Good morning friends. I hope you had a good weekend. A few thoughts rattling around in my brain this Monday morning:
As everyone is this morning, I am very sad about the horrible helicopter accident killing Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the others aboard. Shocking news. And, it seems too many helicopter accidents have happened lately. We had just heard of the copter going down before the LSU – Clemson game, killing those heading to the game. And, I think back on the helicopter crash a couple of years ago that took the life of Troy Gentry, one half of the country group Montgomery – Gentry. So sad.
The news and the legacy of Kobe Bryant has covered the Tv news this morning. We can’t forget that the Trump Trial in front of the Senate resumes this afternoon. The president’s attorneys continue. I believe the outcome is not 100 percent a done deal yet, especially with the news of Bolton’s unpublished book and what he says happened in it. I can’t help but wonder if there is a ‘tipping point’ for some of the Republican senators, where the evidence of abuse of power is so overwhelming that they have to admit to it. Of course that goes for the Trumpers out there who have ‘selective hearing’ and blinders on to some very obvious facts. But I have said all along that Trumpers like the Donald for what’s in it for them personally and they overlook a lot that effects everyone else. I had someone admit to me yesterday that they think Trump’s meanness and name calling is funny. Hmmm. I don’t.
Duck hunters; Really. You make me jump every time you break the beautiful silence of the morning with a barrage of gunfire. I know I live on the river so I have to get used to it. It’s just hard not to feel a jolt every time it happens… which is four or five times each morning and sometimes at sunset. Question: Do you collect your ducks, clean them, and eat them?? What do you make? Duck stew?
Every family has a black sheep and I have felt like I am it for a long, long time. The outsider. The one who has lived a different kind of life. (No, I’m not gay… ha… not there is anything wrong with that.). My life has taken me to many different parts of the country through the years, and it has given me different experiences, and I have been the one that doesn’t fit in. It has taken me many, many years to call it out, and to be comfortable with it. And, to accept it. I do now. I’m not mad. It is what it is. I have finally forgiven the situation.
With age comes wisdom, and letting go of drama and negativism.
It also means spending time doing good and fun things!
That includes spending time with the grandsons! Hubby and I just got back from a short visit with them. In April we are going to babysit the boys for a full week while their mom & dad go off on a 5 year anniversary trip. I’m excited – and I know I will be really tired by the end of the week. But – a joyful tired!! Being a grandmother – a “Mimi” to the boys is the best thing in the word!!
Other daughter: you will see me a lot more often if you have a baby. Just saying! Ha
More Happy news: Tim McGraw individual tickets went on sale yesterday and I spent too much time (and too much money) on getting tickets for both the Charlotte and the Raleigh shows. Back to back nights of Tim and the boys! I love a live concert experience and I love their music!! It’s a treat to myself. I’m also sharing it with my daughters and SIL’s… and it makes me happy to do that!! My summer will include the CMA Festival AND the Tim McGraw concerts! Yippee!
Book report: Fo those looking for an interesting read, try “Next Year in Havana” by Chanel Cleeton. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a great story about a Cuban family – and it gave me some new info about Cuba before Fidel Castro came in and took over. The book has a little bit of something for everyone: History, love, mystery. I think you will enjoy it.
So, to my daughters: I just had a nice back and forth with a girlfriend about music. We texted about what she listened to in her youth, and what she listens to now… and it was enlightening to me. I know she reads my meme. So – hi! this is not meant in ANY WAY as a “call out” to her because she is not alone in music not being a priority in life. She did not grow up with it around her house. And face it, She is not the music nut that I am. Not many are !?! I remember by high school age laying in bed at night, with one hand on the bedside radio dial, staying awake to go from station to station to hear music. I grew up listening to the Top 40 Countdown each week. I then saw concerts in college. Across town at OSU, and then at Towson State. And after graduation I got my ‘dream job’ working at a music radio station. I heard music all day long at work – and then my job gave me the opportunity to go to live concerts – for my pleasure, or when taking contest winners, almost every week. I got to know and love the record reps who visited the station – who gave out the tickets and the albums for on-air give-away. I met musicians. I got to go back stage – and to tell you the truth, I got a bit snobby if I didn’t get a ‘backstage’ pass to put on my jeans – to wander around backstage as the radio person. Once married and raising my daughters we often went on long road trips to see family in Ohio and in South Carolina and we listened non-stop to Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Broadway soundtracks, WOW Hits from each year – some classic, some country, some pop. A little bit of everything! As our daughters grew up they took music lessons and understood the challenge of playing and the joy of it too! So… daughters: YOU ARE WELCOME! Ha! I mean it though, because I love that you know so much about music and that you like all styles, all genres. I absolutely love that one of our favorite things to do is to go to concerts together. We have enjoyed many CMA Festivals together with endless artists – but we have seen Simon & Garfunkel, Jackson Browne , Crosby, Stills & Nash, mega-ticket country artists at the summer amphitheater in Charlotte… and we saw the Eagles, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw (many times), House of Blues shows: including Josh Turner, Scotty McCreery, , Jason Aldean, Kellie Pickler, Dierks Bentley. We made the most of our time living near NYC and saw so many musicals I can not count them all.
Music makes the world go round. As I share on Facebook, music lifts – music connects – music celebrates. Music gets you through sad and tough times. Music touches every experience. Sometimes, too often (ha), I think of a music’s lyric for things that happen in my day to day life. I can’t imagine not having it.
Did you notice, I started this post with the headline… Monday, Monday – can’t stop that day? Well, it’s a Mama & Papas song. Did you know?
Tomorrow will be “Tuesday Afternoon”…. by the Moody Blues.
Ha. Gotta go. I could do this forever. Have a great day!!
Marla’s Musings 