5 years ago, I leaned against a lamp post in Baxter Village waiting to meeting a woman for a drink at the Grapevine. I was early. We met, shook hands, had a laugh about her parallel parking skills then went inside. And so it began.
Neither had any idea, of course, how life changing that first date would be.
My dearest partner. In a life filled with many good and great things that have happened to me, you are, without question, the greatest of them all.
I love you with a grateful and peace-filled heart.
Happy Cinco De Mayo, my dearest partner… and happy anniversary!
Great inaugural gig last Saturday night at Li’l Robert’s Place in downtown Concord. Great hometown bar feel. Not a shred of pretense. The barkeep and patrons made us feel welcome… even as we were loading in and setting up. Grateful to Craig Hanks from Shake the Dust for sitting in, fleshing out these songs so tastefully and tweaking our PA to get us all sounding good. Great energy on stage and in the room. The three hours melted away.
We got lots of kind feedback (from patrons and behind the bar). Looking forward to being back.
It’s important for us to support the places that support live, local and original music. So, I hope when you’re in Concord you pay a visit to this vibe-rich venue.
Grateful.
After yesterday’s all-day rain, Ember and I sure love being out in this early morning sun. Add to it, that band of fog, the two (then three) deer that popped out from behind the treeline… and we’re off to a good start.
Last week yielded my sweetheart’s birthday (and a wonderful sunset then dinner at Drift on Lake Wylie) followed by yet another day of hearts. Wondering what good things are in store this week?
Grateful
Please help me celebrate my beautiful, kind, determined, sneaky funny and resilient partner, Julie Dawn McKinney on her birthday.
Sweetheart, you are one amazing woman, mother, leader, and I am incredibly proud and lucky to share this life.
Happy birthday, my love. I hope this day and comimg year bring you many well-deserved gifts.
see, I’m old now
in a big old box of nothing
and i’m thinking about something
i should probably leave alone
*****
(For the past several days, this has been on the workbench. It started as s couple lines that avaiked itself as I was just crawling to consciousness. And so begab the process. Tinkering. Pondering. Strumming and fretting. Wrestling with phrases and phrasings. Listening for and talking to ghosts. And always… always grateful being deeply for these visitations).
Looking forward to getting out of the house and letting a few of my song-kids stretch their legs a bit. Fellow SSA member and songwriter, Mark Hamrick and I trade songs the first hour, followed by an open mic. Grateful to Dave Tursi for the invitation to play and Rock Hill Brewery for the providing the space.
(Note: Mea Culpa on the typo in hastily strewn together mini bio. That’s what I get for editing and hitting send while in the middle of playing disc golf).
The pastel sunset in York, SC.
I have several friends who are amazing photographers. I’m surely not in that class. I’m just a grateful schmuck with an iphone, sitting outside with Ember scanning for deer as the sun slips behind the tree line.
