Who's Left?

Celebrating Jerry Lee Lewis' birthday is always a touch ironic for all of us who grew up worshiping at the keyboard altar of the Killer. Lunatic, madman, whatever you choose to call him, nobody denies that he's the real deal. But after all the decades of scandal involving dope and divorce, child brides, liquor, fights, feuds and rock'n'roll he's still with us. Wasn't he voted most likely to die young right after we lost Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper?

Yeah, Chuck Berry has a new record coming out. We don't hear much from Fats or Little Richard but they're still walking the planet.

My sense of loss sometimes overwhelms me when I start to think about my idols who have gone on. Some of them make some sort of sense to me. I thought that John Lennon's quote about Elvis dying when he went into the army was very honest and insightful. When John was killed it was surreal for me. It still is.

I was shaped by my heroes. For better or worse. I've had some good ones.

During The Night

We're all afraid of the dark for some time. When do we begin to feel safe? Depends on lots of things I suppose. Why do we fear the end? Must be because we don't know much about it.

Ambitious types have always taken religions to manipulate the masses through their fears. Jesus and Buddha and all of the good guys have always brought us simple messages of peace and love and charity. Somehow it always becomes fear and war and revenge. You'll have a fine afterlife if you do as we say while you're here.

This is heaven. Here. Now. Is this it? Who knows? Don't let it slip away, though, waiting for the next lap. Love.

Sad: The New Hip Thing?

The late King Of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin, once proclaimed, "You don't know what sad is 'til you listen to George Jones." It was meant as a compliment.

All the great blues guys have always maintained that you sing about your troubles to get rid of them. Me? I've got nothing to be sad about.

I've got my health and all of that stuff that they remind you of when you whine. I've got the best dog in the world. Well, she's not really very good by most standards but I love her like crazy. I do what I want. People are good to me. I live where I'll never starve or freeze.

Don't ever get good at sad. That's my advice today.

Learn It From The Animals

All you ever need to know about people you can learn from the dogs and cats in your lives. They're all about love. Except when they're afraid. If you don't have a pet at home rescue a stray today. It's a small step but if we're gonna save the world we have to take lots of small steps.

This doesn't have anything to do with saving the world. It's just a song that I had forgotten about. I hope you like it.

What Is It That I Do?

Seems vainglorius to quote myself but "My teachers never called me a poet and I never can get this guitar quite in tune."

I'm not much of a singer. Reviews often mention the fact that I talk as much as I sing. I don't hop to my feet to defend myself. My writer friends have always known that I'm no writer. Never claimed to be.

It fell upon me some time back to break the news to my wonderful friend, Rebekah Pulley, that she was, indeed, Rebekah Pulley. That's who she is. That's what she does. If you're called, you answer. You go. I never made much money. I never will. I hope she does. She can sing. She can play. She's a writer.

Doesn't matter, though. It's a blessing and a curse. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I would love to tell you that I do this for you. That's not true. I would be content to think that I do it for me. That's not true, either. I do it because I have to. I always have. I always will.

War And Truth

Aren't all wars built on lies? They disrespected us. They took our land. God is on our side. We have to slaughter them now over there before they come over here.

I've got news for the liars. God doesn't like war. The next time that "shock and awe" breaks out I hope that we all gather in loud bunches and chant,"Peace, peace, peace."

Not Guilty

Seems like I must be pure Freudian at heart. I suppose that I was fortunate enough to get through all developmental stages with my sexuality intact. I would be lying to you, however, if I told you that sex was not on my mind most of the time. I have a healthy interest in the well being of others and I've never felt stuck in any phase of growing up.

The best part for me is that I don't feel guilty about my sexual fixation. Heck, I don't even feel guilty about not feeling guilty.

All of you who know me are aware that all of this sex is just in my mind. It's not that I want it this way. It's just that I don't seem to run into other folks who share my interests. I don't like the idea of casual sex without affection and I disapprove of folks using others for any reason.

That has left me a lonely dreamer with a wild imagination more often than not. Oh, well.