Happy 100th anniversary to the Boy Scouts!
A little personal reflection here. I was a reluctant Boy Scout, nearly 40(!) years ago. Some time back, I took one of those personality profile exams that explains everything (related to this): every preferred activity I selected was indoors. Not that I don't enjoy nature. It's just usually through a window. Despite this, my (career military) dad was forceful in his presentation of "finishing what I started". I suppose I might win the poll for "most unlikely to have earned the rank of Eagle Scout". To go even further out into left field, I made it at age 13 (2 years into "official" scouting, after 3 years in Cub Scouts and Webelos). I suppose it proves that I am capable of putting my mind to something, and getting it done. Of all the things scouting taught me, that's probably the biggest take-away.

One thing that I haven’t done (to any real extent) for many years, is work the “steady” gig. Not that I’ve been (necessarily) opposed to it, but that my attention has been focused in other places. I made an exception to my own “rule” last year, when I initiated the discussion with Ron Mitchell at the Inn at 202 Dover (which eventually led to the Sunday Jazz Brunch). Then, John Ewart (pictured above, along with Mike McShane) put together a regular Saturday at Beseme, in Lewes, DE for the “Shore Jazz Trio“. Shortly thereafter, John landed a regular Friday at Rupert’s, In St Michaels (Mike usually books/manages the gigs, so this has been a fun, “left field” kind of thing). If you’re local to the area, check it all out! Looking forward to some good energy at Ruperts this evening!

Have not done a good job of detailing all that's been going on. Will try, in the coming days, to play catch-up. Several continuing steadies, the Lessons program back on line, and many new opportunities. A most recent development is my retention by American Cruise Lines as a featured entertainer, now that the series of Chestertown stops have run their course. These concerts/shows have gone very well, and what I do (as an improvisational soloist) seems to be right "in the pocket" for this environment. Got to take Carol on board with me on the 4th of July (with a "technical difficulty" necessitating driving to Harve de Grace, MD), where we watched the fireworks from the top deck after my show (with the best view in town). Took Robbie for my last Chestertown show this past Sunday (the ride to the "American Spirit" pictured here), and we had a great time. Now, as the route (for the ship) changes, I'll be meeting her in Cambridge (MD) when she comes through (starting in a couple of weeks). Looking forward to spreading more "Spontaneous Joy". Thanks to Lucia Foster, the Prince Theatre, Nancy McGuire, and the Downtown Chestertown Association. We (and many others) worked together to create a first class experience for our guests (the great majority of which were experiencing Chestertown for the first time). Yay!  

Took this picture a few days ago, of the cornfield just up from my house. After a ridiculous amount of water over the winter (record snowfall), it had been seriously dry around here for a good while. Hadn’t mowed my lawn in weeks. That small convenience to me, however, represents a nightmare for many farmers, and others. Day before last, we got a brief, but substantive period of thunderstorms. Yesterday, the skies opened up, and we got some real rain, that we really need. Brings to mind the Biblical proverb I often think about: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life”. Going through my old (personal) journal entries today, and found this, from my pastor (Sara):

“Jesus is endlessly trying to free us from what doesn’t matter. To trust in God is to be willing to hang out with mystery. Whatever tomorrow brings, will always bring God with it.”. I have always believed that God “goes with me“. I also have carried a strong lack of confidence in my ability to (thoroughly) handle the matters of business and administration before me (even as I am confident in the effectiveness/validity/worthiness of the “product/service” I deliver). It’s been a long road (struggle), this “career/calling”. In the end (though, perhaps not at a particular given moment) my confidence in God (to succeed) exceeds my self-confidence (that failure is inevitable). This field represents my view of this, in that, with all the withered brown, some vital green remains. I’ve had, my entire professional career, this unusual (to “normal people”) ability to see the positive/possibility, over the obvious (to “normal people”) overwhelming problems/issues (often referred to as my “rose-colored glasses“). This field does not represent my view, however, in this (though I’m not a farmer, so I don‘t know for sure): I'm not confident for the green to overcome the brown, no matter how much rain we get now. The field is probably lost. For myself (and all who remain in hope), I believe in redemption. I can remain, and grow with the green. As times become even more uncertain, I can be genuinely optimistic about the future. So much has been going on, in my world (that I have been less than diligent in journaling here), and it remains, a wonder-ful ride.