“Let us go then you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky,
Like a patient etherized upon a table” *
Item 1: I am no longer in a band and I do miss the companionship and music making. There is a bit of an empty spot in my being that was once fueled by my ability to pluck at the right time and even break into an occasional smile. I do miss it.
There was one thing that annoyed me about being in a band and I thought I would create a rule that would address this problem.
Bluegrass Performance Payment Rule #1: Pay the band promptly. If a band performs for an agreed amount of money, said money will be handed over in cash or check to the band no longer than six hours after said band has left the stage.
It always got me a little perturbed when our band had finished a performance for an agreed amount of money and then be told:
“Hey, fellas, you won’t believe this, but I left my checkbook at home. I’ll mail your check to you the minute I get home.” (The check arrives six weeks later).
“Hey, fellas, we’re still counting up the proceeds and our accountant is on vacation. Give us a few weeks OK?”. (He was right.It was a few weeks)
“Hey, fellas, there was a mixup in our paperwork and it will take a few days to get it sorted out. You don’t mind do you? It’s only $500.” Three weeks and seven phone calls later he promises to put the check in the mail.
Because of this I made it my own personal policy that when I set up a gig I would draw the money out of my own personal checking account and pay our guys BEFORE going on stage. It is the right thing to do.I know some of you folks feel that the money is not important and just being able to play is the most important thing. I agree.That is why, like you, I have given my services free of charge countless times because that’s what we do.
Item 2: As Sheila and I gravitate into the golden silver AARP stage of our lives,it seems we are having more colorful dreams. We often share these at breakfast time.A couple of mornings ago, Sheila couldn’t wait to let me in on a dream she had just experienced.
She began,” A monkey was trying to market his own brand of cinnamon but didn’t know how to use the word cinnamon.” I asked Sheila, “What word did he want to use?”. Sheila responded, “A word that meant the same thing, but I couldn’t think of any so the monkey said that meant that,“I was a sinner who would one day go to Hell.” I thought about this for a minute and then replied, “Whoa, that dream sounds like some kind of omen.” Sheila looked surprised and said, “What kind of omen?”. I replied, “A simian, cinnamon, synonym, sin, omen.”
Thanks to Stephen Pastis and his wonderful “Pearls Before Swine comic strip.
Item 3: Jimmie Rodgers in AARP: There is a great article featuring the lean mean Bob Dylan on this months AARP Magazine. It is a juicy article and Bob’s picture graces the coveted cover of AARP. Bob is talking about his influences in the article and mentions the great Jimmie Rodgers and tells why he loves him. This is great but the good folks at AARP show a picture of the OTHER Jimmie Rodgers, he of “Honeycomb” and “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” fame.I do not think this is the right Mr. Rodgers. Check out the story and tell me what you think.
Item 4: Well, it happens to the best of us.Monday night about 11 p.m. my oldest daughter,Jessica,calls and asks if I was in the Philippines, if I had been attacked,stranded,and needed money sent to me. As I was mulling this over she said, “Dad, you’ve been hacked!” I laughed and told her that my e-mail password contained not only Arabic and Greek letters but certain hidden images that would make hacking virtually impossible. There was a long pause, a sigh and Jessica said, “Dad you’ve been hacked.”
Yes, I’ve been hacked.I felt violated and angry that someone would have the nerve and gall to do such a vile thing to a sweet person like me.Jessica told me that she would work on the problem the following morning.
The next morning I get a phone message from Jason Winfrey stating, “Brooksie, babe you’ve been hacked.” Then a few minutes later I receive a phone call from one of me fellow board members on the Friends of the Turlock Library asking if I really needed the money. My dear friend Rick Cornish e-mailed me and said he would double the money if I promised to stay in the Philippines.
With the help Jessica and Rhiannon I was able to send out e-mails to all those who had been contacted by this vermin. Then I found out all my incoming e-mail was being rerouted to the dunder headed pirates who stole my identity. Luckily my two lovely daughters also fixed that for me. Thank you Jessica and Rhiannon. What a mess!
”Til human voices wake us and we drown”*
The Love Song of J. Alred Prufrock…. T.S.Eliot
Until April 3: Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate, do a good deed. Brooks