Why No Lights for Christmas?

I don't need them! You see my dear neighbors have enough for everybody. We don't need heat either! The lights take care of that too! If you ever need to see the latest in Christmas lights, just come on down the cul de sac. It is sad to see the Boyz running in the yard at night with no direction due to the temporary blindness. I guess we will get use to the lost sea turtles too. As for the caribou which have made their way here, we will have to see about their status. I am serious if you have ever seen Christmas Vacation, you have seen my neighbors. Bless their little hearts as I get a sunburn going outside tonight.

An Artful Mind

As I sit on the couch with my three (yes three) dachshunds, I look out the back window to see a beautiful picture of nature. It is a calm day and I really should be fishing but today chose to just stay home because it is so rare for me. I see the amazing colors of my (Yes, I said mine. They are on my property and where my people originate it is important and an honor to own property.) trees in the back yard. I see yellow and crimson and even some purples. Every once in a while a tiny, little wisp of a breeze allows a few leaves to float down to the ground where they join their friends. The grass is no longer green but is also fading to other shades of color. It is all a very artful view.

What allows me to see this? I am not sure but I am sure some would enjoy joining me as I sit quietly and take it all in. But I am also sure some would interpret it all as a waste of time. One time I came home from a race (NASCAR!) with the camera I had been given by Cindy and she downloaded the pictures (because I still don't know how) and she pointed out one picture of a small, yellow flower (I think it was a daisy) and she asked where I found that. I actually found it growing in a crack the concrete right next to the helicopter landing pad. Why did I take its picture? Not really sure but probably because I admired its will to be beautiful in a less than ideal situation. It succeeded. You see an artful mind can see and realize the small pieces of beauty all around. I am sure thousands of people walked over that flower that same day but maybe only a few noticed it and maybe only one of the 180,000 in attendance took its picture.

Back to the question above...what allows me to see these things? It is because throughout my life others have pointed out similar things. They made me stop and see things I might have otherwise walked past. I still meet these kind of people along the way. Sometimes they don't even know it but I do.

My wish for you as you read this is that in this time of Thanksgiving is simple. I wish you might slow down a bit and see the art around you. It is always there sometimes you just need to slow down and listen to it.

Postlude

"at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

All Will Be Known In a Short Time

In 36 hours the 2010 competitive marching season will be over. I must say this one has taken much out of me but also taught and given me much too. Here a few items of each:

What it has taken - 1. Perhaps a bit of my optimism about changing things. I knew some would not "get" the marching band show but I did not know to what extent individuals would flex their pull over this fact by scoring the band low. In reality, a judge should judge the product put in front of them as far as execution and show construction. They don't have to agree with it but as far as execution they should judge the facts not the opinions. 2. That people will appreciate what I offer as a band director even if they don't understand at first. This season has shown me that you just can't change somethings with out people wanting to understand. 3. I have also learned that the obstacles to music education and band in public schools are becoming more numerous and more difficult to over come.

What I have learned - 1. I have learned that there are people who understand and I should work to take their opinions and suggestions as true. They are the people which really matter. 2. I have learned that when you push the boundaries of the norm you should expect resistance but I also learned you get the truest rewards from doing just that. 3. I have learned that there are somethings in which you don't need to be extrinsically rewarded to know you have pursued the correct course of action.

I truly believe the band has grown this year and the skills learned in the show will make them better musicians and will help them in future.

So in conclusion, things may go very well tomorrow because we will certainly go for the win! There will be no "let's just make finals" attitude with me, but I also know that when you dare to be different and try new things, sometimes you get SPLATTED!

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."