Deep in the listening

go look at the moon

It’s been a minute is getting old to say and probably hear from me but here it is again, yet another minute since my last bit of musings. I have been deep, deep in the listening, however.

My dad has been having some health stuff and I have been by his side. Except when I haven’t been (and all of my siblings have stepped in, thank you, sibs) to let me get to go on a few already planned trips pre-illness. One of those trips, the latest, was to my beloved Rocky Mountain Song School and Folks Fest in Lyons, CO. The photo above was taken at the festival by a friend and I feel like it captures the week for me-laid back and happy!

One of the best things to come of song school for me was a one on one I had with an instructor, Bonnie Hayes. Bonnie teaches songwriting at the Berklee College of Music and has for 30 years. I immersed myself in her classes on the Tuesday and then had my private session with her on Wednesday after which I skipped classes and dunked myself in the river, but I digress! And…it felt really good to take care of myself.

I brought Bonnie my song about (but not factually about) my mom called Some Kind Of Poet. Songwriting needs to tell the truth but it doesn’t have to be factual to do that which really comes in handy sometimes. Her feedback fueled me to make some changes that I absolutely love and so does my dad which makes me very happy. (He is feeling a bit better btw and that also makes me very happy!!)

I had wonderfully joyful moments with my two campmates and nearby honorary mates. I had charged batteries all week due to my new solar panels and solar panel rack that my dad and I built. I had late nights in song circles and deep conversations which added to my also skipping chi gong in the mornings. That part is sad but I needed sleep somewhere in there. I had the opportunity to meet new song schoolers that blew me away with their talent. I had some amazing teachers whether they were instructors or fellow students filling my brain with nuggets of songwriting love. I had the experience of fickle weather with days in the mid 90’s to cold and rainy and wondering if my fingers would ever thaw out. I had fantastic tarp mates for the festival that do the “running” for the good spots under “the tree”. I also had the great pleasure of emceeing and introducing 2 performers on the Wildflower stage for the festival. That was a first and gave me the chance to do something new and a little scary but also to gain two new friends in the process.

Probably due to everything else going on I had very little expectations of this, my 6th song school but like every other year before it I came back deeply rejuvenated, inspired and ready to write the next best song I can write.

But before I can get to writing I have two back to back shows to do this very next weekend. One is Saturday in Mountainair at the Sunflower Festival. I will be playing in the wine garden from 1-3 and the next day I am playing again with my friend Colleen Gino for Sunday Sessions (at the Capitol Bar in Socorro) and we have a bass player joining us so that will be extra fun. If you are local-ish I would be overjoyed to see you at either or both as they will be very different shows!

I am still deep in the listening. I think it is a good place to be. Observing what is and deciding how I want to navigate what I find. I have an astrology app on my phone and it just buzzed and told me to go look at the moon. I don’t really want to be ruled by my phone or certain events on the news or what anyone else happens to think of me. But I do want to be aware of what is going on around me and live my life as best I can. It pleases me to have that app. It is a full moon, I looked.

Speaking of full moons, here’s a lyric to peruse. It was the last one I wrote before song school. I will not tell you to go look at the moon but I will say it is pretty amazing from my vantage point.

Happy almost end of summer. This might be longer than a song but it’s my song to sing. Thanks for listening,

under this full moon the lake is  glistening

i will see her soon, she's been missing me

oh that silly tune she was whistling

in the late afternoon when she couldn't see

I was deep in the listening

deep, deep in the listening 

I can hear the petals opening

the cactus flower knowingly

awaits the morning rain

can't wait to hear her song in part petitioning

i've loved her all along, i'm not auditioning

she had me at belong forget conditioning

i know she was not wrong, i just couldn't see

she was deep in the listening

deep, deep in the listening 

she can hear the petals opening

the cactus flower knowingly 

awaits the morning rain

i want to fly with this songbird

make memories not regrets

I want to hang on her every word

drown in the deepest of her depths

deep, deep in the listening 

we can hear the petals opening

the cactus flower knowingly 

she tastes the morning rain

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