Growing

Nancy called a few evenings ago.  The community churches were organizing an event to raise money to help the needy.  Many in the area have gone to the churches for help and the churches were calling on the community at large to help them.  Nancy was organizing some of the entertainment.  She asked us to take the 5:00-5:30 spot, which we did, playing our dulcimers.  The fundraiser was successful.  A couple of thousand dollars came in that night, and will be matched by the local Lions club and others.  I heard something like $4,000 was raised.  There is talk about doing it again before the summer is over, because $4,000 won't go far.  

Nancy and Lois played first at 4:00.  Phillip and his father played between 4:30 & 5:00.  We played right after them with a dance group following us, a church choir and a barbershop quartet after the choir.  Our playing was not really a big deal.  We did about 6 or 7 pieces,  we talked to the folks a bit, had a little fun, you know.  What was a big deal was the fact that Nancy, our instructor, was in the audience.  For the first time, she was able to see our level of professionalism (we are still learning, but getting better every time we play).  Phillip is Steven's guitar instructor.  He was also sitting in the audience, which was the first time for him as well.  If we would have known this performance would have been played for both our instructors at the same time, we (especially I) could have got nerved up over it.  Instead, since we just did what we like to do, it went well.  Nancy was so proud, she kept telling everyone who would listen, "They are my students".  Phillip didn't say much.  He's more difficult to read.  Steven has a lesson tomorrow afternoon.  I expect he may get some feedback then, hopefully positive.

We are becoming more in demand this summer.  We have been asked to play almost every Saturday morning at a local farmers market.  We have agreed to as many as possible (feasibly) without over-committing, taking it one or two weeks at a time.  We played for the Civil War re-enactment (a previous post).  We played for the Old Mill Festival a couple of weeks ago.  This was a fundraiser for Huntington's Disease and a historical celebration for Greenfield Mills combined.  We played at Nancy's church a couple of weeks ago (with Nancy).  We played last Friday evening at the Golden Gate Restaurant (we played for our supper, literally!  ). We have been asked to play for Burr Oak Days, another historical celebration later in July.  We enjoy playing for money (who doesn't?), but my kids feel more pressure when there is money involved.  If we're just playing for tips, then we can do what we want, when we want, without worrying about pleasing anyone else.  But we certainly won't turn it down if given the opportunity. 

But what an experience this is turning out to be!  We continue to have more interest in our talent as we play out.  We never used to be comfortable being in front of people, but the more we do it, the more we relax.  We are growing both in skills and in recognition.  Amazing.  We always play old-time favorite church hymns mixed into some of the more folksy stuff.  We use the music as a means of testimony.  If we continue to improve & grow, there's only one reason:  because He has a hand in it. 

Just contemplating  ~  Terri 

Communication

Have you ever stopped to think how very vital this word is to our world?  How it affects our relationships with others?  I'm not talking about communication on a technical level.  In fact, I believe because of our technological developments, our personal communication has taken a hit.  It's too easy to type or talk to a screen, to make yourself into who you want to be instead of who you are.  It's too easy to pretend . . .

I am a communicator.  Even when the kids were little, if there was a conflict, it was my goal to resolve it.  Peacefully if possible, with dialog between the opposing parties.  My kids learned early that if they wanted something from Mom, they would be wise to talk to me with respect, to explain themselves.  I would cave in an honest discussion when tears & tantrums would not move me.  A couple of them would raise their voices in an effort to be "heard".  It just created more chaos -- which did not fly.  We sometimes used a talking stick to stop interruptions and create verbal boundaries (the person holding the stick had the floor).  Today my kids know they can talk to us about anything -- with respect -- and we will listen. 

Language is one of those defining human characteristics that separate us from animals.  There are very few who would argue though, that animals can't communicate.  I am thinking of our German Shepherd who gets a big "grin" on his face when he gets a little attention.  Or our horse Candy, as she watches and waits patiently for you to smack a big bull fly that's bothering her.  She knows we are helping her and she should not kick.  But, even those animals who can learn words cannot communicate on a human level. 

I also believe that language is a gauge in our society.  The "classes" are divided by language.  The first time you hear a person speak, you instinctively place that person in upper, middle or lower class (I have more to share on the classes, but that's another time).  Add to that their personal appearance and other nonverbals and we have formed our first impression -- the one that is difficult to change (and usually reinforced with additional interaction).  We distinguish ourselves by our language, when we are able to use words well (in either written or oral form), we are declaring to others the class to which we belong, the education level we have received, what our priorities are.

