a coherent collection of random statements regarding God, words and tunes

It was a year ago today....

     Something tells me that I won't be writing a lot of musical entries the next few weeks. (Although if I do, it'll probably have something to do with Adrian Belew. Boy, has that discovery been long overdue.) There probably WILL be regular entries nonetheless, though. Here's a short one (I think.... let's see where it goes...)

     Almost to the hour, I was hopping a plane from Newark to Denver to start a new life out here. It's been a difficult year at times (probably more on that next entry), but it's been a good one. Aside from friends (and arguably bagels -- the rye and salt kind, in particular -- and especially Taylor Ham), I have no interest in returning to Jersey, although we have to do just that next week anyway, for my nephew's wedding -- that should be my last time for a LONG time, though. With any luck, my mother's home will close next week too, after two weeks of delays.... but again, that's probably part of the next entry....

     Put another way: Colorado rocks. Or Rockies, as it were -- there's something about staring down those things that're 10 times the size of what passed for "mountains" in Jersey that pretty much snaps you out of whatever funk y'r in. The 300 days of sunshine (and lack of humidity) doesn't hurt either. Or the two-miles-on-one-backroad (vs. 35-miles-highway) commute. Or the property taxes that are a FIFTH of what we were paying (for a house that's 2 1/2 times the size, and purchased for $20,000 less). Or that people show you all five fingers when they wave to you. And interpret "How's it going?" as an opportunity to engage in conversation. Or.... you get the idea.

    This time last year -- or actually a week prior to that -- I was servicing lawyers. And the phrasing, while metaphorical, isn't an accident. I just got back from an all-staff meeting here, which among other things discussed the 27,000+ teenagers and adults we're sending out to do week-long service projects to help others (3,000 in Louisiana/Mississippi alone); my daughter Jessica's helping on this end to coordinate all those trips, in fact. And there's of course the books I work on, and will finally really begin seeing the fruition of in the next couple weeks (one new "shameless" entry, coming up). Bottom line: It's way better to be working for the good guys.

     Oh, yeah: And got my annual review yesterday. 5.5%. I'm pretty sure that's the most I've ever gotten that didn't have a promotion connected to it.  HOO -- HAH.

     It's also interesting to note that on the shuttle bus from DIA to Loveland, I got talking with a woman who turned out to be an artist (of which there are many around here), who gave me her card and told me when my wife Marion (also an artist) came out here to touch base. A year later, she's looking to set up a gallery, with Marion as one of the artists (and possibly teacher).

     As much as it may pain some for me to say it: God is good.

     And that's enough to say, I guess. What it comes down to is that we're all still in the reinvention business in the Simmons household these days. It's a big learning curve for all of us, but the reinvention goes on and -- despite our share of speed bumps -- goes well.

Posted by: burninglight at 17:33 | link | comments