This month’s “Rambling” will be just that. There has been so much going on, that I am compelled to offer a rambling collection of thoughts that I hope hang together in some manner.
We are moving into the last few weeks of summer and that on its own is enough to generate an energy in me that could almost be mistaken for anxiety. I always experience a deep emotional stirring brought about by the changing of the seasons, and it seems to be strongest as summer merges into fall. Maybe this is some sort of evolutionary residual from the same source of conditioning that compels other animals to store food or head south. I don’t know, but I like the feeling.
Even though it’s been a bit on the hot side and dry enough that a few weather forecasters have used the term drought, I have had a good summer and played some memorable gigs.
I appreciate the seasonal engagements at local venues playing for good friends and familiar faces, but I always enjoy performing at community events, house concerts, and festivals. There have been a few of those this summer and a few coming up this fall.
I often feel like I am in a Norman Rockwell painting while playing at a community event or fair and that was certainly the case last month when I took a road trip to play in Greenville, Ohio at a community Cooperative Market. This was like a cross between an art fair and a farmers' market.
And, I had a great time.
To be clear, this wasn’t a high-level performance, I was simply contributing to the ambiance of the afternoon. That being said, this did provide the opportunity for me to enjoy observing human interaction and to simply be in the moment.
There was a parallel line of tents set up in a “midway’ and from where I was set up, I had an enjoyable view of a host of vendors selling arts and crafts, houseplants, raw honey, baked goods, and produce.
I had a few memorable interactions that evening and I was touched when one lady told me she wanted to gift me a loaf of sourdough raisin bread as an appreciation of my “beautiful music”. It proved to be great bread by the way, but, my interaction with a melon vendor was simply wonderful.
In SW Ohio, there are quite a few Mennonites and, unlike Amish, Mennonites embrace some modern technologies. I don’t profess to understand the subtle nature of their religion and to make suppositions would simply show my ignorance and disservice to their beliefs. Several of the vendors were Mennonites and I noticed one fellow had some lovely produce. I asked him to hold a couple of melons for me and I would get them after my show.
When I came back to his stand, he had a watermelon and a cantaloupe set aside, and with complete sincerity, he put his hand on my shoulder and asked me “When are you going to cut this melon?” He went on to tell me he enjoyed my music and wanted to give me the melons. He also wanted to make sure I understood that, unlike a grocery store, his products were perfectly ripe and should be eaten in a day or two.
For some reason, I was deeply touched by his commitment to such a high standard of excellence and his wanting me to enjoy his product.
What a world it would be if we all cared that much about what we make, do, and share, instead of being consumed with getting done and moving on to the next task at hand.
I understand that time is a precious commodity, but it seems it’s too easy to forget to enjoy the time that we have. It’s all too easy to forget the value of sincerity and the joy of simple interactions.
The next day I was performing with my good friend the incredibly talented Jon Yowell, at Painesville Party In the Park. Now how’s that for a contrast? Thursday evening I was playing tunes at a bucolic community market for dozens of people and the next I was performing on a big stage and being projected on a Jumbotron.
Party In The Park is a great annual event made possible by many volunteers, community organizations, businesses, and individual supporters. It is a great time focused on promoting the community and local music, while raising money to teach kids how to swim. It was an honor to be included in a lineup of great musicians.
I can’t say I enjoyed one event more than the other, but I can say I enjoyed them both. I suppose that is the important thing to remember, enjoy the moment at hand, regardless of the size of the stage.
Recently, two dear friends recently experienced terrible tragedies and for some strange reason made me appreciate my interaction with the Mennonite produce vendor all that much more. We all have significant events in our lives, birthdays, weddings, graduations, and so on, but it is the small things that occur every day that have their special beauty and value. These interactions Are easy to overlook but can add so much to our lives
While I am sending love and compassion to my friends as they deal with their grief, I remind myself to take the time to look for and enjoy the events and interactions that occur each day, regardless of the size and scope. There is always a bit of joy, love, hope, or laughter around us. Sometimes we have to just slow down enough to appreciate this gift.
Perhaps I’ll see you while rambling about.
Steve
