Jon was my friend, as he was for so, so many others. He made each of his friends feel they were special, as they were. He gave more of himself and his personal energy to the children, adults, and communities in Vermont, and beyond, than anyone else I've ever known. We often visited in conjunction with the Craft Festival Circuit. He sang and I spun at my spinning wheel. I loved his wild energy and the way he totally gave himself at every performance. I wrote this poem, titled: "For Jon Gailmor," for and about him, in 1986, after attending one of his outdoor summer concerts with my family. I gave him a copy around that time. I also gave him a cassette tape of songs that I'd written for and sung to my family, and in trade, he gave me his latest cassette tape which was "Gonna Die With A Smile If It Kills Me" and "Dirt.". Both of those collections were on the same cassette tape.
For You, Jon Gailmor
(Or A Midsummer Night's Scream)
As adults,
we usually quietly sit,
or write or type or cook
AND lecture our children to grow up.
YOU come
on a hot midsummer day.
Before we even know
we are not children,
you JOUST us from our comfy seats!
We fly up, raise one fist
and shout "Dirt"!
You shirtless Thing,
with arteries bulging,
you Son of a Wing,
with guitar blazing.
You Amazing Thing.
You wiggle your hips
and jump your lips,
and
make
us
SING!
July, 1986
Almost 40 years later, our daughter arranged for him to teach her own students song-writing at Robinson Elementary School, in Starksboro, Vermont. Photo #1 below I (Carol Johnson Collins) took of Jon performing at Robinson Elem. School, on April 12th, 2022 and Photo #2, my husband (Fred Collins), took of me, and my daughter, Eliza, also taken on April 12, 2022. We're giving Jon a Good-bye Hug showing our thanks for his great work with her students. I think of Joni Mitchell's song "The Circle Game".
Thank goodness he recorded so many songs. Through them, he will be able to keep giving, forever, and we will never forget him.
Carol Johnson Collins and Family of South Duxbury, Vermont
Carol Johnson Collins, Owner
Singing Spindle Spinnery
701 VT Rte. 100
So. Duxbury, Vermont 05660
Tel: 802-244-8025
www.SingingSpindleSpinnery.com
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