Virginia Is For Families

It’s Saturday morning and the sun is shining outside.

But it’s still cold out there.   Maybe somewhere the kids have been getting on their  parent’s nerves as the winter  progresses.  They need to be outside playing with their friends and running off that energy.  Perhaps they don’t understand the economic situation and the struggles of those around them.

The credit card bills from Christmas are arriving.

The boss has to make some hard decisions.

The news flashes stories of people being laid off by the millions.

Somewhere a father takes the lives of his family after losing his job.

Say a prayer for the children.  Love them when nothing is going right.  Give them a hug.

Everything that is good in life comes from God.  It’s time to pay Him a visit and stay awhile.  It’s easy to think that because you can’t see the answer to a difficult problem it’s not there.

It’s there.

Billy Gilman
Play One Voice

04-one-voice

What a week!  Life can be so challenging sometimes.  Not in a way that involves crises or shock or pain.  But just in ways that jangle the nerves.

I was in the dentist’s chair again two days ago and my favorite dental assistant Tracy who I have known for probably twenty years now had to listen as I croaked out “I need a vacation”.  That’s not a pretty sight when you have the laughing gas gizmo strapped to your face.   I have had a soft spot in my heart for Tracy for many years now and can’t really imagine anyone else being there when I take these little trips to laughing gas heaven.

And then the weather was a challenge this week.  In one day it went from freezing pavement and trees weighted down with ice to a pretty nice day and then to premature darkness, wind and cold rain.   I was out and about doing things in all this mess.  Although retired I have activities that keep me from spending the time with photography that I would like to spend.

But all that will change this summer.  And then we will see how far I can take my photography yearnings and talents.   I would have loved to have spent yesterday taking photos of the changing conditions.  Ice mixed with fog.  Trees bent over in flashing moments of glory.
But more mundane concerns prevented me from doing it. This will soon change.

And finally my lovely wife Beth has emerged online.  It’s all part of the Facebook thing and the growing group of family and friends who have been brought together by it.    I’m loving Facebook  because I’m learning things about people I love and feeling closer to them.   It’s a tribal meeting place and the fire is in our hearts.   The flames flicker at night as my monitor paces through its screen savers.  And this. . .

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see Beth in the midst of this.   She and her parents have put together a video for a music contest sponsored by CBS.  I asked her if it would be alright if I shared it with my readers and she said “Yes”!

She actually wrote and arranged this song.   If you enjoy it please consider giving it a positive response.   In the past week it has risen from  over 100 to 18th place based on the number of favorites it has captured.

http://www.cbseyemobile.com/users/gibson2play/channel/item/49208

I first heard Walter Beasley on XM radio while driving around Richmond.  I am a big fan of Watercolors and the many fine sax men (and women) whose work is showcased there.   And Walter quickly rose to the top of the list with his rich sound and inspiring phrasing.  So one day I went to Youtube and looked him up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYeFy5lKFsY

I found this video and thought “This is amazing.  This guy can play saxophone AND sing!  I love this video”.    So I wrote a comment.  It was one of my dumb comments that seem to role off the keyboard at least once a day.   Something to the effect of   “I listen to Walter Beasley on XM and imagined he was an older, overweight sax player but he’s a good looking dude and he can play AND sing!”   Anybody who can do both of those things very well belongs in a very elite group.  Diana Krall is another great artist who comes to mind.

So I kept searching and discovered that Walter puts together videos on Youtube that teach as well.  He talks about playing the sax and reminds me of a man I knew when I was just a teenager.   His name was Boots Mussulli and he was a well known  sax player who lived in the Boston area.  Here is some information about him.

http://www.answers.com/topic/boots-mussulli

Boots also enjoyed working with people and sharing his love for music and the saxophone.  He started a big band and recruited area high school students to play some of the great songs of an earlier era.  I played alto saxophone in high school and was thrilled when I was invited to participate.   One of our great achievements was being invited to play at the Newport Jazz Festival one year.   We also played in Boston at the Prudential Center and I will always remember hanging out backstage as Sarah Vaughan and Count Basie greeted each other.  They impressed me with their joyous laughter at the time.  They were different from many of the adults I knew.

So when I started watching videos of Walter talking about how to play and perform I was reminded of all of this.  Performers who take the time to reach out and share their insights into this great and somewhat mysterious world  are so special.  Especially when they talk to the children.

And I had to laugh when Walter responded to my dumb comment.  He said. . .

no I am in my mid 40s and I am overweight but loving my life and career

WB

Nice.  Thanks Walter.   I encourage you to explore Walter Beasley’s videos on Youtube and to download his music from Amazon.com mp3.   He is a very talented guy.  And the saxophone is an amazing instrument.   It has such a warm sound and it easily becomes part of the love scene if you know what I mean.  (And I’m sure you do).  Being a romantic guy at heart it kept me company when I was a teen and not yet old enough to drive!

I had been listening to Guy Lombardo during  Christmas break one year long ago and decided to incorporate some of his signature vibrato into my own playing at the next rehearsal with Boots.  And boy did he break that habit before it established itself!

Here is Walter saying  some of the same things in a much more diplomatic way!

Vibrato!   We miss you Guy!

My dear friend Robin Easton has been making videos lately.   And there are no copyright issues where she is concerned.  Ninety percent of Youtube may disappear tomorrow but Robin can sleep soundly (as I’m sure she does) knowing that she is totally responsible for her original and  delightful videos and music.

This one is just plain fun.   What can I say about it?  Here is a wonderful woman who is intelligent, charming and full of laughter.   And here is a child who is having more fun than many children on this snow filled day.

If my stats flatline tomorrow and never are revived I will always consider blogging to have been a great adventure and success because Robin showed up one day.

Webster’s needs to have a photo of her under the definition of  joy.

Actually I have a granddaughter whose name is Joy.  When she is older and learns to read I will definitely share this video with her and also the email of Robin Easton.

Children love Robin.  I can’t begin to imagine why!