Years
ago my daughter gave me a great present. It was an empty box with the
word 'Time' written on the inside. I treasure this gift because,
besides love, 'Time' is the most valuable thing: I believe the more
time one has the more one can practice.
I
actually am a very simple person. I don't need much. I am happiest
when I don't have to leave the house. When I can hunker down and
practice the things I love to practice: ukulele, Tai Chi, and
meditation. The kids are back in school and my wife is back at work so for the past week I have been able to play ukulele 4-5
hours a day. Then I eat lunch and go for a bike ride or a hike. The
hikes are into huckleberry an sibley parks and I bring my ukulele
with me. (Don't worry I play quietly!)... It is nice to be walking/strumming by a stream then Stop! and let the forest sound fall around you... Delicious!
Uh Oh: there is another looming work stoppage in professional sports --> NHL flavor this time (again)! These sporting leagues I depend on, all
seem to have labor issues...strikes or lockouts- whatever--they all
suck. But by now I shouldn't be surprised. An analogy would be: This
is earthquake country- Be Prepared! CACA PASA!
And
In
truth, I am worried. But not terrified.
It’s just something I
have learned
After leaves fall they
will return.
Study the seasons then
night and day.
You
are born - then pass away....
When it gets cold
even tears turn to snow
All these are stories
even you should know…..
By
now!
(Lyrics
to a song of mine called 'Storymon'....)
So
I may have more time off like this week's on my hands this fall if the NHL continues their labor dispute.
I have a plan....
I
have brushed off some of my old tunes like, “Storymon” and “Share
Your Solitude” and have been tinkering with them again...(I like the
process of writing. The endless turnings and prunings and listening
to this chord against that one. I listen for resolution. A feeling
of 'right puzzle piece in the right space' It is hard to express in
words...So with these songs and other favorite covers, my goal is to
sculpt a set and perform them (OUT!) in an old folks home...
(I
know, very captive audience derek, ha!)... I have had to think about the correct songs for this audience... No Pink Floyd.. 'Time' (Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day...") and No 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond' (Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun, now there's a look in your eyes like black holes in the sky)... I am aiming for a more upbeat set...
This idea started with a quote I found on twitter...
Use
what talent you possess:
the
woods would be very silent
if
no birds sang except those that sang best.
It
got me thinking.... Just get out there and give what ya got. It ain't
perfect, It ain't pretty -but it is me -and I should share it. I want
to show my kids with my actions that it is not all about me, or
us....
We
shall see as the autumn passes if I wimp out and stay at home gazing
into my 'room full of mirrors'.... Regardless I am blessed to be able to practice. There is so much work to do....
In the meantime, what do you practice?
P.S I have found an ukulele teacher! Curt Sheller I HIGHLY recommend him if you are loking for an online music teacher...http://curtsheller.com/MAIN.php
The Path is the Goal--The Practice is the Prize.
