Shinybass Journal Entry November 2, 2021

Making sense of it all…

Hello again from the middle of the country! It’s a near-perfect fall day here in Nebraska: 45 degrees and raining. I know in like 30 minutes it will turn to snow. I can’t complain. I am one of the few fools who like all the seasons, all the weather. I’m not saying I am immune to the cold or heat, because I am a fragile flower. I do, however, appreciate all the things that being outside and in certain elements can bring.

When I first open my laptop to write, I scan the desktop (which resembles the $5 movie bin at Wal-Mart and I navigate it the same I KNOW IT’S IN THERE!!!) for anything that strikes me, or unfinished business. I tend to start an essay then get called away, so sometimes I like to revisit these – sometimes years later – and other times they are best left to the round file. But if you are a creative and have a smidge of an idea, write it down. Even if it doesn’t fit that moment, it may be just telling you it needs to breathe and grow a little and need your attention later.

So I opened an old entry about the importance of getting outside. Ironically when I wrote that one I was in Nebraska as well. It was also in the middle of summer, pre-COVID, and we were in the middle of a long west coast run. I STILL think it’s important to get outside, see what we can see, and to embrace our surroundings, possibly more now than ever. How much of this life do we take for granted? A LOT of it.

As we are back on the road, albeit not on the scale as years prior, I have a confession to make. Not every day is a Somebody Feed Phil (no artist pun intended) episode. My excitement for wanderlust ebbs and flows, and some days I just do casual walks, not the full history tour. And you know, I need a break some days too. As I say those words I did manage to explore Jefferson City Missouri and be the bear that came over the mountain. (To see what I could see…)

My first jump off the bus with the obligatory cup of coffee was early. As I walked around and made phone calls, a local cat decided to claim me for about 20 minutes of heavy purring and playful batting. Studies have shown that petting animals can bring calm, and this boy was as calming as they come. Why do I mention a cat? Because it was a simple, free exchange that brought joy. One of the many benefits of taking a look around and appreciating…

After walking the streets for a little while, I headed back to the bus and mapped out a plan. I had one hour before we rolled to the venue, so off I went. I saw the Governor’s Mansion, the Capitol, and the Missouri State Museum. Did you know there are tarantulas in the Ozarks? I also read of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that floated right by what was eventually Jefferson City.

I found a great mix of art, history, artifacts, and trivia facts for my next family gathering. I also walked by some amazing older buildings, and found fall in fullfoliage fallness. Like I said before, I love all the seasons, and each has its own vibe. Fall is fun. Plus pie. LOTS OF PIE.

After we loaded in the venue, I went back out for round II in The Jeff, and saw some of the older neighborhoods, the former State Pen, and visited the city cemetery. It was there I met Nancy, who was a full volume of knowledge about the city, the history of the cemetery, and had lots of stories of notables who lived, died, and were buried there. This is the knowledge I seek when I get on my bike. I want to hear the lore from the locals, the people with pride for their towns. I left a smarter man that afternoon. Well, I know more. The ‘smarter’ part is questionable.

And that brings me to another more somber point – death. So we walk the cold, lifeless stones of a cemetery and read old dates and names. Each one is a person, who at one time (hopefully) laughed, loved, and enjoyed and cherished the things around them. Life is precious. Meant to be experienced with full awareness of how amazing this world really is (and NOT EXPERIENCED ON A SCREEN). One day we’ll be pushing up daisies, and I want to make sure all the days are full. Again, trying to make sense of it all.

The next day we woke up in McCook Nebraska. Now, I am not a farm boy. I own heavy boots, but Lord knows they are only for the occasional Tennessee snowfall. One thing I know about people that work the land: they love their trucks and trailers.

Our venue was a rodeo arena, which is fine, and we had to walk over manure to get to the stage, which is fine, and the dust from the show eliminated any need for smoke machines or hazers, which was fine. Did I mention it was fine? It really is. I had a great time, the fans had a great time, and I really love making music.

With the storms doing what they are doing, there will be no outside time, so today I am a total hypocrite and typing on my screen, will be watching a movie on my screen. BUT I will practice guitar today (new instrumental music coming…) and find some happy spaces. Back to my original sentiment – when all else doesn’t make sense, a few moments with my guitar makes the world a much happier place. I sincerely hope you find your place as well.

This week I’ll offer you a challenge: Find something small and free that brings you joy. It could be a flower, a bug, a sunset. Just take a moment for yourself sometime to recharge. You have earned it.

This week I’ll be back in the video and music production rooms, and I am EXCITED for the upcoming events, and I hope that you are excited about your week ahead as well. Get IT!

And here’s a shot of the studio where I’m doing some relaxing work…PUPPIES!