I never truly know where an idea will go once I decide to engage it. The words begin to flow, then other things cross my mind along the way, and get incorporated into my writing. The ability to write starts as a blank slate, but once engaged with what prompted you to write in the first place, well you can drift a little.

Drifting, takes you places you didn’t know you were going. Then, sometimes you get comments. Comments tend to drift from the initial subject as well. This can be an enlightening experience. Opening up, expanding on the initial subject, turning your initial work into an entertaining learning opportunity.

Sometimes I’m even forced to Google! Well whatayaknow, I didn’t know that! I enjoy learning new things.

Writing is also a form of release. You can let that rant out. Somewhat freeing you from its burden.

Speaking of burden, loaded up most of my sons belongings in the truck/covered trailer yesterday evening. He is off to college this morning. He and a good friend he has hung out with, and worked with for years, are splitting rent on a nice apartment. We got them moved in this morning. Only no electricty yet, and everything but the sofa, matching chair, and kitchen table & chairs, went up the stairs. All 15 of them. Geeze Louise! We got started early, but it was already getting hot. Got to 101 heat index today.

So we are lugging all this stuff up the stairs, in the heat, with no air. I quickly saturated my shirt with sweat. Glad I packed a dry shirt! Also glad we had plenty of cold drinks on hand as well. Damn it’s hot.

Got home and had a bit of time to kill before I had to load up some shells and haul them to market. In the heat. Did I mention it’s hot?

Trust me, neither the wife or I feel like cooking this day. So we got pizza on the way home. I was eating pizza as this was written. Bet you didn’t know that did you?

So on the way home, I see a little roadside stand with a sign out front. “Peaches.” You know how long its been since I have had a good peach? You know, that mouth watering, plump, juicy, tree ripened peach just loaded with wonderful peachy-ness? It’s been decades since I’ve had a good peach. So I pull in. I’m getting a damn peach.

Well, they were expensive. Surprisingly so. I got 3 lbs for $15. Let them keep the $5 change from a $20, because those folks looked like they might melt by the roadside.

I got home, fished out a peach, rinsed it under the sink, got me a bite. Oh, wow! That peach was gobbled up, practically non stop, right at the kitchen sink. I planted my face in that peach and worked around to the other side, almost without taking a moment to breathe. It was that good. If peachy-ness has a scale from 1-10, it was a 20! Incredible. I remember peaches like that when I was kid. Haven’t had one in so long I can’t remember. That store bought crap, the stuff you bring home green, and let it ripen on the counter a day or two till it seems about right? NOT EVEN CLOSE!

I’d have paid $20 for that one peach.

You learn something every day.

Did I drift a little? 😉

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

I’ve played guitar since I was 16, the math would require an abacus, maybe a calculator, and a fifth grade education, if you are wondering how old that makes me. 😉

I’ve been in a few cover bands, that is bands who perform other peoples music. I am now in an all original band, that is songs we have written/composed ourselves. In both cases I have performed on numerous stages, on numerous occaisions. Well, moreso the former than the latter, we are just now getting back at it, our bassist/writer/and keeper of time signatures, had a triple heart bypass surgery a couple months ago. He is fine now, and back to monitoring my odd time signature arrangements. Though… he has let a couple slide recently, finding that once everyone is on the same page, a 4/4 signature isn’t absolutely necessary, and can be a fun adventure 😉 We are both a work in progress I think.

Pretty much, I have been on stages enough, where now, being in front of people, whether speaking or playing music, no longer concerns me. I don’t get freaked out with stage fright.

I do still get a little nervous before a gig, but that soon goes away once the gear is set up, and we get through the first couple of songs. You just have to let it go, have fun performing, and don’t sweat the little mistakes most people will never notice.

We should be playing live again by the new year. We have been practicing and recording for a few weeks now, since the surgery.

I’m anxious to get back at it. Playing live is a drug, and musicians are addicts.