From where do the words come?

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I looked between the lines in the book trying to see the meaning behind the words.

When I was in school, I was taught there was always a deeper meaning beneath the lines.

The construction of the sentences and their order held a greater importance than simply what I read.

That is one of the reasons we went through English and World Literature, wasn’t it?

Ever since I started writing many years ago, I have always tried to draw on those inspirations to find a unique turn of phrase. I tried time and time again to aggrandize with alliteration, to ease a reader into an unexpected message buried like a golden nugget glistening from beneath a light covering of soil along the creek bank just waiting to be picked up.

Beginning with pen, then the typewriter keys, and now the computer keyboard, the letters flow from my fingertips trying to inspire, amuse, engage, challenge, and reflect.

I look to those who brought me to want to write: Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, William Faulkner, and William Shakespeare and so many others.

They told stories of their times in a way that still resonates with readers as their characters jump off the page giving them a life. Those characters could almost pull up a chair and sit down next to you.

I have always wanted to write so the characters or real-life subjects seem touchable and real.

Articles, screenplays, books and columns have led me down an amazing path that allows me to search deeper within my soul while looking at the human experience and trying to find more than the words.

As I work on one book and soon begin two others, I wonder sometimes where I will find what is needed.

Within your soul, can you find words that are more?

Can you create a story that makes people laugh with ease?

Are you inspired by those you have met within your world?

Have you ever tried picking up a pen, or sitting down and putting your thoughts into words.

Who knows maybe you could be the next writer whose words span the ages.

Give it a try. Build upon the stories and things you know. Who knows, maybe you will be the next great writer.

Walking into our memories

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Our lives intertwine with friends and family. We choose the friends, sometimes by geographical vicinity, sometimes by group participation, and sometimes by career.

Sometimes having friends is by trial and error. Relationships can offer an uplifting experience or sometimes make a toxic mix within our lives. Thus the trial and error.

Family relationships add the same opportunities for a great lifetime experience or a mixture of misery over time.

There is an old saying “You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.”

One of the greatest commonalities we share with family though is we often love and share in the lives of people who have invested or simply been present in our lives. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, parents or other relatives who in some way made a positive impact.

Once those folks are called to their heavenly home, our family members are usually the only ones with which we can generally share memories of those gone loved ones.

Although memories of many of my loved ones run through my thoughts and dreams, seldom may I sit down and recall a specific time, place or memory with someone unless its a family member.

I recently was able to do that and it was such an uplifting experience to smile or laugh over those missed. To share in the places, people and experiences who shaped our lives, for me it left me life in a better place. I know however there are those out there for whom such would carry them in the opposite direction. The key to a successful and happy life beyond sustaining a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, is to building a life without toxic relationships.

Allow people into your life whether friend or family based on whether their presence adds to your existence. I don’t mean financially, I mean emotionally. There are a lot of folks who bring a lot of excess baggage along with them.

Now, choosing this path does not mean you will not find loneliness in your existence. Many times we give up on some of the fun, to avoid being in the midst of some misery.

We choose what makes up our lives. If you want a happier life, gravitate towards positive people who add to your days. If you want happier memories to walk within, share them with those who can make them bring a smile.

Bluegrass is in the air

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I pulled into the gates of the festival grounds and before I pulled even a few feet beyond the entrance, I could hear the musical notes flowing on the wind from the distance of the trees.

I could see people carrying their guitars, banjos and other instruments along the dirt road as I slowly made my way through the parking field and into the campground.

I passed jam session after jam session in the campground, “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” emanated from one, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” from another. Folks smiled and waved as I went by, as I neared the artist parking area. Those greetings made me feel right at home.

For years, this experience is one which I looked forward to almost every weekend once Spring arrived and throughout the year until the fall.

Bluegrass Festivals became a way of life and the people who attended week after week became extended family as we shared laughs, meals, talks, jam sessions and shows.

