The memorials are over, or have they just begun?

Friday's Unk Memorial Jam was a success on many levels: strong attendance and I *think* the music was quite good. My portion of the gig followed a set of Gregory assembling something from Jazz records (recorded on that date - naturally) with a trio of Arthur Durkee, Marianne Eggerstrand and I. Then a bit with Jon Arnold, Joanne Pow!ers and I. Some pretty frisky stuff in there, particularly the 2 saxes + Korg noisilator vs. drums portion. The highlight for me was our rendition of the Zelda Hayes Unit composition "Flip Ut!". Dug playing in 6/8 and Artie and I seemed to lock in nicely. I had a 'seeing' into the dusty memory banks of listening to the Zelda crew playing that number at OCayz, which totally got me through it. Zow

Sunday I finished setting up the bar super early and off to Wis Dells on the Greybus at noon after a tasty lunch on the Electric Earth patio. The last real food until Monday night! So Mom and her hubby picked me up there and we were back in 'Boo before Halton arrived. Mother and her loving sons in the same room for the first time in, gosh, 2 years! Took a drive out to Devil's Lake and through neighborhoods not visited in years. Hal was even more shocked than I at all the changes. The thing I noticed on the drive were all the disused rural properties - farm houses with their windows broken out and collapsing barns and outbuildings. The world has moved on. We were never a 'farm family' even though many of our high school chums were and hopefully they went on to some line sustainable in these times. Another observation - it's so nice and quiet and green around the old stomping grounds. When I yearn for home, this is really what I am remembering. The peacefulness of small town and country life. It's pretty sweet. Sunday night I slept for 8 hours for the first time in I don't know how long.

Back to Madison Monday, Memorial Day and a brief meditation/remembering of our war heroes, who gave everything and made the ultimate sacrifice for our once and soon-to-be-again great country. War is a hell I hope and pray you and yours will never know. There are no words to express my gratitude for the bravery and courage of our fallen. Pray for peace.

Monday evening the Sam/Patrick/Tom trio resumed in our country digs now that the weather allows. I proceeded to get kind of trashed, but the playing was pretty good anyway. I hope I'm not fired. Oh wait, you can't fire a volunteer, only ignore them away. I have hope.

Back in the thick of workaday routine, but with some renewed good inner strength to draw on, so it's OK. The weather is a little too cold, blah. A radio show on Sunday to plan and the usual detritus of life to sort through. I have an easy life and take none of it for granted. Repeat and rinse.

listen:
Ladyhawk

read:
a literal STACK of National Geographic mags
the notes I make so I don't forget