Posted by Lauriemac on Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I up and sold the Blue Heron Café in July of 2006. It was a place of nourishment & nurturing for 13 years, for 10 of those, a place to support weekly Live Acoustic Music and a place created of, by and for community.
A very deliberate change on my part, not because I was tired or fed up with the restaurant biz, although it was very long hours and wearing a bit on me physically, quite the contrary… I was extremely grateful and humbled by the 13 year success, so riding the crest of the wave I decided it was time to explore other opportunities I was feeling passionate about. I also knew that 50 was soon around the corner and I did promise myself that by then I would engage in more self delights!
So after my restaurant retirement, I took a three week sojourn to the Pacific North West. I flew to Seattle then took the AmTrak around for the next 3 weeks visiting & reconnecting with dear, old friends and taking time to reacquaint myself, with, myself. A few of those friends were music makers themselves from the ‘old days’ in
This trip was pivotal in starting the next ‘book’ of my life. I’ve done so many different things that at this turn I felt as though my life wasn’t merely chapters in one book, I felt my life was more like a trilogy. So 2006 was beginning the second book of my trilogy.
w0w… I thought the first book has been pretty darn cool, yet the second must be building momentum from the first!
So, on my sojourn I set some goals for myself (after all, my next career? a professional & personal life coach). 1. grow my Coaching practice, Positive Focus Skills, LLC…2. dedicate to my spiritual practice 3. buy property and build a home (timberframe/strawbale…as i am/was a timber framer in a previous incarnation)…4. run for re-election to serve four more years for the Commonwealth (then I figure that 8 years of service covers me)… and 5. learn a stringed instrument. Out of all of these… numero 5 was THE most intimidating. Yet I knew that I wasn’t going to do these all overnight, so I just let number 5 take a back burner approach (still connected to the kitchen i guess). simmer for a while. Periodically I would stir the pot, fantasize and try on an instrument (in my dreams)…guitar…naaa….my eldest is a rock n roll star. i signed the ‘no compete’ clause….Have always had an affinity for upright bass, yet never wanted to lug it around….fiddle. did pick one up. once. sooo that kinda left mandolin, too many strings REALLY close together, or … Banjo. ahhh. the ole banjo. the more I fantasized the more it started workin’ on me… the more I thought, hmmm.
Then life took hold and my (new) career started to shift, I won the election, my spiritual practice totally kicked in and I bought a little 4 acre plot with a creek and fresh water spring…WoW.
Choosing passionate opportunities to focus on serves me well.
So tooling right along, not feeling any lack of motivation or idle time…the learning an instrument idea was still there, yet not a focus. Yet.
until….
(installment #3) TBC…yet again.
7 comments on “First & Lasting Impressions; How I became a Banjo player...(installment #3)”
clio Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @5:05:07 AM
Hot dang, ya'll, I'll swear!
Lauriemac Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @7:56:55 AM
Is that because I haven't YET, told you about my banjo playin'? or
Your enjoying the Suspense!!? at any rate, thanks for following and your support. I'm a true beginner.
Would you be 'my friend'? I only have one so far on BHO... I'm not sure how to 'acquire' a few...
Haven't gotten to the perusing around the site much to figure out all the in's & out's and figuring out how to find folks I know on here. All in g00d time, I'm sure.
ciao for now.
~laurie
peghead59 Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @9:33:38 AM
Wow! I'm glad I'm not the only one trying to start a new life. When's the next installment?
clio Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @9:42:18 AM
I was quoting Hubert Davis, banjoist who would play a verse, then say: "Hot Dang,.;...." At end of last verse, he said: "Dang all you squares I'm hot." Very funny, in person.
clio Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @9:44:50 AM
To find BHO players in your area, go to member homepages and at left see column labeled Advanced Search. Type in the name of your town or nearby towns then hit the search and it will list every BHO member in that town. Easy way to meet local players and to learn where they jam and where the festivals are located.
clio Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @9:47:59 AM
At upper left of screen, click on COMMUNITY then click on Member Homepages
Lauriemac Says:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @9:55:52 AM
thanks for the tips!
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