Little universe

 

"That's going on my blog."

 During a Dad/daughter road trip:  

Me: "Did you hear there's water on the moon?"

Dad: "There's also water on Uranus."

Me: "That's going on my blog."

Tonight we don't give a damn.

Through My Ray Bans

 Yeah, I know a place where kings and paupers

Drink with the dreamers and the cheaters and the longers

And the dealers deal aces from a loaded stack of cards

Now what if I told you a place existed

Where the magic in the air tastes like moonlight on the lips

And no hand in the deck beat a pair of hearts

Everybody's got their arms around

Everybody else's shoulders

Guarding against the world outside

Like an army of Friday night soldiers

The battle wages tomorrow

But tonight you don't give a damn

Wish you could stay the way I see you

Through my Ray Bans

I see a place where a moment in time

Is a kaleidoscope of color on a canvas of white

Where the voices roar at the noise of the poet's whine

Would you believe my story, oh, about what I'm setting

If I told you the tale I'm in the middle of telling

Yes, it's true as the blue in the grass or the green in the sky

Everybody's got their arms around

Everybody else's shoulders

Guarding against the world outside

Like an army of Friday night soldiers

The battle wages tomorrow

But tonight you don't give a damn

Wish you could stay the way I see you

Through my Ray Bans

Everybody's got their arms around

Everybody else's shoulders

Guarding against the world outside

Like an army of Friday night soldiers

The battle wages tomorrow

But tonight we've got a drink in our hand

Wish you could stay the way I see you

Through my Ray Bans

---

Wow. It's nice to know fans aren't the only ones who feel the magic in the air during concerts. 

I could write about this and go on and on and on, but I won't. If you read thishereblog, you'll know that music has healed my heart more than once. Music has healed my heart so much that when I ran into an acquaintance in the grocery store the other day, and when that person asked me my ex's last name, I could not remember it. 

I looked at my acquaintance in the eyes and laughed the biggest laugh I've ever laughed recently. 

Someone I thought I'd spend forever with, and I couldn't even remember his last name years later near the orange juice and milk. My parting thoughts with that friend was something like: "I guess you're not going to get a wedding invitation if I can't remember his name." 

Ha! I doubt that would have happened if it weren't for the 3.4 million Eric Church concerts I've gone to since 2018. 

I wish everyone could experience a moment like that — a magical moment when you realize you dated a loser who wasn't worth remembering. 

I hope everyone experiences that ability to move on after a break up, especially the person whose name I'll never forget. 

It's funny how you remember some and forget some. When I get that figured out, I'll let you know. 

In the meantime, I'm going to go listen to Eric Church. 

---

Everybody's got their arms around

Everybody else's shoulders

Guarding against the world outside

Like an army of Friday night soldiers

---

More than 55,000 Friday night soldiers in Nashville last year. 

Three fortunes

 I went out to eat today and got three fortunes in my fortune cookie. That's right, three fortunes!

They are: 

Listen these next few days to your friends to find the answers you seek. 

A pleasant surprise is in store for you soon. 

You will make many changes before settling satisfactorily. 

:)

Kicks and giggles

 I snuck some Eric Church lyrics into a conversation recently, and I'm really proud of myself. 

The lyrics: Some of it you learn the hard way. 

The song: 

Some of It

Eric Church

Beer don't keep
Love's not cheap
And trucks don't wreck themselves
Mama ain't a shrink
Daddy ain't a bank
And God ain't a wishin' well
Money ain't rich
Everybody sins
And nobody wins in a fight
And sometimes wrong gets right

Some of it you learn the hard way
Some of it you read on a page
Some of it comes from heartbreak
Most of it comes with age
And none of it ever comes easy
A bunch of it you maybe can't use
I know I don't probably know what I think I do
But there's somethin' to
Some of it

Girls like to laugh
Tears don't last
And scared's what praying's for
If it's close, swing the bat
Everybody's gotta past
And love's worth living for
When you dance, hold her close
'Til it breaks, go for broke
Be the first to reach for her hand
No you don't get to do some things again

Some of it you learn the hard way
Some of it you read on a page
Some of it comes from heartbreak
Most of it comes with age
And none of it ever comes easy
A bunch of it you maybe can't use
I know I don't probably know what I think I do
But there's somethin' to
Some of it

When you can't take it slow
'Cause time sure won't
What really makes you a man
Is being true to her 'til your glass runs out of sand

Some of it you learn the hard way
Some of it you read on a page
Some of it comes from heartbreak
Most of it comes with age
And none of it ever comes easy
A bunch of it you maybe can't use
I know I don't probably know what I think I do
But there's somethin' to
Some of it
Some of it

City Pickles or County Pickles

 Can I brag on my little Pickles for a second? We went to Wichita yesterday to volunteer for a couple of different non-profits. She was perfect the entire time.

We went to Petco in between volunteering gigs and picked out a new bed. She greeted people and dogs in the store like she had been doing it her whole life.

My favorite thing about this little monster is that she's versatile. She could be a city Pickles or a country Pickles. She really doesn't care, as long as she's with me.

She turned out to be an excellent dog. The world needs more people and dogs like Pickles in it.

Where were you when the world stopped turning?

I was a junior in high school in 2001. 

We had just moved into a new high school building, and internet and television weren't hooked up yet. I had a doctor's appointment on September 11, 2001, so I stayed home until my appointment later that morning. 

When I turned the news on, I saw the first tower burning. I watched the plane hit the second tower. I went downstairs to tell my Mom, who was teaching preschool at the time. 

When I went back to school later that day, I was one of the only students who saw what happened on tv. 

And that's where I was when the world stopped turning on that September day. 

--- 

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Alan Jackson

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?

Were you in the yard with your wife and children

Or working on some stage in L.A.?

Did you stand there in shock

At the sight of that black smoke

Risin' against that blue sky?

Did you shout out in anger

In fear for your neighbor

Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones

Pray for the ones who don't know?

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble

And sob for the ones left below?

Did you burst out with pride

For the red, white and blue

And the heroes who died

Just doin' what they do?

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer

And look at yourself and what really matters?

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN

But I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us

And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?

Teaching a class full of innocent children

Or driving down some cold interstate?

Did you feel guilty

'Cause you're a survivor

In a crowded room did you feel alone?

Did you call up your mother

And tell her you loved her?

Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened

Close your eyes and not go to sleep?

Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages

Or speak to some stranger on the street?

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow

Go out and buy you a gun?

Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'

And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers

Stand in line and give your own blood?

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family

Thank God you had somebody to love?

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN

But I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us

And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN

But I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us

And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?