Listen to the Music

 

By G. E. Shuman

 

          Have you ever noticed; I mean REALLY noticed how important music is? Also, have you noticed how many differing types of music we have to choose from, and how musical tastes vary? To me, the subject is like comparing differing types and, yes, ‘tastes’ of foods. I love seafood, of almost any type. My wife hates it all. She loves sweets, of almost any type, and I can take chocolate or leave it. We both love steaks and chops, pasta, and salads, but she also eats grits, which, by their very name, should tell you where they should be on the food chain. Yuck!

          Yes, it’s the same with music. It’s strange to me that, with all our musical tastes, whatever type of music you happen to like excites you, ‘does it’ for you, while it can bore the heck out of some others. Many people love the opera, (To me, that’s right up there with grits.) Some seem to live for rap music. (Not me.) Other people love the twangy taste of country songs. (Not me, again.) I’m a Christian, and most Christians love Christian music, but even there, there are differences. ‘Christian rock’ excites some folks for the Lord; Southern Gospel plays on the heartstrings of many; The old hymns may be more suitable for the rest.  

           

I will have to say that none of the above music types is what I choose to listen to often. Many would consider me to be ‘religious’, but I don’t listen to ‘religious’ music very ‘religiously.’ Also, I’m not one for ‘making’ music. I’m no singer, and the only instrument I play well is the radio, although in the high school band I played second trombone. (Our band had exactly two trombone players.)

Likely because of my age, a selection of popular music from the ‘60s, ‘70s and some from the ’80s is my style. I am just as excited today by the songs of ABBA, The Bee-Gees, Blood, Sweat, and Tears,  Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, and other groups as I was when I was 16. (And that wasn’t exactly yesterday.) The storytelling tunes of James Taylor, Jim Croce, John Denver, and Jerry Reed can still get my foot tapping. (Even if I’m stretched out in the recliner while it’s tapping, these days.) If you want a real hoot, listen to Amos Moses sometime. You will either think it’s ridiculous or beautiful.

          I’m not certain why I felt the need to share my musical interests with you today. It’s just that some of those tunes and tune-makers of decades past are still relevant, at least they are to me. And, music IS important. If you don’t agree, ask the folks at Disney World what the Magic Kingdom would be without the beautiful background melodies.

I also love enjoying nature while ‘tuning-in’ (Do people actually still tune in?) to the surprisingly varied favorites on my Spotify list. Hey, my front porch swing works especially well while I’m listening. So does the scent of the ocean while strolling down a bit of rocky coastal shoreline in Maine, with “Black Water” coursing through the air pods.

“Sometimes I walk among the rocks. Sometimes I rock among the walks.”  Humm… I just made that up. Not too bad for an old junior-choir, high-school-band, hippie-type. 

-For Great Winter/Early Spring Reading: Check out George’s novels at Amazon.com. “A Corner Café,” “The Smoke and Mirrors Effect,” and “Cemetery Bridge” are all available in Kindle and paperback versions. THANKS!-

         

“Cemetery Bridge” is a story of historical fiction and metaphysical occurrences. The book takes place in both the present and the past, back to the Civil War era and before. Its characters become timelessly entwined in ways they will never understand; this due to the appearance of a nineteenth century, crudely crafted invention of the Jones Brothers Bowl and Bobbin mill, a business which once existed fictionally in the real town of Gilead Maine. Gilead, an unassuming little village on Route 2 is home to a small, unusual cemetery which became the single and invaluable inspiration for the book.

Books are available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback versions. See you there!

 Hi All,

Just a reminder about the books. I've gotta keep the G & L Shuman retirement fund afloat and think you would enjoy them. 

Have a great week!

Hoeing Out the Bedroom

 

By G. E. Shuman

 

          Two years ago, my wife and I both retired. I left a career of teaching high school English, (I’m pulling my hair out just thinking about that.) and she a management position with a large national delivery company. (I won’t divulge the company’s name, but its initials include a U, a P, and an S. We had both worked almost forever, and it was just time to stop.

          Also, the last of our five children had recently left the nest, and here the two of us were, in a big ol,’ multi-story, four-bedroom Vermont home that we loved, but one that also was just boiling over with all the ‘stuff’ accumulated over the previous thirty or so years we have been here.

Whew! Mementos of trips, ‘collectibles,’ old clothes, older books, and other assorted things seemed to be literally everywhere. (Everything is collectible, you know. That doesn’t make it valuable. Right?) My wife had always been a collector, and it would be easy for me to blame her for our house being weighted down with all that ‘junque,’ but I also had my share of stupid stuff. (My definition of ‘stupid’ stuff is stuff that you keep for some reason but can’t for the life of you remember where it came from or who gave it to you, or for what occasion.) That kind of stuff probably brings no actual fond memories if you don’t even know how it got on that shelf in your room that it’s been on for a decade or two.    

          So, my wife and I produced a plan, although that took the first year or so to work up to. To our credit, we cleaned out the attic that first year. To begin the second of our retirement years, we would do some hoeing out at home, starting with our bedroom. Here is sort of, but not exactly, how we did it.

          When our kids were young, they had a book with the title of “What to Do When Mom or Dad Tells You to Clean Your Room.”  The crux of this little self-help for Weebles, (Remember Weebles?) was to pick up everything that was on your bedroom floor and put it all on your bed. Then, pick up one thing at a time from the bed and don’t put it down again until it was put away where it goes.

          Our adaptation of that ‘What to Do’ book was this: Firstly, we decided to move into another of the bedrooms. Our daughter had moved out and her room was completely empty. We chose that one. Next, I used about a gallon of spackle, patching all the nail and shelf bracket holes from years of teen-age trinket displaying and picture and poster hanging. Then I sanded it all and painted the ceiling and walls.

Now, here’s the key. This is important, so pay attention. Next, my wife and I went to our original bedroom and moved ONLY things we WANTED to be in the new room, into the room. Remember, it was ONLY those things that got moved. No exceptions. That was a fantastic exercise, and we were both shocked at the number of things we owned and were surrounded by each night, that we cared nothing about. (The local Salvation Army store made out very well that week, and we also got a nice clean guest room in the process.)

          We completed our new bedroom and installed a new king-sized bed. (Those things are HUGE! I think my wife wanted to try a long-distance relationship. Oh well.) There was plenty of room for the big bed, as we put simple shelving in the corner closet, and now have lots of space for the clothes we actually wear without the hassle of dressers and drawers. The walls of the new room have a large mirror and two great paintings that we picked out and LIKE, and the only collectibles are a few things with meaning, now atop my wife’s roll-top desk in the corner.

          Honestly, and I know everyone does not feel this way, there is something totally soothing to me about an uncluttered space. It doesn’t have to be an EMPTY space, just one containing fewer of the same old ‘things’ I have looked at for many years. Thankfully, my wife now seems to agree that less is often more, especially when it comes to dusting, straightening, and rearranging.

It’s strange to know we hadn’t realized something before; that being that not every inch of every shelf must be covered with things. In fact, as we found, you might even want to remove the shelf completely. Give it a try. And then relax.

 

For Great Winter Reading: Don’t forget to check out George’s novels at Amazon.com. “A Corner Café”, “The Smoke and Mirrors Effect”, and “Cemetery Bridge” are all available in Kindle and paperback versions. THANKS!