Time Marches On… And There’s Nothing You Can Do About It.

I’m not sure why for my very first blog entry a classic Boston tune would pop into my head as an inextricable ear-worm, but here it is…

“It’s been such a long time. I think I should be goin’. And time doesn’t wait for me, it keeps on goin…”

While I was never much of a Boston “fan” per se, probably because I was inundated with this tune (and other hits of theirs) over and over on my Gainesville, Florida hometown radio station Rock 104 (now Country 103.7) almost as much as the incessant Tom Petty (my fellow Gainesville High Alum’) and ubiquitous southern rock of Skynyrd and The Allman’s there is something truly salient about this lyric at this particular station in my life.

While I was a product of the deeply rooted blend of country and Americana-tinged rock of the North Florida regions’ 70’s to early 80’s output, I definitely went far afield in my own musical tastes in middle school-high school: I.E my embracement of The Police, Missing Persons, RUSH, The Fixx, Red Rider, U2, INXS, Big Country and Nik Kershaw. I just never could relate to the music that, ironically enough, was so influential on so many of my longtime colleagues, bandmates and artist/employers. It just didn’t resonate the way the afore-mentioned bands did at a visceral and emotional level.

Looking back on this semi-disdain with the advantage of 20/20 hindsight I find it mildly amusing that my musical career would lead me to again and again be associated with, and/or actually PLAY so much of the afore-mentioned de rigur “classics” that I held so much disdain for in my teen years. And of course, I’ve hardly ever sniffed any opportunities with the likes of Sting, Seal, Tears for Fears, Big Wreck or any other derivative artist of the genres that I longed to be a part of. Well, other than my one gig in Singapore (back in 2012) with Wang Chung!! Thanks again Dave Cohen!! 😉

My longtime and current employer, (even amidst this COVID madness) Tracy Lawrence also has a penchant for reminding me of the passage of time with one of his longtime chestnuts “Time Marches On”. As alluded to above, it does indeed march past with the intensity and focus of the Blue Devils drum and bugle corps in one of their many championship years.

As I watched my son Bryant turn 10 yesterday while simultaneously hearing of the passing of a wonderful friend/musician/colleague in Denton Elkins I was once again smacked square in the face with the harsh wet rag of life’s tenuous nature. Something akin to the old adage about the “NFL” equating to “Not For Long”. How true for us all that acronym must be.

As such, in my first rambling musing here, I simply wanted to share my gratitude and love for all of the wonderful family, friends, mentors and musical colleagues who’ve imparted so much upon me and afforded me the opportunity to maintain some semblance of a “career” as a professional musician. Whether they be with us in this world or passed on to another it feels more important than ever to let down ones guard and dispense with artifice to authentically acknowledge what they’ve meant to me in this life.

To that end, the current maddeningly uncertain times only more emphatically underscore our need to appreciate every moment and strive to improve ourselves wherever possible:

Whether it be via morning pages where one pours out the copious thoughts/ideas and potential ventures bestowed upon us by whatever higher power creator we each embrace (for me that is being humbly thankful before God and Jesus Christ as my savior, but I believe that we are probably all speaking of the same higher power via a myriad of differing names and humanistic interpretations) or through our daily efforts toward self-improvement, there seems to be more than ever the powerful impulse to act on the best of our ideas with tenacity and patience.

The latter in regard to our own natural “Inner Critic” which so often studies the wonderfully creative impulses that pass through our mind so many times a day, week, month and through the years.

As a quick aside and example of my own inner critics’ resounding narrative, allow me to recount the number of years it has taken for me to pursue this simple act of blogging:

Anyone who knows me knows that I talk (and write) in run-on paragraphs and produce copious amounts of circuitous “hot air” both in social media and in everyday life. Yet when my dear friend and this sites creator, Rich Viano, years ago suggested I begin to blog here did I act on it? Of course not. And why? Because my personal inner critic harped on my lack of effort to that end prior to Rich’s suggestion. Something along the lines of:

You’ll never do that! You’ll get sidetracked with some other pursuit and besides, who wants to hear you ramble? Furthermore, you’ve had a website since 1998 ya’ narcissistic bastard. You think you’d have contributed something/done some work yourself on at least ONE of the numerous iterations of this site you’ve had through the years (One would thing, but they’d be wrong: I’ve had three different web designers since 98, including Rich, and I’ve hardly ever done any of the content creation myself!), but nope, ya’ never have!”

I could go on, but you get the picture: This voice derides me almost daily (as I’m sure does the inner critic in so many of you who might read this), but if I’ve learned one thing in my over half-century on this planet, it’s to simply acknowledge his/her/it’s impulsive nature as your ally imploring you to tap into your higher power’s voice in your heart and soul and hopefully be the best you/live your best life here and now.

Apologies for the random ramblings, but I just wanted to take the proverbial “Single step” of the “Journey of a thousand miles” so to speak.

“Well I’m takin’ my time I’m just moving along. You’ll forget about me after I’ve been gone. And I take what I find I don’t want no more. It’s just outside the open door.”

Much success and peace to you and yours. Never stop striving as we never truly “arrive”, right?

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