Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Living the Dream

This post has been writing itself for several hours now... It's WAY more info than can fit in a Twitter or Facebook post, but it's something I think I need to say - both to myself and to you, gentle reader.

I'm living the dream. There - I've said it. No, I'm not living in Nashville, doing studio music, traveling the country or getting cuts left and right. But yes - I'm living the dream.

When I was a very young boy I thought I wanted to play guitar, but didn't follow through. When I got older I decided I did, in fact, want to. When I was 13/14 my dad encouraged me and brought home a CHEAP electric guitar from the auction. It was terrible, but it was something I could at least put my hands on. My first REAL guitar was one he bought me when he saw that I was serious about it and seemed to have a modicum of talent.

Then, when I'd been playing for a bit, I'd take my guitar with me lots of places and play every chance I got. I'd hear something and want to play along. I'd be playing something my uncle had talk me and I'd be learning to improvise. You name it, I was trying it.

Anyway, there was a specific day when I was playing "guitar boogie" and practicing double hits and slurred notes. He just shook his head and said, "son, I know people that would pay a million dollars to do what you're doing." I replied, "it's not that good, but I'm trying." He said, "you are already doing more than I ever could - I can hear it, but I WISH I could do it."

So, in that respect, I was living the dream way back then. I could grab a guitar, tune it, play some chords, play a melody that you could understand... Already that was more than a non-musical person could do, but I didn't appreciate it. Later I was introduced to TRUE bluegrass and loved it! I then found out that I could play by ear and hear the chord changes. My first performance out of the house was playing electric guitar for Cindy Young at Gadsden at the little Hee Haw show. She did Rosanne Cash's "Blue Moon with Heartache" and I did the "lead turnaround notes." It wasn't much, but it was magical! I didn't know it, but I was living the dream at the time...

Later, I got with a local bluegrass group and learned even more. I played backup in some performances and learned what it was like to stand in front of crowds of people. Then I broke off and did some talent shows (never won any, but was great experience!) before winding up with some buddies in a group we called The Bare Basics. I learned how much more fun it is to just sit and play with others and to bounce ideas and chords off each other. I was living the dream, I just didn't know it. How? How many other people out there were wishing they could do it... How many people heard us at the Cancer Society Hee Haw show or the Rotary Club luncheons or the Saturday in the Park trailer show and wish they could do it?

Later still I was called into the ministry as a musician for Jesus. I wound up with New Heaven's Echos and made a TON of wonderful friends that I still know today! I was playing every weekend. No, not with them, necessarily, but if 'we' didn't have a singing Vanessa and I were with the Barnetts or the Dills or the Jones Family or Gospel Edition... Then there was Camp Meeting or the Quartet Convention - even more chances for fellowship, camaraderie and performing. Living the dream - touching lives - being blessed more and more myself...

Then I was out of it for a long time. If you've read my blog, you know of the odd ball chances here and there to do a little, but nothing serious and nothing solid. Well I finally started going back to Jackson to do some bluegrass jamming at the Old Country Store and quickly made friends with a person I know call a buddy - James Wallace. He and I have picked off and on together for some time, but I digress... That led me to being more involved and being asked to play regularly on Friday nights. This led to me singing more and stretching myself. I'd still love to play the Opry some day, but how many people can say they get to climb up on stage EVERY week and have people come to hear them and to dance to their music? Living the dream...

Lately I've felt Jesus calling me to give back - to get back into His service more... We've never stopped loving our great friends (and family) The Barnetts but went for a long time with little to no contact. We see them at Friendship at a benefit and start to see them more and more and next thing I know we're climbing on the bus with them for almost every singing they've had the past couple of months. God is using me again in an ancillary role, and I'm proud for it! I'm living the dream...

Last night I went to an open mic in Jackson at Music Crossroads. This was not my first Open Mic - I've played the Bluebird Cafe and even did an official audition there. I've played at the Commodore in Nashville as well. This was very much like that... We would take the stage one by one (the stage, by the way, is reportedly the one that Carl Perkins would perform on in a club in Jackson and is reportedly where he FIRST performed Blue Suede Shoes in public) and most would do covers. The hostess, another guy and I did original material. It was a listening room atmosphere and I felt like I had good response from the crowd... Again, living the dream.

So as I drove back home and as I've thought on these facts today, I've decided that I many NEVER have a song cut... I may never work in a studio in Nashville... I may never play to thousands of people... I may never play the Ryman or the Opry... But I'm living the dream... I've written songs and had people enjoy them. I've even had people request them at the dance. I've gotten to sing in public with Vanessa. I've gotten to work in a studio. I've gotten to "travel" on a tour bus with four different groups at different times... All of these things are things that people EVERY day wish they could do - and I'm doing it. I really, REALLY don't want to take that for granted, because it's a joy and a thrill and a blessing to get to do what I do...

Thanks for reading!