2012 and New Horizons

Guess it is obvious I am not a blogger if I don't update more than once a year!! But a new year brings opportunity to think back and think ahead.

Last year was filled with family, friends, church, and music. Our family stays in touch and gets together all in one place as often as possible. I love it when all of us can be together at home with our parents. My parents are both 86 now and we are all thankful that we have them and can enjoy time together. We know it is precious. Twelve of us enjoyed the Christmas holidays together. Hearing the laughter is the best Christmas gift!!

The summer and fall were again filled with music. My newest musical adventure took place in the tiny town of Floyd, Virginia at the 100 year old Floyd Country Store. Last September found my college roomate and me settled in for the weekend. The focus was the Friday Night Jamboree at Floyd Country Store. Every Friday night, the floor is cleared, folding chairs set up in the middle of the store with stage and dance floor front and center! The official time for the music and dancing begins at 7:00 pm, but the night begins much earlier! About 5:30pm every Friday night seats are claimed with every imaginable type of seat cushion, some with embroidered names. If there is a cushion on a seat, it is claimed!! We did not have cushions, so we found some paper, scribbled our names on pieces, taped them down, and the night began!

We strolled the streets and people-watched. We went to the outdoor community farmer's market and checked out handmade clothing, beautiful original art, fresh food, of course perused tie-dyed shirts to commemorate the weekend. You know I love my tie-dye! We went to a wonderful coffee shop that was roasting coffee beans as we entered the store. There were floor to ceiling shelves of new and used books lining all the walls. You know I enjoyed that! Next was a wine tasting of wines from various local vineyards. Then back across the street to Floyd Country Store where we lined up for local barbeque and homemade pimento cheese sandwiches for supper as the band began to warm up. We took our seats for the first set of wonderful old time gospel music. That is the tradition of the jamboree...the first band is always a bluegrass or old time gospel band.

Following that, the next band lets the hammer down with old time dance tunes that have most folks on their feet dancing. From ages 9-90 the dance floor is filled with dancers! There are always two dance bands who play two sets each. In between sets and bands, folks drifted out to walk the street and listen to bands who are jamming outside. Even though the night was chilly, there were musicians who were jamming with a crowd of folks gathered to listen. Southwest Virginia, just like Western North Carolina, and East Tennessee is filled with talented musicians who play the old tunes. Old Time String Band and Bluegrass is alive and well!! The bands and dancing were wonderful!! We went back to the motel with tired feet and achy knees, but what fun!!

Music seems to be the food and drink that feeds me these past couple of years. David and I loved to go to music and appalachian heritage festivals and music gatherings. It is something my family has enjoyed for years. David and I planned so many of our vacations around the mountains and music. Our last vacation was for our 20th Anniversary to Nashville, TN to the Grand Old Opry at The Ryman Auditorium. We had delayed the trip for a few months so that we could go to The Ryman in February, 2006. What fun we had!!! So while music has always been an important time for relaxation and renewal, it is even more important now.

The summer was filled with Saturday nights at Shindig on the Green in Asheville, a week at Old Time-Music and Dance at Swannanoa Gathering near Black Mountain, NC and biweekly jam sessions with my friends in Landrum, SC. A group of women meet twice a month to play old time music together and to give all of us a place to practice and learn new tunes. I met two of these women in 2010 at Swananoa Gathering. They invited me to come play autoharp with them. I was hesitant since I was just begining. But they persisted with their encouragement, and now I look forward to our times together. Their friendship and our shared love for the old tunes is another of life's treasures.

In this photo you see my brother Ben and me. We are picking some Christmas tunes in our parents' living room this past Christmas. That was lots of fun. Ben is an excellent musician, with guitar being his favorite. He has played since he was a child. His encouragement and help mean a lot as I continue my music journey by being a beginner at age 60+.

Now comes the winter and a time of reflection. I listen to the past, and look to the future. Reading, thinking, playing music, visiting with my family and friends all give me fuel for the future.