Tag Archives: concerts

Floating and Flowing

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Entertainment, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

July 8, 2023- The young couple with whom I work on Saturday afternoons entered the Raven, as a mutual friend was playing the opening set for tonight’s joyful noise. Preferring the rooftop patio to the stage-side seating, they floated on upstairs, to enjoy their date night, while I went with the flow in the main room.

Life and friendships are like that now. Other than marriage and the parent-young child relationship, the strongest of bonds do not need constant physical presence, in order to thrive. It is actually a throwback to the days of my mid-to-late twenties, when many gatherings were of friends happy to just be doing their own things, and connecting as those activities naturally intertwined. Back then, though, I didn’t really understand, and often felt like I was on the outside, looking in. These days, it all makes more sense. I know I can count on friends, when they are needed-and vice versa.

Earlier to day, I covered for an old friend who was unable to host his weekly online group. Things started slowly, and yet as the hour continued, people floated in to the call. Some stayed, others were on for only a few minutes, while still others came in place of those who left. It was, all in all, an unpredictable, but delightful spiritual session.

My afternoon work, with the Farmers Market team, also started off with each of us doing separate tasks. Before too long, though, we were helping one another, coming up with more efficient ways that each work station could be completed. This makes two weeks in a row that the Market was closed up within ninety minutes of the vendors and patrons leaving.

At tonight’s concert, people floated between tables-and I found myself enjoying the company of the opening artist, and a few friends of the main artist, then sitting alone after they all left, just enjoying the rest of the performance. After a fashion, leaving the table, so that the band’s videographer could have the right vantage point to do his work, and taking a single seat by the piano, to take in the rest of the concert, worked just fine.

Going with the flow has actually made life a whole lot more joyful.

Musical Double Eights

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, distraction issues, Family, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

August 8, 2021- The three little girls methodically cleared all the pebbles from the piece of carpet on which they and their Nanny sat-and on which they wanted to show their tumbling skills. It was a fine bit of teamwork and an enjoyable sight for, as rudimentary as their forward and backward rolls, attempted somersaults and semi-cartwheels were-they showed a determination to build on their nimbleness.

I took in two somewhat different concerts, last night and this afternoon-in each case after a series of study sessions which took four hours. The faith-based discussions were necessary for our work to continue. The music was essential for the soul to want to keep on with this work. Melodious tunes, even vigourous Celtic and American folk tunes, help to focus the spirit, by soothing it. Brid Dower and the Big Fellas provided Gaelic reverie and lore, over two hours last night. It’s been awhile since I last heard live music at the Raven, and far longer since I heard anything Celtic, in a live setting. It was a blessed entry into 8 8 Lionsgate.

Today, after our study session finished, I napped-then went over to Becky Fest, a celebration of women in music, which I had attended for several years since moving to Prescott-except last year. There was plenty of room, and I brought my own chair, thus being able to find a nice shady spot, at which to listen to the vibrant ladies and a few male guitarists sing of all aspects of life-both joyful and full of pain. The little girls mentioned earlier were on the carpet in front of me and to the left of the stage area. One of them, I have known for three years, so it was especially important that I noticed every flip and flop. She was not hurt in the least, and it was a good backdrop to the pickin’ and singin’. ‘D’ was mainly concerned with one thing, in the end: When was I going to go up and visit her house again? That will depend on her ever-busy parents and their willingness to have visitors-nothing to do with COVID, they are highly intensive farmers and like to schedule any company.

Oh, to have a child’s simplicity again!

The Golden Path

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Posted by on in Community, Family, Hiking and Nature, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

January 1, 2020-

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My daughter-in-law and I wandered up the easier of two trails leading to the saddle overlooking the rocky summit of Thumb Butte, one of Prescott’s signature landmarks.  It was about the fifteenth time, I’ve been up there, and Yunhee’s first.  As we spotted four intrepid rock climbers and a dog, in the area shown above, I thought of all I’ve faced and overcome, in the past ten years, and how much there is still ahead.  I have not wanted to walk in the area of the the summit, not because of fear, but for concern it may be damaging to the ecosystem, as no regular trail goes beyond the saddle.  Evidently, the area is safe enough, even at this time of year-with its ice and snow.  So, I could very well be up there, in the near future.

The path ahead, in this new decade, could diverge in any one of a number of ways, and as with anyone, the choice is mine as to which I take.  Those closest to me here have lives and dreams of their own, some of which might involve me, and others in which I need not be included.  That comes with the territory of a late-sixty-something, and I am just glad to have them in my life.

The converse, of course, is also true.  I feel the pull of the road, to my greater tribe, and I feel a bond with one soul, above all, here in Prescott.  My little family is a key factor, too. They will live in the Dallas area.  There will be much that will become clearer, as the winter proceeds, fades and passes.  That I am happy with whatever road, on which my spirit guides take me, has been evident from the last decade.

These next five months will be fairly serene, or so I think now.  My focus will be on generating as much work as possible, whilst working around a few volunteer commitments and personal appointments.  Travel-wise, Valley of Fire State Park, east of Las Vegas, beckons in mid-January; I will take in a concert in Indio, CA, in late February and various outings around Arizona, some on the spur of the moment, will happen during Winter and Spring.

The Golden Path led up Thumb Butte, today, and could lead just about anywhere, over the year, and decade, ahead.  May your paths be fruitful, also.