Later…
Dec 31, 2009 ramblings
Someone asked me today about my New Year resolutions. Truth is, I don’t make any. I’ve undergone lots of changes in life since 2000, surely made lots of mistakes, too. But one significant thing I learned is to try and keep things realistic and simple. Which, at least for me, means cleaning out the emotional, spiritual and physical closets of the clutter and baggage that inhibit a real and simple means of living, including setting goals and how to achieve them.
Resolutions have never worked for me because they seem rather “shot in the dark” to me. Sure, I need to keep working out and eating better, but that’s more a lifestyle paradigm than a resolution, IMO. Point to this very brief farewell to 2009 is just that; the 2000-2009 decade has come and gone. No need to agonize or lament, instead build on the accomplishments and lessons learned.
To all my friends and family, all the best for a happy and healthy 2010.
Later… 2009
Change in Plans
Plans for today were altered late yesterday afternoon. I’m learning to step back and respond vs. react. Yes, I’m disappointed in the fact my plans changed because of mis-communication on the part of someone else. Hey, stuff happens, and for today, I’m very grateful it does.
Just before heading out, I was catching up on email and read a great message from Skip Ewing. Then I watched and listened to “Juliana’s Smile,” totally moved by the compassion of message and the stunning composition by Skip. Sure hope you take time to do so as well.
After a bit of shopping, I came back home for lunch and finished rearranging the A/V components in the living room, a work in progress over the couple of days. To test the sound I popped a CD in, one I’ve not listened to in years. I was also in the process of zapping a cup of coffee with the intent of turning the system off and spending a little time in my home studio, if nothing else, to at least mess around with some rhythm tracks and learn more about Logic. But I got caught up in the beauty of Yo Yo Ma’s exquisite performance with the New York Philharmonic. Could it be this is why my plans changed? The house is quiet, I’ve got a mug of hot coffee in hand and Lord knows I could use some quality quiet time.
The journey through two concertos, one by Antonin Dvorak the other Victor Herbert, was exhilarating, yet relaxing. And, as I read the liner notes on the backstory of the relationship between these composers, and how/when these compositions came to be, I was reminded of how fleeting this type of dedication is in today’s world of music composition.
Once the concertos were over, I end up in my studio, thinking about the tie between Skip’s work and that of two master composers. Though Skip’s piece and video are just over 4 minutes, there is nothing less moving about his work. I needed to spend time today as I did, to be reminded of my own need to dig deeper and be more purposeful with the art I create, and to enjoy the art of the masters much more often.
What I Need
Today was the first day of my Christmas vacation (yay!). I got a bunch of stuff done, mostly because I planned to do so. Around Thanksgiving I promised myself I’d balance relaxing this holiday season with being productive, both practically and creatively.
It’s late in the afternoon, just before supper, I’m heating up a little left over coffee and for some reason got to thinking about my needs in life and realize, I don’t have any true needs. I get 3-squares a day, am blessed with a warm comfy house, made home by my family who I’m able to provide for by virtue of employment I’ve so fortunately retained during the see-saw year we all just went through.
But there are those with needs. Real needs for basics and necessities. On my a list of things to do while off work the next couple of weeks is to find quiet ways to bring even a little joy or relief into the lives of those I may or may not know or ever meet. So this morning I loaded up a bunch of things we had stored up to sell on Craigslist and dropped it all off to a lady who works in the food court in our building. I’m not sure if angels or true saints exist, but if they do, I’m sure she’s one of them. We’re talking about a person who prays for folks with needs to cross her path so she can find a way to help them.
Now, this wasn’t the first time we’ve shared of ourselves to provide for her ministry, but for some reason it felt sweeter today. It’s not about the content of the bags and boxes we filled, or the dollar amounts applied to each gift card we gave her, but the purpose that might be fulfilled (a hearty thanks to three long time co-workers for chipping in on very short notice to provide additional gifts). I’m so glad we were able to half fill the bed of a Silverado to bring a little hope to folks in need. Could it be the opportunity felt so meaningful today because it’s Christmas time? Could be because it’s actually what I need most in my life.
Cassettes
Dec 5, 2009 sojourn
Christmas means rearranging spaces in our house so we can setup the tree and decorations and make room for presents. Which in turn means having to make room for the ‘stuff’ that has to be cleared out so we actually have room for the aforementioned decorations and presents. Good thing is during this process we also get to throw out a lot of things we no longer use or need. You know, things like rabbit ear antennas, manuals for long-gone VCRs and today we cleared out a big drawer full of old video and cassette tapes obviously no longer in use and should be trashed.
So glad I looked through the bag BEFORE it went to the trash bin in the garage because I found a couple of cassettes I would have been WAY sad to lose. One tape took me back to a blustery winter day in Newport, RI, and a bunch of Navy musicians tracking a live demo of a few charts for a sax player/vocalist who was to audition for the Jazz Commodores in DC. The other, a spring jazz band concert on which I had the privilege of playing bass with the Edison Community (now State) College jazz ensemble backing Clark Terry.
What’s important to me is that I can now do more than just think back to these two distinct seasons in my life, instead I can hear what was happening and be very proud of what I was accomplishing. Not that the musicianship was necessarily anything to write home about (except for Clark’s and a couple of the outstanding Navy players I was holed up with at that time), but that I was venturing beyond my roots of rock and roll, funk and pop. Actually, the college gig was my last at school about three weeks before I actually joined the Navy.
Guess I should look at these two cassettes as early Christmas presents. They won’t go under the tree, but they are now in the cabinet with some of the other tapes from days gone by… hmm, maybe I should ask for one of the converter ‘thing-ies’ for Christmas so I can pop this stuff to CD/DVD. What do you think?
Smokescreen
Dec 1, 2009 ramblings
I’ve never had a bent toward protest songs. That’s certainly not to say we don’t have lots of material for great protest song fodder, and I do have some VERY strong opinions about what’s happening in our country today. So when I got an email about a veteran who is turning 95 in a couple of weeks, a man with some very similar perspectives as I do, I felt compelled to use that content in a song.
Now, I did research the letter that was in the email, and it appears to be genuine. Though some dispute its authenticity and the content is widely and vehemently dissed by those with opposing views, oh well.
All I’ll say is I think our country is reeling, essentially being dismembered from its roots — but I don’t know that folks truly understand what’s going on. It could be they don’t want to take the time to do so, God help us, it could be they just don’t care. Maybe it’s all the social and political agendas we have to decipher or because we’re moving so fast in our daily self-indulgent lives; regardless, I contend we’re either missing or ignoring what’s going on behind the smokescreen. I do hope you’ll take a few minutes and listen to my interpretation of Harold’s story. The recording is quite rough around the edges, poetic justice?
Before I Do
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