Isn’t it funny how songs affect us?

That one tune that just makes you start to sing… tap your toes… or get you teary. Why is it the power of music affects us so? I love to see how certain tunes can transform someone into a totally different frame of mind.

My Twyla has such a song… whenever it comes on she can’t help but sing it out loud and with such passionate gusto. I love to be around her when she kicks into “You May Be Right” mode because it fills my heart with such joy to see such exuberance and joy coming from someone you love… and yes, it is contagious!

Here you go Twyla… a little “You May Be Right” by Billy Joel

Friday night I crashed your party
Saturday I said I’m sorry
Sunday came and trashed me out again
I was only having fun
Wasn’t hurting any one
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change

I’ve been stranded in the combat zone
I walked through Bedford Stuy alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain
And you told me not to drive
But I made it home alive
So you said that only proves that i’m insane

You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic your looking for
Turn out the light
Don,t try to save me
You may be wrong for all i know
But you may be right

Remember how i found you there
Alone in your electric chair
I told you dirty jokes until you smiled
You were lonely for a man
I said take me as i am
Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while

Now think of all the years you tried to
Find someone to satisfy you
I might be as crazy as you say
If I’m crazy then it’s true
That it’s all because of you
And you wouldn’t want me any other way

You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic your looking for
It’s too late to fight
It’s too late to change me
You may be wrong for all i know
But you may be right

You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic your looking for
Turn out the light
Don,t try to save me
You may be wrong for all i know
But you may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right

Sometimes you just need a little Joe Walsh

A Life of Illusion

Sometimes, I can’t help but feeling that I’m
Living a life of illusion
And oh, why can’t we let it be
And see through the hole in this wall of confusion
I just can’t help but feeling I’m living a life of Illusion

Pow, right between the eyes
Oh how nature loves her little surprises
Wow, it all seems so logical now
It’s just one of her better disguises
And it comes with no warning, nature loves her little surprises
Continual crisis…

Hey, don’t you know it’s a waste of your day
Caught up in endless solutions
That have no meaning
Just another hunch, based upon jumping conclusions
Backed up against a wall of confusion…
Caught up in endless solutions…
Living a life of illusion

When All Is Said and Done

To often we look to blame someone else for our own troubles. We look for the culprit who most fits our mental image of “dastardly” and we focus our anger, frustrations, etc. at them. It doesn’t matter that we put ourselves into the situation, it only matters that we can point our finger at someone else to ease our own self angst.

Were we warned multiple times? Yes.

Were we given second chances? Yes.

Did we ignore both? Yes.

Then why are we so surprised? Perhaps it is because we don’t like to think of a world we want to live in that we don’t control.

Alas, Weedhopper, we don’t control ourselves well… how do we expect to control the world any better?

Visiting the Scene of the Crime

I was raised in the churches of Christ, a conservative fundamentalist group who for the biggest part of my childhood were based on logical interpretation of scripture. We were taught scripture, facts, themes, locations of “ammunition” you might need in a “debate” with someone who wasn’t as enlightened as you were.

We were voice-oriented, no mechanical music to be found and most church members could read the shape notes provided in hymnals to support and assist everyone in four part harmony. Tradition was essential and you took communion every week.

For the early part of my life I was led to believe that only the “true church” could be saved and anyone who wasn’t following the letter of the law was condemned. We had the “facts” to prove it and could shout down anyone who thought otherwise.

I really believe as time has gone on, most people of this fellowship are not so hard in their treatment or belief and even more so, have softened to believe in grace and ministry. I even believe we are slowly moving away from the axiom of “having to kill our wounded” to a new axiom, “leave the judging and restoring to God.” This fellowship will always suffer from past sins that have been inflicted upon our communities and neighbors, but I am hoping in another generation that even those sins will fade from memories.

Yesterday I found myself sitting in the seat next to my parents and my own family, relishing the feeling of a “homecoming” of sorts. I was amidst people who I have known for decades, who I’ve watched grow old, go through struggles, been there with them at their times of greatest triumphs and greatest losses. I realized in many ways these people were as much of a family to me as those who share my genetic makeup. I wonder how they view me and if they feel the same bonds.

I know I have lost the zealot mentality of my youth and I am quicker to look for the positive in people, accepting of their beliefs as opposed to the day of my wanting to challenge them. Yes, I have a healthy (or is that unhealthy) strain of cynicism running through me but for an hour yesterday I was willing to set it aside and sit with a room full of believers who for the moment gave me some hope that there is something better than this place we call earth.

Maybe that is the true benefit of going to church… gathering a bit of hope for something after we die. It must be part of it because the organized side of religion, the building of huge buildings in the midst of hunger and suffering, the promoting of religious programming in a world of illiteracy, and the blatant dogmatic isolationism among sects does nothing but turn me off and make me heart sick.

I don’t know if visiting the “scene of the crime” where I received my own religious education was uplifting as much as it was insightful. The people surrounding me were people I have shared life with and have experienced death and sorrow with as well. Their very presence reminded me that “churches” are about the people and without the people you have nothing tangible to hold on to and steel, brick, and mortar are not very good at comforting, encouraging, or sticking with you during the trials of life. I think I’ve rambled enough.

Haven’t done a meme in awhile…

I won’t tag anyone since I don’t think many folks actually read these any more… but feel free to use it if you want.

USING ONLY ONE WORD

Not as easy as you might think! Use only one word to answer the statement/question.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? Twyla
3. Your hair? Fleeing
4. Your mother? Saintly
5. Your father? Patient
6. Your favorite thing? laughing
7. Your dream last night? fishing
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream? contentment
10. What Room you are in? Office
11. Your biggest fear? needles
12. Something you won’t eat. liver
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? sane
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. Something that you aren’t? meek
16. How do you like your steak. Rare
17. Wish list item? heaven
18. Where you grew up? Canyon
19. Last thing you did? Work
20. What are you wearing? shirt
21. Favorite ice cream. peppermint
22. Your pets? frightening
23. Your job? kids
24. Your life? busy
25. Your mood? happy
26. Missing someone? Kids
27. Your car? Chevy
28. Something you’re not wearing? hair
29. Someone you might have to bail out of jail some day. Susan
30. Someone you might end up in jail with; Neal
31. Person you would most like to see become a kamikaze. Oprah
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? Today
34. Last time you cried? March
35. Who will resend this? Twyla
36. One place that I go to over and over? Work
37. One person who emails me regularly? Twyla
38. Cats or dogs? armadillos
39. One place I would like to go right now? beach
40. One person I think will respond? Kacey
41. One TV show I watch all the time: Mentalist

National Champions?

I watched the BCS Championship game last night with my friend Mike and his boys, Luke, and I believe their were women folk there too but I don’t believe they were all that interested in the game. After watching Choklahoma put in another sub-par championship game performance and seeing Florida struggle through it as well, I am convinced, more than ever, that we need a playoff system.

You owe it to Texas, Utah, USC, and others.

If Division II and Division III can do it (and have been doing it for well over 25 years) then Division I can figure it out too.

I guess we can only hope for smarter folks in the coming years.

Sigh.