Happy June 1st! Before I move on to this new month I still want to say a couple of things about last month.
May is always a good month for me. As I have said in past posts, I love the weather, and I love how my flower garden comes alive. It’s also the month of hubby and my wedding anniversary. (See last post.)
This year I ended May with a quick trip to Nashville, one of my favorite places to go. It takes a lot to get me to leave my ‘home sweet home’ but heading to Music City will do it! On my first evening there I was able to mark something off my bucket list: being in the audience and enjoying the live country music at the Grand Ole Opry. For those who don’t know the history of the Opry, it started out as a radio show that highlighted country music artists who performed live. Almost 50 years ago. WSM was the radio station, and the airwaves were filled with country music when other stations didn’t play lots of music of that genre. The show grew into a live event each week at an old church in Nashville, called The Ryman. For years and years people came and sat in pews and participated in the radio show. In recent history the country music community built its own Grand Ole Opry theatre on the outskirts of town, and it is dedicated to live music still aired on radio to this very day.
The format is usually 6 artists or groups who play three songs each. I was fortunate to see a wonderful mix of some older singers, and some new ones. I also saw some amazing musicians! The lineup was Jeanne Seely (she is in her 80’s now and a long time member of the Opry), Tyler Braden, Maddie and Tae, an amazing harmonica virtuoso Michael McCoy, Earnest, and T. Graham Brown (older too but recently inducted into the Opry.)
Then, the following day and night I met up with a dear ‘old’ (in terms of how long we have known each other) friend, who I first got to know well in high school. Paula and I became fast friends then, back in the day without IPhones, etc. and I remember so well how she would leave her house and walk towards mine and I would leave mine at the same time, and we would ‘meet in the middle’ (and yes that’s a country song!), and we did countless sleepovers, laughed at the same things, and did all the same school activities together.
When we got into college, different ones in Ohio, we stayed in touch, and life continued on – but we always stayed in each others lives, even if long periods of time went by. I think there are only a few childhood friends that remain special throughout life, and she is one of them.
So, the really cool thing is: my girlfriend’s son has broken into the music world thanks to TikTok, and then touring, and people seeing his potential. He is played on Indie radio stations. He played in Nashville my second night in town, so we made a point to go and see him with his band. It was wonderful!! Paula and I were ‘bandies’ in high school (band nerds) and so it is cool to see her son take his musical ability to a whole ‘nother level!
While in Nashville I also did some ‘daytime drinking’ (yes, a country song) at the Lower Broadway honky tonks. A few new ones have opened and I wanted to check them out. Garth Brooks has one now. Eric Church too. Morgan Wallen’s and Lainey Wilson’s bars were getting ready to open up, so I will have to go to those on my next Nashville trip, whenever it might be.
During my time in Nashville the jury went into deliberation in the Trump ‘hush money – falsified documents’ case. As I have written about earlier, I get pretty wrapped up in watching court trials. I also have felt all along that Trump has avoided prosecution for years and he has been guilty of illegal practices. And, I really feel he is an unethical (and immoral) man who does not deserve to be our president again.
So, my time in Nashville was a good distraction. Yet, once the verdicts came in I stayed in my hotel room, ordered room service, and caught up on the aftermath of it.
That leads me to today, June 1st. It’s a new month and we here in the United States now have a convicted felon running for president, almost assured to be the Republican candidate. This is unprecedented in many ways. All the talking heads on the pseudo-news networks have plenty to opine about for the coming months.
I do not watch conservative media outlets. I never have because I don’t relate to their point of view. I also do not watch the ultra-liberal outlets because I easily see their slant too, and really, I just want true and factual news. It is hard to find these days.
The next months up to November and the presidential election are going to be bumpy – and I worry. I feel that especially on the far right we will see a lot of mean talk from candidates and citizens, and even some hot heads will turn to violence. I have lived my life as a pacifist, and I want the same peaceful life for everyone, and I just can’t stand to see people lash out physically, with violence, and with guns. Heaven help us.
Both presidential candidates are old. Both are feeble in their own ways. Will they make it to November? The bigger question: will they make it for four more years??
June is officially the first month of summer and this season always brings vacations, and outdoor activities, and more concerts. I look forward to all it brings! In general, I think it’s easier to be happier in the summer months. There are long days of sun and daylight. Lots of time outside! It’s also a slower pace.
In my family both my daughters have their birthday this month. Both son-in-laws have summer birthdays too. There is always lots to celebrate. All of these grown ‘kids’ are exceptional and I enjoy who they are, and how they have created their own beautiful families. I look forward to spending time with them and their children. Oh, and I have two Tim McGraw concerts coming this month, and one is with daughter #1.
Today we turn the calendar page. So, I say goodbye to May – and hello to June!!
Marla’s Musings 