Brocolli and Lettuce

I woke up with a song in my head this morning about sitting around the table, my family and me, and how much it means to me.

Went outside and watered my tomatoes, my corn, the lettuce and brocolli, the pineapple mint, the two remaining carrots (my cat rolled in the garden and smashed all that were coming up)…There is such peace in my garden. Pulling the weeds, the dark, rich earth…Watching the water soak down to the roots, seeing the green of the leaves, everything reaching higher to the sky. I have never tasted brocolli like ours. It is so tender and buttery. The lettuce is a lovely spring green, and for all it’s fragility, the lettuce is so strong! It can handle pounding rains and winds, and still taste light on your tongue. Lettuce is my new hero.

Last night was another baseball game. The evenings are hotter now, but the kids don’t seem to mind. They are really improving and bonding as a team. Lily sat in the dugout with two other kids singing, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” at the top of their lungs. Cheering has become a new favorite. All the parents were wildly clapping and shouting out, “Play’s at third!” or “Run…RUN!!!” or “No, don’t run!!! Back to base! Hurry!” We are all sharing smiles and groans and the wee siblings climb the bleachers or suck on sticky candies from the concession stand. The Athletics played hard: we ended the game at 10-13, but very exciting when you consider the first time we played the Astro we lost 11-1.

I’ve been trying to keep up with the demands of a new national release. Teresa and I are overwhelmed here at the office, but we will have two interns joining us soon. The amount of work is unbelievable! Teresa is manning the phones, the email, the bookings…I’m trying to stay on top of the artwork being finalized between Cartis group and the manufacturing out in L.A. We are missing some legaleze and catalogue numbers for the spine. Lance is helping out with this, and it is almost finished. I’ve been putting together the radio/press releases, as well, and Jim at Crystal Clear in Dallas has been a saint. I have to say I couldn’t get a lot of this done without Gene; he’s my go to man when I need a design change or update or last minute aid.

The press is going to be handled by Lisa Shively in Nashville. Radio will be covered by Michele Clark out of Los Angeles. So, there are a lot of emails/calls flying between all of us, the distribution group I am entering the joint venture with (Mesa/Blue Moon/Fontana), my general manager of Sleeveless (Rob)…I’m so dizzy at times, I grab a glass of water and walk outside, take a breath, come back in, and jump back in to the fray.

I’m excited, energized, nervous about the new release. I look back over the last 18 years of being a recording artist, and I have no idea
how I haven’t become jaded or obese or a drug addict or given up completely. When folks ask me, “What does it take for me to make it?” I should answer, “Faith and determination, love and good people.” Because that is what it comes down to.

And a grand sense of humor!

I feel so blessed to keep making this music I love. I guess, in reality, there is no way I could stop singing. It just pours out of me. And I love that I can share my gift to raise awareness/money/hope….I think that is the most satisfying thing of all…to bring people together and raise their level of being…to remind them that we all have a song to share.

Ok, back to work!