine. Uncle Executive Producer Andrew arranged this visit with Wayne Blanchard, who like Toni, comes into the picture via one of Grandma’s siblings, her brother Gene Thornton by marrying Gene’s daughter Ann. It’s also special to me because Wayne is my godfather and one of my dad’s favorite friends. He was also the best man at my parents' wedding. It meant a lot to hear stories about the two of them in their younger days and to confirm a few memories I had including the infamous ball and chain. Friends and family are beautiful indeed.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

So far, we’ve talked to the children of Donald and Katherine and their spouses but today is different. Today we hear from Toni Reilly Brock, and to her, they were Uncle Donald and Aunt Katherine, and clearly, Toni was Grandma’s favorite niece. I expected that Toni would have plenty of stories to tell so to be sure not to miss anything, I started recording before I even dialed Toni’s phone number and she did not disappoint. The occasional giggles in the background are my mom, Flo, and Andrew - fitting I suppose given how they’ve pretty much grown up together - just another beautiful party at Toni’s houseDo you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

When we first started recording episodes for the Beautiful Party, I thought it was important that we didn’t let the episodes get too long. Everyone had more to say and I told them not to worry, we could always record more later. Thanks to Andrew’s diligence, we recorded more episodes with Billy back then, and now, it’s time to return to Jerry, Theresa, Cecilia, and Andrew to pick up where they left off. You may be asking yourself why we’d try and do this with all of them at once. Wouldn’t that be difficult, perhaps even chaotic? Well, yes, it was and it was also amazing, so much so that I’ve included the full seven-and-a-half minutes of outtakes it took to get the 11-second intro recorded. A hilariously beautiful party indeed.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

I spent a lot of time with my Uncle Jerry growing up. It always seemed as if we so much closer in age and interests than he was to his oldest brothers so it was easy to see him as a cool Uncle. Of course, all that cool uncle stuff only gets you so far so I’m glad he found Jeanie. I’m excited to talk to Jeanie today and learn more about her life before choosing to marry into the Beautiful Party and what she thought about all of that as it was happening. I probably won’t ask her to spill any embarrassing Jerry stories …as long as she doesn’t ask me about any.Jeanie and I chat about her life pre-marriage, her meeting Jerry at St. Pius, and their first date at the Lumber Yard Cafe on Dauphin Street. Jeanie shares her perspective on adapting to the vibrant Still family compared to her upbringing with three older sisters.We discuss family gatherings, recalling a chaotic yet heartwarming first cabbage roll dinner and the challenges and joys of raising children. The conversation shifts to Grandpa's later years, intertwining old memories with new experiences post-Hurricane Katrina.Jeanie fondly remembers family trips to Destin and annual gatherings where traditions were cherished, including the time Billy knocked on the door on her honeymoon night because he needed to use the DRE. Classic! Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

It's been a while, more than two years, since the last episode of The Beautiful Party. Luckily, our Executive Producer, Andrew Still, has kept the flame burning and we both agreed that the time has come to get back to hearing the stories we need to ensure future generations can hear.We don't have it all ironed out just yet but we've recorded an episode with Jeanie Still that will be out soon and we plan to get Andrew, Theresa, Cecilia, and Jerry together in one room - have mercy on us all - to cover some topics we might have missed over the last couple of years and hear stories they didn't get a chance to tell in their initial episodes. So get ready, your phone may ring soon and we'll need to hear your stories.Welcome back to The Beautiful Party! Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

We continue our chats with folks who choose to attend this beautiful party by marrying into the Still family and this episode gives us the opportunity to learn more about how Sandi and Andrew came to meet and marry. There are churches and beaches and proposals on ships, and more weddings than two people typically have with each other. It seems true that life is a journey and who you travel with is more important than where you're going.What a beautiful party!Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

As should be obvious by now, our family loves a good party. So it's no surprise that some momentous events either happen or get their start at large gatherings of family and friends. Such is the origin story for Mark and Theresa Cook. Decades after that fateful Halloween party, they certainly seem to have had more treats than tricks.  Boo!    Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Now that we've heard from all of the surviving children of Donald and Katherine and told a few extra stories, we turn our attention to the spouses of those children. These are the people who joined the party by choice and who brought the Stills into their own families. As the party grew in size so did the memories and the joy. It seems grandma and grandpa weren't the only party in town!Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Back in February of 2021 when we recorded the first episode with Billy, he had taken the time to make notes, lots of notes, on topics he wanted to talk about. After nearly an hour and 15 minutes of recording, I started trying to wrap that session up knowing that we had plenty to work with but Billy didn't want to stop because we hadn't gotten to everything on his list. I assured him we'd do more ... and we did ... but we did not get to everything on his list in the subsequent recordings. Luckily, Andrew has that list so we got together to work through the list and record those stories for Billy. We're in good hands as Billy and Andrew were seldomly apart growing up and, as Andrew makes clear, beautiful parties happened in all sorts of places back then. I think they still do.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

I think I finally figure out something to include for my dad, Ronnie. I sure miss him. Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

