ROCKIN'
ROCKIN'
THE
THE
Rockwellian
When a new old friend was browsing a past issue of the WG Magazine, he stopped for a brief
moment and said in a now comfortably familiar tone “hey I know these folks”.
As he looked closer at the picture in our History’s Mysteries feature, a smile was slowly emerging
and with it came a story! A fabulous story told with such flare, I could smell the cabbage, as if
I were there. He looked closer yet and then he exclaimed, “now I’m sure that’s my uncle and
that one there is….” Well the name escaped him at the moment but the moment did not. I could
see in his face the recollection, the remembrance the calm look of being enlightened by his own
quiet brilliance. All this while making us laugh and pass the time away at a quiet booth at Urban
Flats Winter Garden.
I was thrilled to be sitting across from him just drinking his stories in and almost seeing them fly
off the pages. To be shared with all of you. I couldn’t wait to ask him if I could simple let him
tell us all another tale or two or so many that just flow from him effortlessly. He is a treasure
trove of WG Americana. He expresses his love for the community and the history and the good
and the bad and the young and the old with the ease of an after supper walk to the neighbor’s
porch.
If there was ever the personification of Rockin the Rockwellian Master Rod Reeves is certainly my
pick. He knows everyone, he loves everyone, he has taught everyone. And he is still teaching
today. He taught me a thing or two about art that night. The real education comes in the form
of an emotionally charged history lesson with names and places and the occasional whisper and
disclaimer. Stoic and charming he sits quite still and enthralls with his wit.
As another bottle of wine or a pitcher of mango sangria arrives and is momentarily ignored… well
not ignored…. The stories continue to be the star.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JULIE CONNELL / STORY BY: CRUZ CASTILLO
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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AUGUST 2014