Blue Love

I have been asked many times about what prompted many of the songs on 'What's on my Mind'. Here is another essay....

BLUE LOVE

Lately, I have been involved with several conversations, mostly with creative women, about the goal of having a RELATIONSHIP. Yes, many of us wonder about the societal expectation that a woman must have a partner, or they can not be a complete, whole, woman. And... many of us also are thinking.... no, we do not.

I live alone. I choose to. I have lived with others, but it never fails that I am required to give up my own interests because of my partner. People so much want to be together with a partner to share life, and in my experience, ‘together’ has frequently meant leaving mySELF behind. I have been told more than once that I love music more than the person I was ‘committed’ to, and that was even before I became a musician!

The end product of music is shared with people, including your life partner, when you are ready to share it out. But there is also a lot of time alone in the woodshed before that, learning how to use your instruments. A lot of people can’t seem to handle the facts:  a musician needs to practice (that same song, endlessly), spend time away (gigging for example), write (Don’t interrupt!) and spend long hours with other people to rehearse (no, that doesn't mean I am in love with one of them). Sometimes, I am sure it feels like being a second fiddle (pun intended). It requires a lot of trust. And finally, I have to admit, musicians overall don’t have a great reputation for fidelity.

BUT- even when we are, love can turn blue.

Musing from Screendale

There have been several weekends this summer that Rick and I have had several shows. You know, like leave this one to get to the next one, then home asap because you gotta get up and get to another in the morning... and so on. I think we thrive on it. It feels better than it ought!!! LOL

So this weekend, it happened again...

We started Thursday night at a retirement village. Yeah, most of our songs are well-known sing-along type songs there... and then, some folks just nap... and most just listen and rock or tap and then clap when the song ends. They are so appreciative, and I am finding more and more- THAT is why I like to do this. Giving people a good time that they appreciate. Yes.

On Friday, I had to spend a few hours at the place that pays the bills... and then off to a really WONDERFUL tavern, 20 Main, in Au Sable Forks, NY, up in the Adirondack Mtns. We were asked to do a 'Neil Young Tribute'. For many years, Neil Young fans, or Rusties, would gather on a piece of land and play NY music all weekend. We always played at the bar 20 Main on Friday night. Many of the people who were regulars for that weekend are now gone, but many remain... just not enough to make *it* happen. So, we scaled it down and made it a NY Tribute, although we mixed in some originals as well as the usual Rick and Marilyn covers.

What a GREAT time!!! Talk about APPRECIATION!!! A bar crowd that actually LISTENS!!!! LOL!!! What fun! We played well past our advertised stop time, just for the sheer fun we were having. Rick absolutely tore it UP channeling Neil Young, and we kept finding ways to say it again, a little differently... and it ROCKED!

It was a highlight of the summer! A great summer of music, by the way. Rick and Marilyn at all the local Farmers Markets, the Valatie Theater, The Down County Social Club, The Wine and Cheese Festival...

But... there is more! Saturday morning I had to race down home to get ready for the Hillsdale Arts walk, and a gig with my other wonderful partner, Betsi Krisniski! I got there in time to relax, take in some art offerings and food, and make more music! Even the brief storm did not stop us. I simply LOVE singing with Betsi.

And... people came over Saturday night. Betsi and Rick and Mike and more... and YES, more music happened. There were sounds that were SO GOOD, my porch (Screendale) is still vibrating with them.

I am such a lucky woman!