So does all this matter?  When a person uses foul language, speaks coursely or rudely, this is saying to the other individual, "what you may think about me doesn't matter".  But, when we refuse to use words to express ourselves with dignity, with courtesy, with respect for the other person, this reflects poorly.  Are they so uneducated and "dumb" that they must use foul language to express themselves?  It goes deeper than "culture" or feeling like there is just no other options for expressing the emotion.  We have a couple of dancing movies, one is Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas, the other is Save the Last Dance with (sorry can't remember).  Anyway, these movies are set in the inner city.  The culture is rough, life is on the edge.  The language is common & course.  Yet when Antonio Banderas plays his part, offering courtesy and dignity in this world, he stands head and shoulders above everyone else without really saying anything at all.  As a culture, our language is sliding downhill.  It's a measurement of courtesy.  Courtesy is a part of character.  Without character, we have stepped back into the dark ages.

As the saying goes:  "Tis better to remain silent and be thought an idiot than to speak and remove all doubt."  Yeah, little bit of truth in that one, especially if the words are foul.

Friends  ~  Terri

Feelin' Uneasy

Have you noticed that people seem to be uneasy?  It's more than just the "economy".  It's a restlessness that goes deeper than keeping a job.

Here, jobs are scarce, of course.  Since my husband's job is not based on housing or automotive manufacturing, he is gainfully employed (not so for my brother or many others, though).  The milk route is very solid right now.  I can say that with relief for the first time in a couple of years.  For awhile, I really was beginning to wonder.  Most of the local Amish could not pass up the $25/hr. wage (netting $1,000/wk) from the housing & RV factories, so to commit to a twice daily schedule of milking was just not worth it.  The jobs are gone now.  The Bishops are bending their rules for government non-involvement, allowing for drawing unemployment from the state.  Now, as one of our producers stated, "looking for a job in this market is like going out into the field and just digging a hole." This is forcing a return to carpentry work, farming, and just about anything else that brings in a little income.  Returning to farming means milking.  Milking means they need a hauler.  Brian & Joe do the hauling.  A couple a years ago, Joe was seriously thinking about finishing his schooling with his GED and maybe even going on to more training (not that his Dad was happy about it, though). Now that the route is gaining, he has backed off.  Anyway, this is only one part of the local picture.

I stopped to see our friend, Nan for a few minutes today.  Her son works down in Virginia near a major Navy base.  He told his mother that the front page news story was an article on survival, that people are flocking to the stores buying up camping gear, ready-to-eat food and water.  Chris commented this seems to be an issue on both coasts, but has been ignored in the middle of the country.  Nancy was talking about how vulnerable we all truly are.  That our country could easily become disabled if our electricity grid failed (for whatever reason).  This is something we don't like to think about, but we should.  We should all have extra reserves set aside just in case.

There also seems to be many different rumbles on various fronts, things that have to do with politics, or social issues or whatever.  Things like North Korean activities, Obama's plans and announcements, everyday problems that we all deal with individually, but somehow seem bigger and more threatening than before.  I just recently read an article about an informal survey:  50 people were asked their opinion about how the laws were changing in favor of homosexuality.  About 35 of those people felt the laws were wrong, that marriage should be a protected institution.  Of the remaining 15 who approved of the change, several could not offer an intelligent reason as to why.  In other words, they don't know what or why they believe what they do -- or what eventual consequences we may be dealing with because we can't be bothered to think this through, (ex: "Let me introduce you to my new spouse.  Aunt Rose, this is my dog & wife, Muffin.").  The point was made, 25 years ago there wouldn't have been anyone of the original 50 who would have accepted this.  Attitudes are shifting and not necessarily for the better and not on just this issue.

Have you ever visited the stockyards?  Ever seen pictures on TV or video where the animals are penned up?  They are on unfamiliar ground, separated from other familiar animals that were on the farm, smelling strange smells, hearing unfamiliar sounds.  Sometimes the workers will use gates or lead ropes to guide them where they need to go, but there is a general restlessness to the herd.  They don't usually just stand quietly waiting for whatever happens.  They move around, talking to each other, trying to get a sense of what is expected.

That is us.  At least that's the way it seems to me.  The thought occurred recently that if we were to have a crisis like on 9/11, our leadership would not be able to handle it.  While Bush was not perfect, I have absolutely no confidence in Obama or anything he "decrees".  I sense this on a larger scale.  The liberals were so happy to have Obama voted in, they just knew he would usher in a new era of "change".  I think we are beginning to realize that nothing has changed, if anything we have less than before.

Have you sensed this as well?  Are we on the verge of more big problems?  Or am I just borrowing trouble . . .

Just thinkin'  ~  Terri