So Long Mayberry

I’m puttering around my little office room. It’s late in the evening, and I’m attempting to organize the ever growing stacks of papers that contain my family’s heritage. Folders, Binders, Family groups, Census reports, well they just seem to grow and multiply.

Anyway, Jack Johnson was singing thru my ipod, and the line I’ve heard a thousand times kind of hit me…”There were so fewer questions when stars were still just the holes to heaven”. This thought has been rummaging around in my mind for years now I assume. Maybe since I was a child. It seems those of us that are questioners have been that way forever. I want to try and shake out just a little of that in this post.

I can’t seem to embrace my Grandparents beliefs. Some I can but there is a larger part that I can’t. I try and believe me I have a deep respect for the way their faith governed their lives. I have a deep respect for anyone who is trying to live their lives connecting and honoring the Big Mystery. I don’t think I’m deeper or smarter, I’m simply asking the questions that live in my soul. My deepest belief is probably that the Creator honors that humble journey.

It doesn’t matter if your Catholic, Protestant, Muslim or Native American, there are folks that are geared to follow the traditions of their faith, some to the letter. Now if I’m being honest here, I’d have to say that yes, I believe some are lazy. They just take whatever answer that was handed down and adapt it as their own. There’s a world of difference, if they’ve taken what was handed, looked at it, run it through their own personal filters, lived it and still stayed there. To me that’s an honest, honoring faith.

But then there is the rest of us, the agitators ! Then ones who may never find that peace. Oh we may get the sweet hint of a taste from time to time, but we may never rest in it as we keep up the process of examining and questioning. It’s not a choice, it’s just our nature. Always seeking, always peeling yet another layer.

Since I was little, I have been a huge Andy Griffith fan. The characters and spirit of that T.V. show surely shaped my outlook on life. Everything was simple and people were generally good. Those are two things I follow, simplicity and the belief that people are good. Then comes 911. Innocence lost, a new view. A new way of being in the world. A sadness and the inability to go back. Mayberry was lost. I couldn’t watch it for a long time, I couldn’t find that peace in my spirit to open up to it’s simplicity and love.

So it may be with my journey. Once you question and once those answers no longer hold the water they once did, there is simply no going back. When people smile that smile when hearing that some Native cultures believe that the earth came from the rising of the Turtles back, well do they smile the same smile when they hear about Noah’s Ark? That fable told to teach, seems as hard to believe to me.

But it’s all gonna be Ok. The journey of life spirals closer to God, then further, then closer again. I still have wonder as I sprial closer to this Creation. Sometimes I think we have to say so long to Mayberry to be able to say hello again down the line ! I think I am better off when I’m just sitting in the unknowing, not trying to have the answers, honoring this Big Mystery, by just being and by knowing I’m loved perfectly. That should be enough and tonight as I close, it is .

Shine A Light: Marc Scibilia

It’s always an honor to find a new artist that has your immediate attention and respect. It’s amazingly refreshing to find an artist that speaks about things that you think about. An approach to life that you feel has a connection to your own. It’s reassuring when that person is still in his 20′s, yet speaks from somewhere way down the road. Such is Marc Scibilia !

This clip is from Marc’s new release called “Ain’t My Home”.

So if you are looking for something fresh, something from an artist that speaks from his soul and about a life that finds honor in reaching deeper and richer for the true treasures, then check out Marc Scibilia. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s like listening to Gregorian Chants, but it is a person with a calling. A calling to spread good thought, to share and create harmony in this world through his music.

 

Not Currently !

I will speak for me here, but I wonder if to some degree it isn’t true for many of us. When I was a young man, I was trying to create who I was. I was doing this by sort a sculptors approach. I was defining myself or my image by what I didn’t like. I used a lot of “nevers” and “not in a million years”, and “I wouldn’t be caught dead” type of language. Like most young people I thought I was chiseling these things I stood against out of  stone, and they would carry me through my years. As anyone with some years on them that is reading this, you know how this doesn’t really hold true for the long road.

