Resolution Completed!

So, it happened the other night! I got to perform in front of a crowd for the first time!

The Home Ranch Hands is a non-profit organization Arizona that is dedicated to preserving and promoting America's western heritage through western music & poetry. They have a jam session the second Sunday of every month and my wife and I made the trip. I thought I would sit off to the side and strum along and see if I could pick up on some of their repertoire. But while I was busy truly minding my own business I was called up on stage to do a song. I had no clue what I would do except to just put my butt up on stage and see what came out of it.

I decided to do a Bob Nolan/Sons of the Pioneers tune called "Cool Water". I knew it well enough...3 chords and I could sing it o.k. so besides being a little nervous, what could go all that wrong?

Well, about everything. With all the other instruments up on the stage I couldn't hear myself and I completely lost the chord progression. I forgot a verse. Also, since there so many different recordings of the same song (all with different versions) what I thought would be a "standard" was a jumbled mess of many variations in my head. I was lost! I had a blast!

The wonderful people on stage did their best to back me up and they did! They were so supportive, understanding and talented. Most of all...I had a blast! When it was "my turn" again, I was called up again. The next song I did, "Tumblin Tumbleweeds", was a bit better. I followed all the chords and sang just ok for being nervous. At least I sounded better than the previous song.

It was odd being up there. It was another world. Not just another world but being flung up into the air like a baby being played with. With hind-sight I am surprised I could follow some of the other players as much as I did even though I was playing and singing. I thought to myself at time, "Wow! That was a really nice accent they played!", or, "They sound really good!"

So, with a thin sheen of sweat on my brow and encouraging applause as I left the stage with a New Year's Resolution fulfilled! With that done can that extra 10 pounds be all that hard to lose?

A Funeral, the Guitar & New Year's Resolutions.

At my father's funeral over a year ago, I was asked to come up front and read a Bible verse at a certain point of the service. Some people have a hard time speaking in front of crowds. I have always been comfortable speaking in front of people so much so that in middle school I volunteered and really enjoyed being on the speech team.

So, out of the few choices the Pastor presented me I selected a familiar passage. It was the passage from the 3rd Book of Ecclesiates that most of us have heard somewhere in some form. Taking my cue, I stood up in front of the congregates and began to read aloud:

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die,..."

It was at that point that I "lost it". Silenced by emotions, I started to cry and never got to that later verse that said:

"...A time to 'choke' in front of a crowd."

But it was such a beautiful experience! I mean that. It felt as if I was in a very small boat on a huge wave in the middle of the ocean. Giving into that was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Eventually, one of the Deacons, I think, came up and stood by my side and started to read where I left off. I joined in unison and we completed the verses.

Much later another profound verse came into my head, "I get by with a little help from my friends." Thanks, Ringo.

So, as an odd segue way, all of this brings me to my New Year's Resolution: To perform musically to the best of my ability in front of a crowd. Last night we had an friend over we hadn't seen in about a year. I was eager to play (voice and guitar) at least one song But even though I "knew the material", I was still nervous and botched most of it up. I still enjoyed myself and there were smiles and toe tapping going on but my nervousness affected me quite a bit.

And since accountability can be an element in achieving goals, I'll keep you posted and down the road, I'll post a live recording for the world to hear. So, stay tuned!

Oh, there was more....

"...a time to break down and a time to build up,A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,"

Get Yer Kicks In 2006!

My motto for this is year is "Get yer kicks in 2006!" In a responsible, respectful and healthy way, of course!

Resolutions? Love more, laugh more, be healthier, smarter, play guitar and sing better! With a little more work I should be in back in school, too!

Also, I want to eat Mexican food on a more frequent basis. On a local radio interview I heard Linda Ronstadt say that the best Mexican food in Tucson is from the little place right across from the San Xavier Mission. I can't confirm that but I'll let you know.

My 2005 In Review Report? It's much too early to give any reviews. My goodness, it was just yesterday!

I can say one of my goals is to record some songs. There are no plans to make an official release but more towards getting into a studio and archive some of what I am doing right now.

So, we will see. John Lennon said in his song "Beautiful Boy" that, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." He should know. We'll see. God willing and the creek don't rise it will all pan out just fine.

May all of God's blessings be yours this year and always!!!