I got an email last week from the EQ that contained valuable information. She had the reason that Chubby Checker is going to be at the mall. To be fair, I think a helpful reader that I don't know sent me an explanation the day before. The email was titled Mall Of America but the message was garbled and I couldn't read it! I think I had the reason within my grasp and couldn't see it!
Fortunately the very next day EQ sent a clipping, assuming that anyone who once had a Chubby Checker Counter on her site would want to know. She hadn't even seen the latest Chubby Checker update! Helpful! So the item was obviously from a news source but since I don't know what that source was, I will have to provide the gist. Please make your own Come on baby, let's do the gist or Let's gist again joke. I can't quite bring myself to do so.
The gist: there is an amusement park in the Mall Of America called Camp Snoopy. Camp Snoopy has a new roller coaster and the grand opening is on March 15th. This new roller coaster is called the Timberland Twister. Important word: twister. So according to the article, the pre-opening is on the 14th and features, "Mr. Twist himself, Chubby Checker!"
As another exciting Timberland Twister tie-in, the Red Cross is promoting tornado awareness. I don't know if that is just on opening day, or all through March. I actually thought Tornado Awareness Month in Minnesota was the month of April. I don't know, the tornado rules changed when I grew up. They went from "go to the basement" to "go outside with the camera and be sure to time your run back inside correctly." Anyway, I was so giddy to have the reason for Chubby Checker's short-notice arrival that I sent the tidbit off to the Mustachioed Drummer.
MD: Oh the Red Cross tornado awareness, the Timberland Twister, and Mr. Twist himself. Could it get any stupider or greater?
It really couldn't. I am guessing that since it is just a promotion for the roller coaster, Chubby Checker will not be playing a full set. I am thinking he will play The Twist, Let's Twist Again, and maybe Twistin' The Night Away. I don't think he has ever recorded Twistin' The Night Away (I couldn't find a listing for it), but it does fit the whole Twist-y theme. I am willing to bet that The Twist will be the grand finale of the three song set, and I am also expecting that it will once again be a nightmarish ten minute long extended version.
I am a bit concerned about the employees of Camp Snoopy. As of last night, the websites of the Mall Of America, Camp Snoopy, and the oldies station still did not have news of the event. If no one knows about it, will it turn out like Chubby Checker's appearance at the Hy-Vee? Will the Camp Snoopy employees have to twist with Chubby? Will I have to twist with Chubby? I think I'll watch the spectacle from the second level to make sure that doesn't happen.