More than four decades of Billy and his Society of Bums marching in the Joe Cain Day parade. What started so simply became an iconic part of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Here's an interview with Billy from 2012 about the SOBs. Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Andrew was over at Billy's this week so we took the opportunity to get together and try and record the details of how Billy created and played various characters over the years. In part 1, we wanted to talk about Billy as Santa Clause. It took a while to get him on topic but we eventually learned a lot about all those Christmases with Santa Billy.Next, in part 2, we'll see what we can learn about Whiskey, leader of the Society of Bums.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

There were some unanswered questions after we recorded the Lansdowne episode that I thought dad's (Ronnie's) good friend Tim Layfield might be able to shed some light on.  Whenever dad was into a project, there was a good chance he would enlist Tim's help and that was certainly the case at 3805 Lansdowne Cir in 1980.Tim was kind enough to talk and sure enough, he had plenty to add.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

In 1980, construction began on a house for Donald and Katherine in a west Mobile neighborhood called Lansdowne. Their second child, Ronnie, drove the project and many in the family participated in some way during construction and in the maintenance of the house after it was built. For nearly two decades, the family gathered at 3805 Lansdowne Cir for every holiday and more at Katherine's direction. When grandma said be here, we were all there as expected. It was Andrew's great idea to gather and talk about that house, its construction, and all the things we could remember. So, Andrew, Billy, Flo, Jerry, and me got together to talk it through. What a good time!Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Andrew is the third child of Donald and Katherine Still and the older of the their twin boys ... and don't you forget it. It's clear that he and Billy are close even if they are constantly digging at each other. With each episode, I'm amazed at the different perspectives each sibling brings to the telling of stories they all lived and Andrew didn't disappoint. As usual, he brought more stories I hadn't heard before and that's exactly what I hoped for.Our conversation was pretty laid back until he pulled out a poem his mom wrote for he and Billy about being the mother of twins. I'm telling you now, water works are coming so, get some tissues. It was a beautiful, teary, runny nose party. Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

I had a ball talking with my Uncle Billy about Donald and Katherine and growing up in their family. As I'm now just expecting, he shared some details that I had not heard before and his perspective on some of the common stories was certainly unique. Mostly, I'm struck by his joy and how he remembers his mom living joyfully and reminding him to always find something to laugh about. Great lessons for us all.There is a Hunter S. Thompson quote that I've always thought so very well described Billy and I believe that even more after spending some time talking about life with him. See if you don't agree:“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”I bet you can smell the smoke by the end of this episode. What a ride, indeed! What a beautiful party.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Cecilia was the first daughter born to Donald and Katherine Still. She carries on many traditions from Katherine such as sewing, my-naise, cakes, and more. Cecilia shares a lot about her mom and she also shares some touching memories about the softer side of her dad and being the first daughter after a string of four sons.The two most important things to remember are that she can, and still does, slice one piece of bread cross-ways into two AND she is on record here promising to cook gumbo, cabbage rolls, and 1, 2. 3, 4 cake for me the next time I get down to Mobile. Remember that last part. I know I will.See you soon, Aunt Cecilia!Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

Jerry, as he is most often known, is the 6th child born to Donald and Katherine Still. We talked about paper routes, working at the Clover Farm, and how he artfully dodged his father's direct instructions as a child.I very much enjoyed visiting with Jerry and hearing his unique perspective on growing up on Fairway Drive. I hope you enjoy listening to his episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.Be sure to let me know what size 'Grandpa was a Pimp' t-shirt you want. Jerry and I will probably be selling them soon.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

The first season, or at least the first batch of episodes, of The Beautiful Party will focus on the children of Donald and Katherine Still and for the very first episode, we have their youngest child, Theresa. The seventh of seven children, she and I (grandson of Donald and Katherine) are actually closer in age than she is with her two oldest siblings so it's seemed fun to start with her and work our way up through the birth order.It was fun to hear about her early memories of home made dresses and riding on her daddy's foot as he lumbered through the old house on Fairway Drive.And if anyone listening received a hand-me-down that was one the dresses her mom made for her as a child, let us know. Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

It's been about a month since I sent the original pilot episode out to Donald and Katherine Still's children to gauge their interest in telling stories about growing up with their parents. Happily, they were all very interested in the idea and Theresa, Jerry, Cecilia, Billy, and Andrew all jumped in with gusto. The first episodes with each of them have been recorded and I'm working through the editing process now. I'll release the episodes as they are completed.It's been so much fun so far and I hope everyone is pleased with the outcome.Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!

I missed my family. Specifically, I miss his brothers and sisters so I made this short pilot episode to explain an idea for a podcast that would tell the story the family their parents made and raised and, eventually, tell the stories of their own families too. I wasn't sure they'd want anything to do with the project. After all, I haven't been much a part of the family since years before my dad, their brother, died. So, I made this and sent it to them. Would they be interested? Was there even an opportunity to get back to interacting with that part of the family? I guess we'll just have to wait and see if there will be a podcast version of the beautiful party my grandmother always talked about. That's where the name comes from, The Beautiful Party. Whenever more than a few people gathered for anything, at some point she'd always say, "What a beautiful party!" She just had a way of seeing the beauty in even the smallest events.Anyway, I guess we'll see soon if there will be more episodes and more stories. Do you have family stories to tell? Memories of Donald and Katherine? Stories about family gatherings? Whatever it may be, if it's related to the Still family, it would be good to hear.Email Mark Still at [email protected] and we'll add it to the records!