Thinking about art.

 I don't have an artistic bone in my body. While I suppose that writing is an art, this is just a natural outcropping of my rather frantic brain.  I titled my blog "inside Robyn's brain" and put up a warning that you would be meandering in my mind as I sought to free whatever words were trying to get out.

I admire people who can paint, or draw or create visual art.  I love "representational" art, but get that modern art moves people as well. 

Art, in its many forms is necessary for human health, in my opinion.

As I seek to calm my mind with the storm that appears on the horizon of the Republican Administration, I will go to museums, concerts- while I can afford it, they have promised the Middle Class "great suffering" as part of their agenda to destroy the Middle Class and create two classes  Serfs and royalty.

I am off on a tangent I did not mean to follow, so you see where I am these days. I will seek out new museums, look for artists at street fairs, add to my art wall in my stairwell and hope.

Always. Hope.

Concerts- America at YAAMAVA November 22

 I have been going to concerts since 1972.  I saw James Taylor and the Section ( who opened for him)  It was wonderful and began a lifelong journey in the world of music and live performances.

Friday night , I went to Yaamava Casino  to see my favorite band in the world, America.  I saw the band in 1973 and their music always makes me feel happy.  Now it IS true that only one of the original members is still touring after 54 years. Dan passed away some years ago ( although he had left the band some years prior to that) and Gerry announced his retirement from the road last year.  That leaves Dewey as the one original member but the rest of the band is made up of wonderful musicians, including Rich Campbell who has been with them the longest. Andy Barr does a great job, handling what would be Gerry's vocals. Steve Fekete is a ball of energy, killer guitar player.  Ryland Steen is behind the kit, he also handles vocals and acquits himself quite nicely on both counts. 

Casino shows can be weird.  A lot of the audience is made up of "club members" who might have been comped the tickets or a lot of people who are casual fans, out for a fun night of drinking, gambling and entertainment. This was certainly the case on Friday night.

WHY tell me WHY do people think it's ok to have a full-blown conversation during the show?  We are NOT in your freaking living room!  The redneck old guys behind me were TALKING REALLY LOUD during the opening montage.  I LOVE the song that goes with it ans was looking forward to hearing it, not Jim-Bob's detailed description of changing his car bumper.  I gave both of them the GLARE twice and when that didn't work, I said " are you two planning on talking through the ENTIRE SHOW?"   "Jim-Bob" said  "what's your PROBLEM?  I said "your MOUTH!'  It stunned him into silence.

Since Dewey is the only remaining member, they do their hits, but delve into the deep cuts from Dewey's catalog. I knew all the songs, but a REALLY DRUNK AND LOUD casual fan in the back kept screaming "we came to hear America Songs!!!!"  They did their hits. I can't think of one they missed (well maybe Muskrat Love but NO ONE want to hear that song) they added Neil Young's  "Cinnamon Girl" ( which was a real treat to hear) and that seemed to set him off.  He started screaming that he didn't want to hear Neil Young . Well that makes you a party of one in my book.  I enjoyed it.

The only song change I would make is swap "Nothing's so far away as yesterday" for "Three Roses."  But really, as the fan at the start of Jackson Browne's Running on Empty  live album screams out PLAY WHAT YOU WANT!

I am not in charge of your set list.

We had a nice time.  Yaamava is a HUGE casino with disappointing food choices.  I paid 17 bucks for a "sandwich" that was literally three dry pieces of turkey under a SINGLE slice of bread, sliced diagonally. Inedible.  Seriously we shoulda gone to Denny's ( and I LOATHE Denny's)

The venue is nice.  We looked around and if we go there again, there are larger handicapped seats which might have made it more comfortable ( Chris has some disability issues, as do I)

All in all a nice Friday night adventure. We were celebrating our 15th anniversary.

Funerals

 About a week ago, my next door neighbor and a long cherished friend both left this earth.  While there will probably be no official service for my friend, yesterday I attended the services for my neighbor, who at 93 had lived a full and rich life.

I sat in the pew of the church reflecting.  The ceremony was in Armenian, except for some of it, which was bi-lingual. It gave me time to think about my neighbor, while the singing washed over me- the ceremony is mostly sung. I haven't attended church since I was a pre-teen, as I found that the church I was going to really weren't getting the "Love ye one another"  thing that Jesus espoused.  PLEASE don't jump on me and tell me I should come to YOUR Church , that it is different.  I tried that several times and realized that I don't get the peace that other people say they do from a sermon.  I have a connection to my Creator and that is all I need. Conversely, if you are atheist, don't jump on me for my belief system.  It works for me and you trying to cram your beliefs ( and it IS a belief) down MY throat is just as bad, as you are ALSO trying to convert me.

When the priest read from the Gospel according to Paul. I knew I was in trouble.  Paul is a misogynist and something of a pompous  jerk IMHO and this reading was no exception.  I looked at the floor and gritted my teeth when he intoned that "heaven was for Christians and ONLY Christians"  Ok then.  not going to Heaven.  Check.

He went back and forth about the Second Coming and how all souls would rise, then told us that my neighbor was with God.  Pick one belief or the other.  I don't get it.

I never look at the face of the deceased. I don't want my last memory to be that.  Probably has to do with my mother forcing me to kiss my dead grandmother at 7 years old.  I still remember it, almost 60 years later.

We went to the gravesite and put flowers and handfuls of dirt in the grave.  I hate that and usually avoid the graveside portion, but we needed to go, as her daughter, who is also my neighbor, requested it.  The service itself was traditional and I believe brought great comfort to the family.  For me, I never liked being preached to, but I am not being critical of what was done as a final farewell

But funerals are for the living, and the rituals of death and funerals are often a comfort. Grief is love with nowhere to go, as they say.  I'm tired of death.  Can someone get married or have a baby??