It’s a dreary day today, it matches my dreary mood; that may or may not be a coincidence. My best guess is that it’s a contributing but not deciding factor. That’s the way these things usually work. I could write about the things I’m beating myself up over, topped at the moment by not working on this election even though I know it’s tremendously important and I have all the time in the world. I could write about being down as I have not spent one-on-one time with a friend in two months. I could write about feeling baffled trying to figure out how people vote or don’t vote. The last is the only one that that does not lead to me feeling drearier so I’ll go there. Or I won’t. thinking about it made me dreary. Maybe a raven will come rapping on my chamber door and inspire me. Nope, not even a crow. Where are the omens and portends when you need them?
I do have two of my great emotional battery rechargers coming up this month, On Thursday I leave for NERFA, the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference. Then two Thursdays after that I’m going to Van Merc Hill for Thanksgiving. Those are both wonderful and it totally different ways. Just thinking about them is making the clouds part. I could write about the election, it’s vitally important, but I’d be preaching to the choir. I’m going to make myself feel good and write about NERFA.
For four days I’ll be immersed in the folk music world. I’ll enter the hotel in Stamford Thursday morning and not emerge till Sunday evening. It’s important enough that I’m taking my suitcase when I get an CT scan Thursday morning and leaving straight from there.
For four days I’ll be surrounded by musicians and people that love music. I won’t love all the music. I won’t even like most of the music. It’s like mining for gems, mostly there’s just rocks, but then you spot that hint of glitter and are rewarded. Sometimes the jewel is a music, sometimes the jewel is a person I connect with. Sometimes it’s both. I have discovered so many musicians that are important to me there, the ones I rave over. I’ll name some off the top of my head.
- Harpeth Rising
- Jean Rohe
- Bobtown
- Barnaby Bright
- The Young Novelists
- Mari Black
- Amy Kucharik
- Ryanhood
- The End of America
- Silver City Bound
- Burning Bridget Cleary
There are people that I’ll run into, have one great conversation with, and never see again. I will find at least one act that will become a long-time favorite. I’ll make new friends. I’ll bond with old friends. I’ll have material to write about for days.
I won’t let it bother me that this is very short. It served its purpose. I feel better now. The whisperings of Jurgen’s shadow are there but less insistent. Now to eat. Tonight I’m going to my first Knick game of the year. I can write about basketball tomorrow. Life is not as dreary as the weather and I’m better than I feel about myself now. At least I know it intellectually.
Wise Madness 