No doubt you’ve noticed the tardiness of this post as compared to the last few months or years of regular posting days and times. There are reasons for it and none of them are related to why I thought I might be tardy with a post. It’s not because I was sitting here agonizing over every word and turn of phrase.
It is, more a case of, what I was going to write about and how I wanted to approach it was still simmering in my mind when my situation changed. I was no longer going to be spending the evening sitting at my computer writing or practicing a song or working on a painting. Instead I was called to assist someone when they needed a bit of help. It was my privilege to be able to be there for someone who needed a little extra help.
I could get philosophical about the whole topic and take an entire post to discuss it. And I may, another day. After I have thought about it enough to present a point of view clearly and without sounding odd or preachy. For now I will say that I think it is a gift and a privilege to be called on to render aid and/or assistance, no matter how big or small. And we are fortunate when the universe sees in us a potential to be the light, a rock, or whatever is needed for another.
Now I’ll get off my soapbox and move on to some other thoughts I had about my week because it didn’t happen quite as I had originally expected.
This week, as I was practicing guitar I thought I’d get out my PRS that I had just had repaired. It’s nice and light, really versatile. I was thinking that if it was feeling good I might take it to the jam on Sunday. That is not what happened. I plugged it in to tune it and got no signal from it at all. Nothing. That was disappointing. So I packed it back in its case and set it aside so I could take it back to the shop. Which I did.
The day I took it to the shop, though it was time I hadn’t originally planned on spending driving there and back, I still managed to get the rest of the things done that I had hoped to, I picked up some veggies, went to yoga, had a decent dinner. I even had a friend over for a chat and baked apples and after that I worked on the Ovation painting. Things were moving pretty good. Right up until that point. I was really late getting to bed which meant I was going to be later than normal getting up the next day. Sure enough.
So the plans for going out that Saturday night to watch a guy, who sometimes comes to the blues jam, play an acoustic show started looking like a maybe not. But maybe if I could get a nap in after Taekwondo. And. That didn’t happen. With the stuff I still needed to do to get ready for the next week and the time spent booking my travel for next month’s trip it wasn’t looking realistic. As I found out the next day, it wasn’t such a bad thing that I didn’t make it. The venue had plumbing trouble and had to close early so he only played a single long set.
And still, I was up too late to make use of the early alarm I set for both weekend days. Sunday came and I needed just a bit more sleep. Followed by. Oh crap. There is no way I’m going to get that done and that done and that done for tomorrow and go to yoga and go to the Blues Jam. Something had to give. Well, it wasn’t going to be laundry. That would not be the best choice. Ultimately, it was the yoga that had to suffer. This time.
Then it was Blues Jam time. I got to play two sets again. Yes I sang, again. The results were a little mixed but not terrible. Yes. There is video evidence. It needs to be edited before I post it so look for that soon-ish. As always, I had a great time. So much fun. I do learn something every time I go, even if it’s not something specific. It’s something that for me is sort of absorbed. And I come home wanting to learn something more. Whether that’s a song someone else played. How to tackle a lead part. A new song to sing. Whatever it is. I just want to get better, and better. And that’s what’s been so great about going to the Blues
Jams this time around.
There is always a tangential topic or four with regards to the jams, playing music, playing music out and all of that. As well as there being so many other topics. For now, I’ll call it good and share the latest work in progress of the Ovation painting. I’ve finished the second pass of the crimson and now there are a full 6 strings as well as frets. It’s coming along.
