Drowning

Twenty-five years ago a band from South Carolina released a song that talked about racism and wondered aloud “Why is there a rebel flag hanging from the state house walls?”

The song writer then goes on to insist that he’s “tired of hearin’ this shit about heritage not hate.” Instead, he argues it is “Time to make the world a better place.”

The song is Drowning by Hootie & The Blowfish. When it was released in 1994, five years before the massacre at Columbine, the song was tackling the racism that men and women of color had openly experienced for generations in the South and through institutional constructs in the North.

Now, after the two most recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton (not Toledo, Mr. President) this song takes on a whole new meaning for an entirely new audience.

This is particularly evident in the song’s chorus:

Drowning, in a sea of tears
Hatred, trying to hide your fears
Living, only for yourself
Hating, everybody else ’cause they don’t look like you

The shooters in El Paso and Dayton were driven by fear and hatred for those who were not white like them. The evil bore deep holes into their psyche and mutated their worldview so much that the only way they could live in this world is to end the existence of others. The hated them so much that they shot and killed them.

They were drowning in their hatred. Lost in themselves. You know the results of that way of thinking.

So, how do we stop drowning? We communicate. We talk to each other. We find out what makes us different while also building on the commonalities that we all share. The songwriter asks “Why must we hate one another? When the people in the church, they tell me you’re my brother.”

You are my brother. You are my sister. And I will watch out for you so you don’t succumb to the hate in this world. Will you do the same for me?

25 Years of Giving a Hoot(ie)

So 25 years ago this year one of my favorite albums was released. Yep, you guessed it, Cracked Rear View by Hootie & the Blowfish.

This album is quintessential 1990s!

Every song on this album was/is good. The best, by far, though is Time. It asks why there is so much sorrow in the world and what if anything can be done about gang violence. It was, and still is, a great song. And of course, there are the other pop hits that came off the album.

So why am I writing about this today? I came across this article on Esquire’s site and it reminded me of how much I really enjoyed this band. And it also reminded me of how much things changed in the mid- to the late 1990s. Especially how we all became more and more jaded leading up to the culmination which was the year 2018.

Now, at the dawn of 2019, I am looking at things in a simpler way. I am thinking that Darius Rucker and the boys had the right idea back then. That life, although hard sometimes, is also about having fun. Music and friendship are two ways to make sure that happens. You see, that is what Hootie & The Blowfish symbolize for me – happiness, fun, and friendship.

I will always remember how I felt going to that first concert. And how I felt when I saw Darius Rucker performing solo on his country tour and jamming out to three Hootie songs in a row. (It was epic!) I won’t apologize for loving this band. I’ve always loved them. Even when their next albums didn’t do as well as their first and they went on hiatus. No matter what, they’ll have a fan in me.

I don’t think this look back is through a cracked rear view mirror. Instead I think it is a crystal clear version of what a fun, happy future might look like. That’s why I give a hoot(ie)!

Extroverted Introvert

When I recently read Stephanie Shirley’s blog post about discovering her introvert tendencies, I thought I was looking in a mirror. In describing herself, I thought she was describing me. Funny thing is, she is also in the Public Relations field and her introverted nature has not stopped her from becoming successful.

Her post opened my eyes to another aspect of my journey along the positive road and happiness highway. It made me see that I’m not alone in feeling the way that I do.

Here’s how I feel:

I’m okay with being alone. When I was a kid growing up, I would hang out in my room listening to music and playing. It was fun. Today, I still listen to music when I’m doing stuff by myself. It gives me the energy I need and I can rock out anytime I want without worrying about my dance moves.

Photo by Jonas Mohamadi on Pexels.com

However, I also know that I need to interact with others. And that is why I have only a few close friends. My wife Laurie, my kids, and my dog Hemingway among them. And when I do hang out with friends, I prefer having meaningful conversations instead of idle chatter. If I wanted to talk about the weather, I would check my weather app on my phone or just reach my hand out the window. Additionally, when I’m with friends I love to play board games though I’m not a fan of solitaire. So there’s that.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Now, after growing up in a small town, living in another country with an entirely different family for a year, going to college and getting two degrees, running for public office, and years of working in different settings with all types of different people, I think that I know enough about myself that I can meet people halfway so that we can have productive relationships. On the other hand, I also know that I still have so much to learn about myself and how to interact with others. I’m proud to say that I am a work in progress.

Dueling Echoes

Our house is perfectly-sized for our family, but some people would say it’s a “small” house. Today, I might have had to agree with them.

