Back before the viral change happened, I jammed on Monday nights with some really good guys and some good music usually. I’m telling you this so can tell you another something more relevant to this column. On the drive home from the jam, I tune my Sirius XM radio, in my seriously pimped out Subaru Outback with the license plate 39 K BASS. (This car bragging aside isn’t relevant but I wanted to talk about my car because I cant drive it anywhere these days for people to see.)
Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled program. On Monday nights when I drive home from the jam the Outlaw Country station has a show hosted by Steve Earle. Steve’s show usually has a guest that he interviews between music cuts. One particular night not to long ago, the guest was Norman Blake. If you don’t know Norm or his music, you just have been assigned a research project, better get to it. Norman Blake is a prolific musician and played with Johnny Cash for a very long time including Johnny’s TV show. He also collaborated with John Hartford, Tony, Rice, Doc Watson, etc. etc, etc. As well as some solo work and collaborations with his wife Nancy. Did I mention that he was prolific?
Again back to our regularly scheduled program. The night Norm was on the Steve Earle show. Steve, as hosts are wont to do in the beginning of the interview, asked him how he was doing. The 82 year old Norm’s answer was…reasonable. He explained that best described how he was doing and that was the answer he gave every time to that question. The rest of the show was great with lots of cuts and conversation. He played on Dylan’s Nashville Skyline Album so we got to hear some of that.
As for me, I have stolen or borrowed (your choice) that response and am using it these days when I get asked how am I doing.
As for what I am doing during my Shelter in Place stretch. Well, I’m reasonable… oh wait, that’s how. What I am doing is a few things that can keep me busy. Among them are hunting and gathering our supplies. I’ve become quite adept at buying things including groceries on line. Amazon has become a very close acquaintance. I wouldn’t call them a friend because of bigger world issues they may have but they have worked well for me keeping me out of stores.
I do try to play my bass some but not nearly as much as I should. I’ve been working on minor arpeggios. This started with me trying to play a cool bass line in the famous swing tune Minor Swing. I kinda got it but it is still a work in progress.
Another pastime of mine has been to get out of my house into my backyard everyday at 5:00 to avoid the news. It doesn’t take much to keep up with important goings on so I’m not interested in the 1-2 hour nightly regurgitation. I started my own news at 5:00 on Facebook. (Another close acquaintance that for various reasons I wouldn’t call a friend but it has served a purpose for me.) At first I posted a few photos of my yard, I moved up to videos of our dog catching a frisbee and panoramas of my nice yard (if I do say so myself). Another component of my news is having a drink at the “news” hour. Photos, and videos of me having a sip of tequila or a beer is the standard fare. I actually posted my first selfie in the first few days of me drinking some good tequila.
Not being one to rest on my laurels, about 10 days ago I started live streaming a 10-15 minute segment of me talking …and drinking. I’ve been doing this about every 3-4 days or so. On Tuesday I had a Cinco de Cinco at Cinco session. I went through my tequila selection of the day and gave a Cinco de Mayo history lesson. I’ll spare you that here. I had about 40 people look in and other handful comment on the posted video.
Why am I doing this or maybe more importantly, WHAT the faaaa…goodness sake am I trying to do with this. Reasonable questions…both, but I have no answer except that I am having fun with it. You can follow me on Facebook if you’re interested I always post a few days before the live stream I’m planning to have. Also, I post something everyday at 5:00, with the days news including some tidbits, photos, quips, comments, videos, whatever, as I have a happy hour beverage. I hope to see some of you checking in with me some time.
I’ve taken enough of your time, I think. I will leave you with another stolen or borrowed (again your choice) phrase. This one I stole from Avram Frankel. A well known local musician from a well known musical and very friendly family. Instead of leaving you with stay safe and stay healthy, let’s switch it up to STAY SANE.
So, how am I doing? I’m reasonable. Thanks for asking. Stay sane everyone. I’ll be back in June if they’ll still have me.
