Item 1:Good music coming to all of you. A week from tonight Friday December 9 in wonderful downtown Modesto: Gottschalk Music Center recital hall—1502 E. St. Modesto——
Modesto Unplugged and Modesto View present:
Megan Lynch Chowning and Mary Sue Englund December 9. 7:00 doors open. Show begins at 7:30. Tickets $ 15. ( please read following posted info)
“Megan and Mary Sue have been playing music together for years. After a tour full of sold out shows, many laughs, and poignant musical moments, Megan and Mary Sue are excited to get back on the road together in 2016. They play original music-personal songs tinged with country,folk, and whatever it takes to reach audiences. Sometimes they play other people’s songs,fiddle tunes, and under the radar covers. Megan is a seven time National Fiddle Champion and Mary Sue is an award winning songwriter. They are absolutely magical.” Come on down (or up) to Modesto and spend a cozy December evening bathed in the warmth and sound of wonderful music.
Item 2: Support your local very local bluegrass musicians. Friday, March 4 at West Side Theater our very own Frank Solivan& Dirty Kitchen will be heating up the room with their lively music. Opening up for Frank is our own Jason Winfree of Red Dog Ash and his lovely, talented, poised ,daughter Ida.CBA brothers and sisters in arms. The economy is thriving, gas is cheap and tickets for this show are inexpensive. What better way than to spend a couple of hours with our own. We have seen Frank mature into a world class musician and you have a chance to see the young Ida Winfree because in a few years from now you will be able to say, “Yes.I saw Ida back in 2016. I just knew she would make it.”
Item 3: From the NBA. Milwaukee Bucks player,Giannis Antetokounmpou is not getting enough press because of his name. So says a teammate. That may be true.A far cry from easier names like Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, or Rick Barry.
Item 4: I see that Mr. Cornish is about to come out with a new book. Good luck and thank you Mr. Cornish for sharing your wit and wisdom with the CBA folks.
Item 5: The worth of my double penny. I am concerned about the rash of “naming” certain days after Thanksgiving and all the emphasis on spending. What are we to think of as thousands camp out at the local Wal-Mart two hours after Thanksgiving dinner to be ready for…Black Friday? Christmas season is here and the buyers are ready. Oh my. 48 hours later the American spending public lays down the green carpet for Cyber Monday. Later on in the week we have Twitter Tuesday, Wasteful Wednesday,Thrifty Thursday and on and on and on.
There was a time when Christmas was a season that actually dealt with a historical figure that millions identified as sacred. Can anyone out there remember who this figure was? Its funny but another symbol of Christmas St. Nick appears to being exited out the door to make way for fast talking salesmen and more ways to part with your money. More people shopped on Black Friday than those who took the time to place their vote in this past election. I guess I am just getting cranky in my old age.
Item 6: Sheila and I were guests of my cousin John and wife Cheryl to view once again an outstanding performance by Modesto’s symphony of my number one man Beethoven and his wonderful 9th symphony. I don’t know how anyone can listen to this work of audio awe inspiring music and not shed a tear or three.
Item 7: Oakland Raiders are in first place and the Cubs have won the world series. Pigs were flying past my window, and death and taxes no longer exist. What else could possibly happen? A TV reality star becoming president? Don’t make me laugh.
Item 8: Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. You be the judge.
Item 9: CBA membership is fading like the eyesight on many of the senior members. Is this because so many of us are old geezers and despite what was mentioned in Item 7 the Grim Reaper is catching up with all of us thinning the ranks of the CBA roster like our once thick bushy brown hair? It goes without saying that it is tough to run a large association using all volunteers and do it effectively. There never seems to be enough folks willing or able to help out. Hopefully the CBA will rebound like our robust economy and kick into high gear.
Item10:Christmas is just a few weeks away. You now have time to decorate your home, bake a pie or two, call some loved ones up and tell them how much you miss them and make the rounds with your friends and relatives. Please give this a try. Send out a real paper Christmas Card via snail mail that mentions what this season is suppose to be about. (If there are any left).Since it is Christmas lets leave out the written 6 page litanies on what your third cousin did in the local spelling bee.I think folks prefer a nice hand written short note and maybe a picture of your kids or grandchildren. That would be nice. Lets do a retro Christmas or at least make an effort to do so. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
Volunteer in your community for a day or so to help others enjoy the day just a bit more.
Turn the TV off for a bit. Listen to some Christmas music. Yes there is some great Bluegrass music around. Say hello to your neighbors and wish them health and good tidings. Make a list of things you can do to make this coming year a better one.
Have a loving non commercial Christmas.
Until January 6, 2017: Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate, and set aside a few minutes to meditate……