Show #263

Hello Friends of the Garden!

Dry, sanded, holes filled, primer
 applied and sealed. 

This Memorial Day weekend I find myself back at the coast. I have a leftover project to finish with my bathroom flooring. It’s been long overdue and I look forward to putting this task behind me. The glaringly obvious incomplete job has worked its way to the forefront and is awaiting my full concentration. I know I won’t be satisfied unless I manage to set aside everything else whirling around in my head and give this job my full attention.

First few courses done! Looks
promising!

I suppose picking up at the same place where you left off is the challenge. A month or more ago I was filled with intention and determination when this necessary job began. Reassessing the steps that have been completed and prioritizing the required steps to finish feels a lot like reading a book and stopping for a month and picking it back up. There are all the little nuances that must be recalled to make sense of what is coming at you. I have had the hardest time focusing.

Getting down to the tricky
parts that require more
thought!

Seeking to clear my mind, I tried to understand my dissonance. I think I’ve stumbled on to what may be a part of my discord; at a minimum I believe I’ve identified a possible reason as to my confusion. I’m feeling it has something to do with the date itself, yes, Memorial Day!

One last piece! Nice!

Most people can point to many other significant dates, like Christmas or birthdays or anniversaries as pivotal dates on the timelines of their lives. The memories of the events associated with those dates can leave a tattoo on your soul, something that leaves a mark on your memory. Even the title itself, Memorial Day, is intended to reflect on the past. The memories of my collective Memorial Days have marked my heart in ways that can never be assuaged.

Memorial Day is the gateway to summer, the beginning of a season to come. All manner of activities occur in a preview of summertime fun ahead. My memories of the last 30 or so Memorial Day weekends have been filled with anticipation, joy, camaraderie, sadness, loss, physical pain, indulgence, mistakes, laughter, peace and love. Upon reflection, I suppose that over time, life has a way of buffering the good with the bad and turning it all into a mixed bag of cosmic balance.

Like some kind of “Back To The Future” temporal date, Memorial Day seems to have become a significant date to me. So many important memories of past Memorial Days make it impossible to ignore recollection. The sedate nature of this particular Memorial Day is indescribably incongruous with the camping, concerts and carefree fun associated with those of the past. Each of those fond past Memorial Days have been tempered with literal scars, physically and emotionally from other Memorial Days.

Baseboards in place! Caulked,
just need to put the door back on!
Why carpet ever in there?

I realize at its inception, Memorial Day was created to honor those who have “died” in the service of our country as opposed to Veterans Day that honors those who have served. It has also been an unofficial start to the summer vacation season. I have more connection with the anticipation of the summer season than I do with people I know that have died serving our country.

For no particular reason, I simply don’t have many close relationships with friends or family in the military. I know a few people that have served our nation, but my frame of reference is so limited that I don’t really understand the true nature of its gravity. I do understand on a personal level and at a parallel of sorts, the need to stop and take account of all the moments of your friend’s and family’s lives, as well as your own!

I think about my Dad a lot more these days! I sure could use a few more moments!

Here’s Show #263! I totally forgot about being out of town until the weekend hit me! I got to work earlier in the week on the show and I guess I just did whatever came to me. I like a lot of different things, some more than others, but still different. And that’s what you get this week! It all started with watching Austin City Limits with Wilco and a guest appearance by Nick Lowe! It was awesome! The Rides and JJ Grey & Mofro are at Avila this weekend so they’re in there! I played the Salt-N-Pepa as a request for a friend and I just embraced my inner need to do something different for a little bit! The Red Hot Chili Peppers is brand new and fit with Sublime and George Clinton. The ending with the Pink Floyd theme is always fun to me!

Thanks Jerry and Robin! I know I’ve been gone a bunch with this “Flat Growler” thing but I sure do like it! We’ll get caught up soon!

Thanks to all you listeners too! I have gotten some fun calls to the studio lately! Nothing puts a smile on my face like that does!

Peace and love!

Mike