The kids received Amazon Echo Dots for Christmas and today was set up day. The set up went well until we said “Alexa, play music.” Then it was sibling rivalry played out in ever-increasing volume. My daughter used Amazon Music. My son was upset because he didn’t get to use it. So I hooked up iHeartRadio. And that didn’t work because the radio station that came on wasn’t playing a song he liked.

Then, being a grizzled old veteran of the parenting game, I switched them up. The volumes evened out and eventually both of them turned the echoes off. #parentingwin!

The 90s are calling!

But seriously, as the volumes were going up and the musical styles spanned the wide gap between country and rap, I couldn’t help but wish that it was the dual cassette 5-CD stereo with extra bass that was the go-to in the late 80s and early 90s.

I guess technology and progress are wonderful things, right? “Alexa, power off.”

Good tunes

You know that feeling you get when an old song comes on the radio you used to jam to? Steering wheel tapping, dancing in your seat, and singing at the top.of your lungs? Yeah, you know what I’m talking about!

The other day this happened to me when “Jack and Diane” came on. My daughter must’ve thought I was nuts because I was singing and grooving on the ride home from her dance class. Such a good song and such positive vibes. Hearing it again after all these years was just the perfect moment.

And yes, I stayed in the car until the song was done. Now that is a simple pleasure!

Soul on Fire

My car's radio set to K-Love

This morning, driving in to work, the sunrise over the trees was in the rearview mirror as I drove westward. It was a blaze as it rose and burned into the early morning winter sky. The temperature was about 6 degrees. The roads were clear. It was cold, but not bone-chillingly so. It was good ride in to the office.

The reason for this was not just the weather, though. It was how the weather made me feel. I felt GOOD. I was singing (badly, I’m sure :-)) to the positive and encouraging tunes on the radio from K-Love as I drove. I was at peace with the world. And it was because I’ve opened my heart to Jesus and given my life over to God. It is such an awesome feeling.

Now, I also know that God will take me through valleys. Yet, through His strength I will make it through. That thought, in and of itself, is the most peace-inducing thought I’ve had in a very long time. Before, I would have been ashamed to talk about my faith. I wasn’t a believer. I hadn’t opened my heart. I didn’t understand.

That was then. This is now.

I’m at peace because I know the Big Man Upstairs has it. I know I can lift my concerns up to Him and He will listen. I know I experience joys and blessings in life because of Him and I thank Him for them.

These lyrics from Third Day’s song Soul on Fire capture it best:

Lord, restore the joy I had
And I have wandered bring me back
In this darkness, lead me through
Until all I see is You

Thank you God.

Amen.

Uptown Funk You Up

So this happened last night. He knew we were recording him and he continued on. Not embarrassed at all. He’s a showman, for sure.

Ice Ice Baby

A Facebook friend of mine posted a pic of ice hanging from her house this morning after a rather punishing snowstorm. Made me think of the ear worm by Vanilla Ice that hit the charts back in the 1990s. I plugged it into Spotify Radio and the first song that came up was “Baby Got Back.” Not the original, no, no. This was MUCH better. It was a remake of this Hip Hop classic by none other than Vanilla Ice!

Something about the fact that this was pulled out of obscurity for me to hear today makes me ever more certain that the Universe wanted me to laugh a lot today.

 

photo via Amazon.com

Elvis has left the building. Forever.

Thirty-five years ago today Elvis left the building. Forever. He died at the age of 42. His health was compromised due to an addiction to prescription drugs. Like the Beatles who came after, Elvis expanded the reach of rock n’ roll to a wider audience. People fell in love with his music and his moves. They idolized him. And each year on this day those that still hold a flame for him and remember what he did for the music industry and popular culture make the pilgrimage to Graceland to pay their respects.

When it was announced that day back in 1977 (love the headphone mike on this reporter in WMC-TV, Action News 5’s coverage of the death of Elvis) that the King of Rock n’ Roll was dead, there were thousands and thousands of sad people. Well, at least I would suspect there were. I wouldn’t know. I only have the grainy news footage to go by.

What I do know is that there were some very happy people that day. Namely, my mom, dad and my grandparents. That was the day I was born. It has been a wonderful ride these last 35 years. And I’m looking forward to the next 35 and many more – spending time with my beautiful wife, watching my children grow, enjoying this life and all of the gifts it provides.

If you are an Elvis fan, what is your favorite song of his?