Musicality

I read a meme about why we mourn when musical stars die. I can't remember how it went, but here is my take on it.

Essentially, they are there at the big moments of your life. Their lyrics speak to you in pivotal moments that you have growing up and beyond (when you think you are an adult).

First love? There's a song/band for that. First heartbreak? Again you can pin a song to it. Epic parties...again there's music.

I can't speak for all, but there's s definite soundtrack to my life. Songs that can bring a memory, a smell and even my clothes to mind.

Iko Iko - singing with Nhandi. Loudly and badly. Laughing at the playback of the recording so hard that we nearly puked.

Our House by Madness - my dad, mom and I doing the Cameron Drift tour.

Brother by Matt Corby - driving and crying when Peter passed away.

Counting Crows - Omaha for TB. Mr Jones for loud road trips with CG.

Tropical London - my ability to get lyrics so wrong and the road to Southend.

Down with the sickness - download festival 2016.

And that's just a small sample.

I used to fall asleep to a favourite mixed 'tape'.

I've always had music so it's no surprise I get sad when a musician is no longer. They've been part of the history of me.

Adapting

Growing up in SA, so many years ago, we didn't get to see international bands all that much. Won tickets to modern talking at age 13. 😉 Saw a few others in my teens.

So I have taken and made sure my son has had the chance to go to many gigs/shows/arenas. His first arena was 30 seconds to mars at age 11.

I've encouraged him to see as much live music as possible. We've done festivals etc etc. He goes off on his own now and my greatest fear is that he breaks a bone in a mosh pit (or misses his train home). You don't send your kids off to a gig and worry some ass is going to try and blow your babies up. You just don't. We shouldn't have to.

And I know people say, 'oh this is the world we live in now'. And I have no response to that, other than to ask what can we do to change that.

And I'm not saying I'll stop him from going or not go myself. That's not the way we live.

 I guess we educate ourselves and those around us more. Since the Eagles of Dearh Metal attack, I've gone to gigs and worked out escape routes. I go on public transport and I work out escape routes. Adapting to the threat of a terrorist attack being always a threat.

I suppose that might be the answer. You don't just roll over and say that's how life is now and therefore I'm never going to go out to a public event. You adapt to the threats around you and like a giraffe at a watering hole, you keep an eye out for the lions. But you still enjoy your water.

Hello Grit

So we are in a period of change. Now it's easy to get overwhelmed and bogged down in the minutiae of it all. But we make plans and we know the potential pitfalls, the possible perks and for the most part, we soar with all of it.

And this is it, we have such a great chance here to live. Just need to get into the routine of new living. It's easy to say "oh once x, y and z are done....then I'll do a, b and c". But it works better when you don't make hurdles where there are none. Let's do it all now.

And we are. Patient and skilled. We have grit. We have stuff and skips.

I do have a plan....it's to get out of the lives of small minded people. As simple as that. And there are things in place to get there.

I have goals for 2017. Eat Brazilian. Not a coy reference or innuendo. I mean it in a literal sense. I want to go to the Brazilian restaurant. I have other goals....but they are for walks and mind. Not public blogs.