Mick Jagger, Mary van Wijk, and "The St. Petersburg Syndrome"

 

 

    As a means of promoting my story “The St. Petersburg Syndrome” and the book in which it is gathered, I asked Mary van Wijk, a known Rolling Stones enthusiast, to read it and compose a review.

   Sometimes a review of a story is more entertaining than the story itself as is the case in this incidence.

   I offer Mary’s review here more as a celebration of her personal experience than as a promotion of my book “Preposterous Scenarios: Gathered Stories, Poems, and Memoirs” available as a digital download at Amazon.com for $2.99.

 

REVIEW:

Settles’ The St Petersburg Syndrome is reminiscent of an encounter, purely by chance, that I had in 1989 in an intimate Italian restaurant in London.  My encounter with Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall and Eric Idle, sitting at the table beside, and very near us, was unanticipated and extraordinary, just like this fresh and intriguing story. The St Petersburg Syndrome is sure to give you satisfaction!

Mary van Wijk, United Methodist Ordained Elder and Rolling Stones Aficionado

 

Oh, to have been just feet away from that table! I sincerely hope Mary eavesdropped sufficiently to accommodate Mick’s insatiable ego.

I look forward to being in person with Mary so as to experience vicarious proximity to rock and roll greatness!

Thank you Mary for these exciting words!

 

But before I leave…

   The story which prompted this review “The St. Petersburg Syndrome” is found in the book “Preposterous Scenarios: Gathered Stories, Poems, and Memoirs” by Mike Settles. Available as a digital download at amazon.com for $2.99.

Peter Frampton Meets President Gerald Ford

President Ford with Peter Frampton National Archives

    Some people pass the time or develop hobbies such as reading novels, golfing, or assembling evasive picture puzzles. I rummage through historical documents looking for the occasional “huh”, “wait a minute” or “wow” discovery.

   Such was the case a few days ago as I was perusing the daily diary of President Gerald Ford which is available online from the Gerald Ford Presidential Library.

   At the bottom, page seven, of the diary for September 8, 1976, I see the name “Peter Frampton” as someone with whom the President met. “Huh” was my whispered response. And so I was off on an engagement of historic research. Indeed it was the Peter Frampton of rock and roll guitar fame!

    The National Archives was wise enough to maintain the photograph.

It was 44 years ago this coming September 8^th that rock and roll royalty once again assumed its worthy place as it stood within the Oval Office beside Presidential stature!

And that’s my trivial report.

 

Ps…Peter reached the number 6 spot on the WLS survey for September 18, 1976 with “Baby, I Love Your Way”.

http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls760918.htm

 

Presidential diary entry found at:

https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0036/pdd760908.pdf

 

Photo from national archives:

https://nara.getarchive.net/media/president-gerald-r-ford-and-his-son-steve-ford-meeting-with-musician-peter-47e887