I was talking with someone the other day and they asked if I read the Bible. Well, I’m not a big Bible reader, in fact very rarely. In my younger years I would have felt compelled to state my case strongly and adamantly. Giving all of my reasons why, and if they read between my lines they would sense from me why they shouldn’t either. Fill in the blanks, I would have said I hate _____, I would never do ______. Again trying to project my image by defining what I’m against. In this situation I found myself just saying, , not currently. It kind of surprised me, but it felt good that finally at 51 I was realizing that I should be sculpting out of soft clay instead of granite. That life is soft clay, full redefinition, re learning, second chances and forgiveness. Now I’m thankful I have lived long enough to let go of “nevers”. I find great warmth and value in things that I couldn’t have in my youth.

It kind of opens life up and allows so many avenues of learning and understanding. It takes pressure off. So you may find me one day doing things I never thought I’d do ! You may see me with a Bible in hand, watching a musical, driving through Massachusetts, saying no to an island trip (ok , maybe not that), but I’m open to whichever the winds of growth and expansion are blowing. I might even wrap a fork around sushi !! There’s hope for us all. Maybe “not currently” is the way to go.

Does this resonate with any of you? Any value here? I must confess, I write this just days before an island trip, and I’m listening to Jimmy Buffett’s “Trying to reason with hurricane season”, a song I loved for 30 years. Did I forget to mention, I love traditions !!

The Seasons Change

It is becoming camp fire season here in the rolling hills of middle Tennessee. The intensity of the long summer has faded, temperatures slipping down and the humidity has gone. It is a beautiful time. I have spoke of fires before, but it is such a good thing it bares re telling and reminding those that don’t do it to take some time and give it a try.

Our world seems to spin faster everyday, and everyday I move a little bit slower, care a little bit less about the things the world can hold dear. Crop have been harvested, canning begun. In the Minnesota woods I’m sure the ricing is underway. Traditions abound with  sacredness ,  beauty  and thankfulness of simply being a part of it all.

In our little place on the earth, my wife readies our home with fall traditions of decorations. she exchanges the plastic tubs of summer clothes for sweaters, and long sleeve shirts. Even I break out the sock made for my flip flops or slaps was we call them, so I can continue wearing them.

Today I’ve had a campfire going all day long. It fills the air with memories of many a past campfire with friends. We have talked with our brothers and sisters through life’s questions, disappointments and joys. We’ve listened to great tribal drums and pow wow music; James Taylor and Jackson Browne have been the backdrop too, on many nights. Sitting around with the warm glow, stoking the fire, drinking a cold beer, being in communion with friends is a comforting time. Do yourself a favor and park yourself around a campfire soon. It will do your spirit good, I promise !!

Shine A Light: Brian Langlinais

Lafayette Louisiana native Brian Langlanais’ sohpmore record called “Tonight I Might” showcases the singers wide variety of influences. When you grow up playing Zydeco and Cajun dance music in Louisiana, you not only have the soul of the generations, but you are naturally a blend of all styles of music !

From the opening cut, Tennessee Hideaway, you can feel that roadhouse, blues, good time feeling coming over you. With a voice like honey, Langlanais takes listeners through R&B gospel tinged “I Was A Burden”, to the fine cover of Walt Wilkins’ “Tonight I Might”, Langlanais shows range and appreciation for all genres without losing his Louisiana identity.

Perhaps my favorite tune on the record is a Kevin Welch penned song called “Don’t Shoot The Snake In The Bottom Of The Boat”, and yes his treatment of “She’s Everything To Me” which I co wrote with Brian and our dear, late friend, Buck Jones, touches me deeply.

You can buy all the popular music you want and there is much out there that is good, but you could also drop a few dimes on someone that you’ve not heard of, and find a real diamond. That would be Brian Langlanais. Tell me how you liked it !

 

A Quiet Season

We all live, these days, in a world of voices. They come at us from everywhere. The come on the radio, bogs, texts, social media and the most dreaded of them all, the TV!!! We all participate and I suppose we all have a threshold of how much we can stand. Some engage in it all, on what feels like a constant basis…words, words, and more words. I do it, I participate, but sometimes I just find myself retreating from it all. Going to someplace quiet and calm, and letting the swirling winds of the world howl and rage all they want, but I will be tucked away in a cocoon of quiet.

