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Doc Maynard and Doc Marsh and "Taxpayer Protest"

Doc Maynard writes, performs and  

     'Hopes to live beyond my means' 

            Bob and Priscilla Andrea Maynard met in 1950 while traveling in Europe. They were married a year later, raised a quartet of extremely interesting children committed to making a difference in this world. Now, after 56 years, the Maynards live in a retirement center in Bothell and they are still finding interesting pastimes at age 83 and 85.

            Bob is retired from an active practice as an ophthalmologist, just one highlight being his travels to Karachi, Pakistan, where he helped establish a mobile eye surgery clinic through Rotary International. Priscilla established herself in the simple beauty and elegance of Japanese black ink Sumi-e art, painting until her diminished vision precluded her continuing. Bicycling and singing have been among Bob’s passions.

            Their four children have chosen career paths that speak to their parents’ generosity toward and concern for others. Son Chris lives in Olympia and is with the state Department of Ecology. Daughter Kim has returned from doing relief work in Liberia and the Congo and was previously with Mercy Corps operations in Washington, D.C. Daughter Robin paints on silk, lives in Seattle and operates a website on eating awareness. Lisa lives near Renton and is a nurse in the trauma unit at Harborview Hospital.

            Until health issues slowed Bob down a bit, he was a regular on the variety of Puget Sound fund-raising bicycle excursions, including the grueling STP – Seattle to Portland ride.   

            This brings us to “singing” and singing Bob still does with great enthusiasm. In fact, he has gone on the road performing original songs for which he provides the music and Priscilla the lyrics. Bob teams with Woodinville veterinarian Al Marsh on the guitar and the two have made no less than eight appearances in retirement homes, the local senior center, a church and their service club.

            The numbers range from the story of how Priscilla and Bob met in Europe -- “Surprise Me Again”; “Be Near Me”, describing Priscilla’s adjustment to her loss of vision; and a subject Bob introduces as “something we can all relate to.” That would be “Taxpayers Protest”.

            They conclude their musical act with a number dealing with efforts to ban smoking in public places. Bob and Al are searching for a catchy name for their duo – Bob offering “M&M Songs”, Al suggesting “The Rockin’ Docs.” We add “The 2 Docs Nite”.

            The duo was received with great enthusiasm by Woodinville Rotary president Gary Whitsell, who wrote to members who missed the M&M performance: “This morning we had the privilege of witnessing the best ‘program’ our club has had in a long time! What a terrific show they put on!”

            An accountant, Whitsell must have gotten a big kick out of “Taxpayers Protest” as he enters the busy tax preparation season. The song goes like this:

Verse:           

“I give to this, I give to that

            To all who ask and pass the hat;
            Deduct from tax for charities

            But Still I’m left with none for me.

Chorus:

            Oh, give me more than bread and beans.

            I love to live beyond my means.

            No money for you -- my tax is due.

            Won’t you lend me ten ‘til my check comes thru?

Bridge:

            I’d won the lottery in my dream

            Got riches galore and great esteem.

            The world’s my oyster—where would I be

            With all of that money for me?

Verse:

            I want to play, I want to spend

            And have enough to give a friend.

            I’m sick of pinching coins, you see.

            Hang it all – that’s not for me.

New chorus:

            Oh, give me more than bread and beans.

            I love to live beyond my means.

            No money for you—my tax is due.

            To HELL with Internal Revenue!”

            
          If you’d like to hear this number in person, give Bob at call at (425) 806-7494 and maybe you can get a booking.                      

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Hugo and Mayor-for-Life Terry Jarvis
co-publish
The Greater Grace Daily OnLine Gazette
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Grace Town Hall - P.O. Box 967 - Grace, Wa 98072

(425) 482-4076

The
Northshore
Citizen  
weekly newspaper would have been
100 years old in 2003. Over the years it covered events in Bothell, Kenmore and Woodinville. The Citizen gave way in January of 2002 to the
     Bothell-Kenmore
          Reporter
mailed twice monthly free to homes in both communities for several years
and now, in 2007, delivered weekly by carrier.

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For a complete guide to
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