Time Capsules

This week was devoted to my Mom.  She had open heart surgery on Wednesday.  It was a surreal experience. The day before she went into the hospital, I was entirely focused on the new album I'm writing.  The next day, as she laid on the operating table--telling me what might have been her final words and reminding me where her last will and testament was--I could barely remember that I was musician.

Funny how it takes surreal experiences to help us touch base with reality.

The good news is: Mom came out of surgery just fine, and she'll be living with us into the holidays while she heals.  I'm so happy to have her here.   It'll be nice to have our family under one roof.  I'm keeping this blog brief in the interest of cleaning up our house for her.

I played two Kickstarter house concerts this weekend. Both shows were a wake-up call for me, especially the one on Saturday night in Saginaw, MI with my old friends Damon and Dani Hall.  

Before the show, the Halls put together a "request list" for me that included most of the songs off my very first album.  What a struggle; I literally had to learn how they went.  That record is out-of-print.  I never play those songs any more.  And I mean..never ever ever.   I've cast aside those tunes as if they were out-of-style clothing or pictures of old ex-boyfriends; they were hidden away in a time capsule that I had intended not to open again.  I feel like I've come so far in life since those songs were penned, that perhaps they were too dated to keep playing today.

But not so for the Halls.  Those tunes are their all-time favorites. 

Moral? Even though we continue to grow and change with the times, there is always value to the things we've made through the course of our journey.  Who we were before isn't any less real or valuable than who we are today.  We are not cartons of milk; we have no expiration date.  Our creations don't "go bad." Every moment of our lives is unique and good. There's little sense in feeling shame about the past or vaulting it away just because we're stronger or cooler or happier today.  In fact, upon playing those old tunes, I actually came to love my old teenage songwriter self.  I'm thrilled I had an excuse to dig up my old stuff, dust it off, and enjoy it again.

Speaking of dust, I'm off to sweep floors.  Have a beautiful week, Reader.  See you next Sunday.  -Em

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