I’ve had one of those quiet seasons this past summer. A summer where I retreated, not withdrawn from life, but simply retreated from all the conversation, the debate, the opinions, and the noise. My inner being just wanted to relate to the things around me, to the Creator, to art, without words. There are some religions that believe it’s unholy to even speak of God. They just “are” in the presence of the Master. Maybe our culture wouldn’t argue so much if we did a little more of that. I am by nature a person that likes to create conversation, to learn of peoples stories, and to find a way to relate to all that cross my path. To find that harmony with all my brothers and sisters. So soon I will return to the fold and find myself back in the campfires, discussion groups, and yes TV news !

Do any of you ever feel like maybe you’d be better off just letting all of that stuff go by for a little while? Do you feel you’d miss it if you didn’t or miss out on something? Is being involved what keeps your fires burning? These are questions I ask of you and especially myself. The tension that we all live under trying to find a balance. Trying to find peace; to get it and to give it.

So as I’m still in this quiet season, I will make this short and close here. I would be interested however to hear your thoughts on this.

Better Than the Sum

The other day was a stressful one at work. The kind of day that really makes you question what you are doing, especially when you are rolling down the backside of life. You know those kinds of days, right?, where you start entertaining the thought of the stress-less days of a Wal Mart greeter !!!

That day I’d driven my wife’s car that has been passed down from her father. It’s a 66 Mustang, mostly restored and runs really good. So I leave work, hop in the Mustang, with my three legged dog, Josey in the back. It’s a rare low humidity August day in Nashville, so I slide the windows down, turn on my ipod, and put ear buds in. The first song that came on was a live version of Jackson Browne’s “My Stunning Mystery Companion”. All of a sudden the stress of the day all slipped away. Cool evening breeze, and 289 engine that sounds more like a well oiled Harley, Josey smiling in the back, not much traffic and Jackson’s sad but reassuring voice telling me that it’s all gonna be just fine.

“what with all my expectations long abandoned, and a future I no longer saw my hand in / how I found you is beyond my understanding, my stunning mystery companion.

Ahh that voice, that sweet melody that is a true Jackson Browne signature….he continues

“what with all my expectations long abandoned, and my solitary nature not withstanding / You’re the one who pulled me out of that crash landing, my stunning mystery companion.

It was all these elements together, thinking of my wife who is my own stunning mystery companion. Thinking of my children, my life. With the breeze on my face and a smile of gratitude on my lips, I was born again and again in those moments. And while a car ride alone or even Jackson’s music as much as it holds a dear place in my life, or Josey in the back, can totally transform me, these single parts were shadowed by the sum feeling of what a wonderful world it can be. Thanks to my wife and family, my dogs, to Jackson, and to that sunny Nashville evening drive home…..

Here is a studio version of “My Stunning Mystery Companion”…..

 

 

Shine A Light: Tina Mitchell Wilkins

Many years ago in an interview, I heard Jackson Browne talking about his thoughts and feelings behind CD’s vs records. He made a comment that has stuck with me. He was saying how he liked the term “record” because to him albums were records of events, or a record of a story, a full story and not a vinyl disc of 10 separate songs that had nothing to do with each other. Especially for the singer-songwriters they were chronicling where they were in life and hopefully their listeners could relate. That was the first thought when I slipped Tina Mitchell Wilkins‘ latest “record” into my car player !

Morning Glory is just that; a record of where someone is at. I’m not gonna speak of age because as old as I am I’ve learned not to do that, but I will say that if spirit is what keeps us young, then Tina is barely out of her teens. From the opening lines of Ageless, “mirror mirror on the wall, could you make me skinny and tall; 15 years young to appreciate it all; not funny to watch it all…fall”. Right out of the box I knew I was on this journey. Male or female it doesn’t matter, although I’d take skinny for sure ! Tina is speaking about the paths that all of us go down if we have gone down the paths of life very far. To me what I hear in her voice and lyric is that it isn’t going or not going but how we go. Do we go with grace? Do we go with balance, with love and with the truth of understanding that it really gets sweeter and richer !!

On Here To Love You, she might be singing to the love of her life, but she is also speaking to life itself and to all of us sharing this planet with her. It’s more of her mantra, her approach to life than anything. We need more of that in this crazy ole world !

