THE DAILY GRIST…“It’s not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of Thanksgiving.” – W.T. Purkiser
While watching NetFlix recently Mike & I came across a new show (to us at least) called Crossing Lines. It features a network of spies from across the globe working together to track down and neutralize various bad guys. France, Ireland, Czech Republic, Asia, America and various other countries are represented by this spies. Anyway, the concept makes for intriguing television viewing. And it lends a “feel good” outlook of organizations and individuals working together.
I think sometimes Mike & I are blessed with “Crossing Lines” in our own way. Our visits and travels to so many parts of the USA has given us friends from coast to coast, but also amazing jams and conversations that have broadened our outlook on just about everything. Maintaining these friendships and developing new ones has been such a fortunate blessing for us.
But here I want to speak to our California friends. Mike & I have lots of family up in the Bay Area as I actually grew up there and we lived there until 1996. So our Nor Cal roots are deep. My 91 year old mother still lives there and we try to visit her often. Thus, we find ourselves making lots of trips from San Diego to the Bay Area (almost every other month) to do just that. We feel fortunate to be able to make these trips so often, BUT the other perk of our visits is being able to connect with our many friends there, especially our music-making friends.
We are thankful for so many of you who have hosted jam sessions for us when we’re in town, or let us know when a particular jam is happening, or let us know when a concert is happening, or just wanted to get together for coffee or lunch, etc. The bluegrass community in Northern California is awesome! Maybe it’s more so for us than most folks because that’s where we naturally know so many of ya’all and easier for us to connect, etc. Just two weeks ago, Russ & Kathleen Rushing hosted a jam at their home while we were in town, and we had such fun seeing old friends there and meeting new ones. Thank you, Rushings for your hospitality!
Back story on how this jam came about – The Rushing’s son lives in the San Diego area and they were in town a month ago visiting him. She contacted me inquiring about possible jams they could attend while there were in town. Well, the timing was fortunate as they were able to attend our Band Scramble Night the next evening. And Kathleen & I played happened to be in the same band. It was so much fun! Chatting afterwards, we told them we were coming up in 2 weeks to attend a wedding, so she offered to have a jam. The schedule worked for us, and that’s how it happened.
And there are other stories like this. Chris Smith has visited here couple of times and attended our San Diego jams. Then Chris held a jam when we were in town earlier this year. Another amazing time! Thank you, Chris! And Suzanne Suwanda, David Thom and others– thank you and we will get together soon.
Friends -you all know who you are – we Thank You!! We hope to reciprocate when you come down to the San Diego area and can host a jam for you. I think this kind of Crossing Lines is inspiring, and really one reason we so enjoy the Great 48 Jam each year. That “north meets south” event is a headtrip for Mike & I – to see our Northern California bluegrass friends meeting and jamming with our Southern California bluegrass friends. Love it!
These stories here represent so many, many others happening out there. We are grateful and proud to see our California bluegrass community using their music to help spread goodwill and friendship in so many ways all the time. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
