Archive for December, 2008
Times they are a changing
I admit, when the “xmas muzak” starts playing I want to run and duck for cover. I was trained from youth that those songs signal when the stress level starts rising. The world becomes a obstacle course of trying to stay pleasant and keep moving while my body wishes to hide under the covers until things get brighter. This year I survived the crash just barely and feel a sense of relief heading into the new year. I believe one key factor was remembering that my time was the most valuable gift I could give to most of the people I know, as long as I kept my own self together.
I also realized that I know more people than I have time to really visit with in one short month of holiday-ness. When it came down to the “big day” I gave myself a good solid 12 hour long winter nap before spending the next ten hours communicating one on one with those who fed me in many ways this year. Oddly, the one person who literally and figuratively fed me the most through the year (including cooking the food I reheated for my dinner) was one I did not exchange any words with yesterday. Perhaps the greatest gift we could give each other was the time to share ourselves with others. I still haven’t talked to everyone I’d like to and hope this blog will suffice for now.
I’m looking forward to a new year filled with many new adventures. As the financial world slides into chaos, I’m still juggling a odd assortment of tasks to keep the roof over my head. The trick is to find those tasks that feed both my spirit and pocketbook and not worrying over the dollar signs. More than anything this year, I discovered that when I keep myself busy putting my talents to good use, the rest seems to balance out and take care of itself.
Ukulele Rockstar Ami Worthen posted a blog about picking a word for the new year. The word that keeps returning to me is “joy.” When I am writing, singing, and playing I open up the gates and let my joy out into the world. I also find that joy floods back to me in ways I could never imagine.
I offer to you joy through this blog today and hope that whatever changes are rocking your world shift you to a place where your joy flows freely. We are all stars and can defy the shadows of our fears when we share our light.
The Heart of Winter
As the days spin darker
My soul lets go of all the debris
The year has gathered about me,
Peeling off layers outworn & unused
Finding that warm glow in my center
Allowing it to breathe & grow brighter.
Calling back the sun to light the skies
Bringing lighter days ahead of me
Than those I will leave behind
As a new cycle starts
Around the star.
Welcome Home
Elmos Too Blues Jam Sun 11-30-08
There’s nothing to make you feel like your little town is home than to come back just in time for the annual oyster roast and discover that even though it’s 11 p.m. you know nearly all the people there and they are still cooking up oysters and handing out drinks.
They also were sure to remind me about the blues jam at Elmo’s Too the next day. I had planned to rehearse with Fred Whiskin, so we just packed up in the car and drove on over for a fun evening of jamming the blues. It felt wonderful to be welcomed home with good friends, food, and music after travelling half way across the country and back this week.
Jazz & Poetry 