No worries that she is speaking for the world, on the highly personal We Made The Spirits Move, Tina pulls back the curtain and reflects on love and the risks, both the pain and rich beautiful rewards of that love. We were shaking up the heavens and we weren’t even trying, what a great line. Hopefully we’ve all felt that in some relationship somewhere in our lives and if not there’s still time !

Restless as we all are, the old tune Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For was a great choice. It reminded me in the context of this “record” that we are all full of forces that push us out there, challenge us and make us move and grow, but we are also in the midst of forces that pull us back and make us doubt. Many times our lives feel like two steps forward and one step back; just as soon as we get one thing down, something else moves !

So I say all of this simply and honestly to say that this is a fine record and worthy of whatever the pittance itunes charges. What you will get back, if you turn down the lights, find a quiet evening and listen to Morning Glory will be repaid many times over and remind you that we are all traveling together. It’s a good “record” of where we all are at this bend of life. Gracias, Tina!!!

Go to Tina’s site to catch her live in a town near you. She also writes a great blog !! Visit, visit, visit !

http://www.tinamitchellwilkins.info/

Oh Sweet Texas

Most people that know me, know that Pensacola Florida is where I was born and is home. Although I have been forcefully displaced a few times in my younger years, I am a Floridian, pure and simple.

I have a friend and native Texas son, who when we were talking about heritage, he listed his blood lines among others as Scots, Cherokee and Texan. I got a kick out of that! I know how much he loves his home state and that his connection runs deep in his spirit. It’s almost how he breathes, inhaling her beauty and soul, and then exhaling sweetly that beauty and soul, into songs and stories.

Here is a pic of Austin native Walt Wilkins and Sherman native, Jim T Graham.

I have spent time in the Lone Star State and must say I feel like an adopted son.  I think the flip flop wearing, Country-Soul of Austin, despite Las Manitas  no longer serving up its Megas and coffee, would be a good fit for me if I ever had to flee.

Cunningham native and Tamra’s Aunt Neva

Itasca’s favorite Son, Sam Baker and I at Kellers Store in Mason Texas somewhere around 2005.

Tamra with our friend and the eternal Mayor of New Art Texas, Bill Worrell

They have an old saying in the Lone Star State,  that goes like this ” I wasn’t born here but I got here as quick as I could”.

The above picture is Tamra’s Bagota native Father Doyle Howell. Below is the always and forever cowgirl from Euless Texas, Tamra Simmons

and just a few years later…Bucko the horse is also from Texas but not the motorcycle !!

So fly your home state flag, wear her in your heart, sing her songs and remember her as fondly as you might your first love ! And if you ever get a chance to slip on down Texas way, she is waiting, arms open and eyes a shinning !

Shine A Light: John Anderson

It must have been around 1980 or so, when I saw an interview by Ralph Emery with a new artist and fellow Floridian, John Anderson. The record was called ” I Just Came Home To Count The Memories”. I was knee deep in Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, and even guys like Gino Vanelli !, but I was young and missing my family, and the heartbroke strains in the absolute unvarnished country voice of John Anderson hit me right square between the eyes and knocked me on my ass ! I loved that entire record and wore it out !

Scoring early with a great Billy Joe Shaver tune called “Old Chunk Of Coal” and “1959″, then rolled over the Country charts with classics like “Wild and Blue”, “Black Sheep”. “Let Somebody Else Drive”, and the monster “Swingin”. For a while he was the man….no pinup cowboy… I remember seeing him in Mobile Alabama where his bass player was spitting his dip while playing ! I know gross maybe, but man back then after too much Kenny Rogers and fluff country, this was bad ass ! One of my other favorites for any weepy eyed, love lost young man was the sad “Down In Tennessee”.

Years later John bounced back with maybe one of the greatest songs ever, and one he wrote himself called “Seminole Wind”as well as “Straight Tequila Night”. I saw a show in Pensacola when that was hot and he sang Seminole Wind twice….they just couldn’t get enough….Just amazing.

If your looking for some grit, some of the real stuff, give John Anderson a shot..He’s one of the good guys !!

Music listened to while making this post, who else, John Anderson’s “Chicken Truck” and “Would You Catch A Falling Star”.