With this cold spell over most of the country, it has been largely a "Stay indoors" kind of an event for us older folks that are not required to be anywhere in particular . . . like to a JOB. This has been a remarkably pleasant time of reflection on where we have been, what we are doing presently, how we are nurturing our relationships, and future planning of what we would like to do. As I see it, most folks are so busy just plain "doing", that they are missing a whole lot of joy by ignoring the other things! That's where us older folks excel! We, by nature I think, have a knack of what is called "reminiscing". If you haven't gotten to that stage yet, HOLD ON! You will really enjoy it.
What has been going on in Gary's World? It has mostly been around FAMILY and MUSIC. With two of our three children's families living within minutes of our home, we have been very blessed with the family physical support that a lot of older parents seem to need from time to time. Independence IS very important, but knowing that you can pull your flip phone out of your pocket and get one of the kids on the phone for help is very reassuring.
Our Ice Storm here in Rutherford area has been a bummer in a lot of ways. Having grown up in Minnesota, snow and cold was, and is, a way of life that most folks adapt to without much thinking about. I know as a kid, I didn't give it much thought because that was all I knew. Now that I am older and have lived in over 15 different locations and seen quite a lot of the world as a whole, I know different and have chosen to prefer to live where it is not as chilly, for as long a period of time. Any time you live where there are only TWO SEASONS (skiing, and not-so-good-skiing) is pretty restrictive on things like outdoor BBQ's and such. But now back to the Ice Storms of Rutherford TN. It seems around here that there is a lot of back country, two lane, highly capped, deep drainage ditched, roads that become un-drivable quickly when it gets cold and rain/snowy. That's what happened here. The "four-lane" was cleared pretty quickly, but the town streets and other feeder roads took (and are still taking) quite a long time to become drivable without sliding into the ditches. Now us retired folk really didn't have to worry too much, provided our food stock was up, our heat was on, and our plumbing was good. We did A-OK on all those, so we did well. I am sure there were others that faired not as well, and for those, I sincerely wish them well. We were basically homebound for only four days last week and that gave us time to get to the things we were holding back on because there was nothing else getting in the way! YAY! However, yesterday's Church was cancelled because of the ice and accessibility to the parking lots and entrances being too dangerous. A week without starting out in the House of God throws our week W A Y OFF. We will continue to adapt, re-adjust and overcome.
Some time ago, at our local (Trenton, TN) music store (Country Roads Music), that I have rapidly grown to love, I stopped in, and off the top of my head, asked: "Do you have any Dobro guitars?" Wouldn't you know the owner Vanessa said: "Yes, right behind you we have one." (or something like that.) There is was...pretty as a could be. I have seen one before, but not this AWESOME! It is shiny and red, and well....here are some pictures of it.
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| This is the beauty! |
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| This is the string/fret distance (more on that later) |
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| This is the head...."Spencer" is the brand. |
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| The metal piece on the body gives it the "resonator" sound |
The sound is what makes this beautiful instrument so unique when played properly. I'm just starting out, so I have a ways to go to get to THAT goal. It has a deep throaty lower notes as well as crisp, clear (again IF played properly) high notes. It is a great solo break, fill-in instrument. Best played with other bluegrass or for that matter most any other stringed or keyboard instruments.
So back to the story. I bought it, and brought it home! It has been here quite some time now, and it is time that I learned how to play it! THAT is my goal and I WILL prevail!
For the last year +, I have been teaching a group of folks at church how to play the six string guitar. They have been very loyal and faithful students, and I have loved every minute of our time together. Watching them grow in their love of music is AMAZING! As with any endeavor like this, there are those that "think" they want to play an instrument and then when reality sets in, discover that it is not perhaps what they really desired. That is ok. I have nothing but praise for them to have discovered what they would rather NOT be doing so they don't waste their time being miserable doing something they don't like! Makes sense huh? The students that I have have survived the pain of sore fingers, and cramped hands! They have been through the fire of pain! They are now "guitarists". We are all at different levels of that title, but have a bonding kinship that surpasses just casual friends. We are part of something good and decent.
Watching these folks discover new chords, summing methods, how to tune their guitars, the glow on their faces when they master the "F" chord, when they had been grousing about not being able to do so, it so very comforting to me. I remember when we started and I was showing them the full, four finger "C" chord that I wanted them to use. The comments of "can't do it", "won't fit there", and "can't get my fingers to do that", were heard for a few weeks, then all of a sudden, WALAA!!! I was hearing full C chords being played. What a moral booster that revelation was to them. So we continue to proceed toward more difficult but wonderful "music stuff". I have learned that they are just like me . . . what I thought was impossible really isn't....it just takes a while to master whatever it is you are trying to do. THAT is what I see in my new instrument project of mine to master.
Along the way, I have been introducing gospel music and other music they have asked to learn how to play. We have even been doing a regular "gig" at one of our church's Last Saturday of the Month Pot Luck Dinner, Domino game, and Sing-along. We are up to 94 songs that we have either learned, or a in the process of learning. We have a few Elvis songs, a Dotty Rambo song or two, Ray Charles, some country, and other wide ranging genre like "Sentimental Journey" and some of my favorite Folk Songs. What fun we have! Each time we sing and play a selection of 16 songs that the attendees sing along with us, and have a great evening of music and food and friendship.
My point of this Posting I guess would be this: If you have wanted to do something new and have never gotten around to it . . . put some of your "stuff" aside and DO IT! Life has been given to you. It is a Gift of God that has given you talent and skill potential. It is our part to use what gifts we have. To develop them and hone them to give others the pleasure of listening to what we share, or seeing what we have to share, or feeling the warmth and comfort of what we bring to them, in the form of something we have made, cooked, written . . . or who knows what YOUR gifts are. I have found music to be a big part of my life. I also feel that canvas painting is another aspect of God's blessing to me. For right now, I am excited to go another step forward and learn how to play a new style of instrument (resonator guitar, remember? . . . see above) and bring joy to both my listeners and myself.
Enough said.
So Keep smiling, keep laughing, keep singing
Blessings,
Gary