I once compared the experience like visiting Mayberry – we had our Aunt Beas, our Opies, Andys, Barneys, Gomers and Goobers.
I grew up performing at these types of events across the United States. It didn’t matter where we came from, what we believed, we were all part of the bluegrass family. We either played it or loved to listen to it and as long as we treated each other with respect, helped one another when needed, we were welcomed with smiles and usually an offer of hospitality where ever we went.

It was in this environment that I learned so much about music around campfires, listening and playing with pickers who just loved to play and occasionally the professionals who joined in the fun. As my stage opportunities grew and I performed at more and more events, I learned so much about performing and entertaining audiences. Those lessons only come by standing in front of an audience and learning what makes them smile, applaud, laugh or move to any variety of emotions.

This time of year always gets my feet to itching wanting to return to these type of environs. While these types of events are fewer and farther between than in my youth, they are still scattered across the United States. There are dozens of talented bluegrass artists entertaining audiences traveling across the country which fill the stages at these events.

If you have never attended a bluegrass festival, I encourage you to go outside your comfort zone and take one in. One you might try is the 51st Dr. Ralph Stanley Hills of Home Festival in McClure, Va. https://drralphstanleyfestival.com/ or check out https://ibma.org/ for other bluegrass info.

Bring your lawn chairs, pay your admission and a little money to buy something to eat from the concession stand, and enjoy the music. If you play, bring your instrument and find a jam session. Be friendly while there and you may just make some new friends. Bluegrass blessings!

Those darn socks

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I turned on the television and found a movie of interest. I set a stack of holey socks beside me along with my sewing kit.

I turned the sock inside out. I slipped the light bulb up inside and positioned it near the heel.

I threaded the white thread into the needle and tied a triple knot at its end. I then pushed the needle into the edge of the hole in the sock, and pulled it through. Unfortunately, it pulled straight through, so I added a couple of more knots at the end of the thread.

I pushed it through again and this time it held, so I repeated the process of stitching the hole shut.

The stack of socks with a mixture of holes in the heel or toe is about 25 deep, so the process continues as I pushed on with the task.

As I grew tired of the routine, I varied by changing the thread and sewing up holes in my boxer shots.

When I finish the process on the shorts and socks, I will gain several months of additional wear out of these items until they once again need some sewing to any new holes that develop.

Buying a bit of thread is a lot more economical than purchasing a new packet of socks or boxers.

While enjoying a movie, I am refilling my underwear drawer with useful items rather than throwing these into the dust rag storage bag. They may be there eventually but not while there is still wear in them.

While many of my jeans are now extremely stylish with well worn holes. Some are in places where I feel they should not be, so I recently picked up some jeans at the thrift store which will become patches for the inside of my jeans to fill those less that appropriate holes.

I am blessed that my folks taught me that anything you may do to lengthen the use of any item, is a productive use of your time. Fixing appliances rather than going and buying a new one. In most cases today though, you can’t buy parts, so you are stuck with filling the landfill.

In many ways life is filled with items that are ragged, worn, or seemingly on its last legs.

I often feel this way about my own physical or mental condition. Life can be a daunting experience that leaves us feeling like we could use a bit of stitching ourselves, maybe some stuffing here and there could be shifted or added to make us feel better. Alas, that is not possible for us to make such improvements ourselves. We can however work on our minds and bodies in a more long-term fashion.

A regular exercise routine can improve strength and energy. Study through reading, attending study groups or classes may encourage your mental health allowing you to uplift your outlook. Perhaps its you soul that could use a bit of polish. Pick up the Bible or a variety of biblical devotionals which you may find that will touch your daily outlook upon yourselves and others.

When you sit down and watch television each evening, think about things you might do that will allow you to improve your situation, so when you get up from watching it, you have made progress on something while you have also been entertained.

Using your time wisely and in a way that improves your life will change your world in a positive manner. Maybe starting by sewing up your socks will be a good start.