16 years ago, my father and I started a tradition of trucking up from Pittsburgh to Rochester to see one of his favorite bands from the New England area, Max Creek. This past weekend, with a best buddy in tow, we made the trek again. That means I’ve been traveling to see this band with my Dad for just a titch under half my life – that was a power revelation!
I’ve been traveling for half my life with my Dad to see live music. Just WOW, right?
It is even MORE powerful when I reflect on my paternal grandparents, and how they spent a better part of THEIR life traveling around the country following bluegrass festivals. My grandmother was even a vendor, selling all sorts of different wares on lot!
The generational love for music continues! With having children aged 16, 9 and 4, I am busy passing on the love of music to my kids. I have taken my teenager to see their music several times and will continue to do so for as long as they’ll let me. I consider paying it forward from the days where my Dad had to stand behind the cage at Club Laga, listening to punk rock and death metal.
Don’t get my started on my 9 year old. She’s already dreaming of see Dead and Company on her birthday this summer, along with her FIRST road trip to see Phish in Hershey!
In a long winded way, I guess what I am saying is that I am simply extremely grateful and utterly bursting with gratitude for the love of music that has been imparted in me. It re-energizes my soul. It makes me a better husband and father. It is even more special when I consider the generational connections of music within my family. Thinking about my grandmother peddling homemade coat hanger Christmas trees at bluegrass festivals instantly brings a smile to my face, especially when walking through Shakedown Street with my own kid.
The grateful gratitude train continues to truck along as now the long (but short) strange trip continues to unfold, adding new wrinkle with me being chairman of the parks and recreation committee. This means I am now able to work diligently to pass on MY love for music to my community, and hopefully cause them to catch the music bug too. It’s an incredible honor, one I do not take lightly. I am flabbergasted that with spending half my life traveling to see music, I now get to build a local music scene in Plum.
Utterly flabbergasted, I tell you!
So in the end, in the spirit of paying it forward, I ask any of you who have lovingly read this blog post this far to accept one simple challenge — go out and practice gratitude recklessly!
August West Wellness 