A Long Time Coming

Our Wedding March 21, 1970

I started this blog with the best of intentions. I planned to add to it on a regular basis. What I didn't realize is that just putting the jam together on a weekly basis would consume so much of my time. Before I knew it, I had let the blog go.

Well, I get a report each week analyzing where people go once they visit the website. And believe it or not, they stop and read what is available on this blog page. So tonight I have decided to revive this blog and see if I can't add some meaningful insights to our wonderful community.

I have recently returned from a two week hiatus to attend Dulcimer U. I have been going for 12 years!!! What I like about DU is that you have 3 hours each morning with the teacher of your choice. That is 12 hours of instruction with the same teacher, which is a learning environment that I prefer. There are afternoon classes with different teachers. An afternoon 4 part ensemble - which is glorious. Then evening concerts by the instructors and a jam into the evening. It's music from morning to night.

My morning teacher this year was one of my favorite instructors of all time, Jeff Furman. His goal was to get us to play with feeling. To that end, he invited members of the class to volunteer to play a solo - or duet - for the rest of the class. One of my classmates remarked that she felt so much closer to everyone in the class because we had a chance to hear from each one. The comments for each person were so positive. It was lovely to be part of the group.

On Thursday evening they have an open mic event. Folks volunteer to play solo, in duet, in larger groups. This year I volunteered to play a special song. But, I have to tell you the background on why I made this selection. My husband drove me to Cullowhee North Carolina, a ten hour trip from our home in Sanford, FL. We left on Saturday afternoon, drove 5 hours and spent the night in a motel. Then, we drove the remaining 5 hours to Cullowhee. When we got there, I realized I did not have my overnight bag, with all of my medications in it. My dear husband called the motel. They had my bag, so my husband drove 5 hours to the motel, and 5 hours back to the college so that I would have my medications. Larry and Elaine Conger, both remarked that he was "a keeper." And after 55 years of marriage, I agree.

So, at open mic, I played a song I had learned from Jeff Furman years ago, "When I Grow Too Old To Dream." It is a beautiful song about what we have to remember once a beloved one is gone. It is the things we do for each other that create those precious memories. If you get a chance, pull up the song on You-tube.