I twisted my ankle pretty severely the day before my 37th birthday last Friday. (That’s the first time I have written my age since it changed, and that number looks awfully large.) I spent most of my birthday weekend practicing the RICE method of treating a sprain; Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Emphasis on the “R”.
It was a fun weekend though. We had a big group of people over on Friday night for the house concert that I promoted as part of Transparent Christian Magazine. Brad Reynolds and David Teems are amazing live, and their show was a two hour long blessing!! We had a fella (Jackie) show up that drove from the Knoxville area (about a 3 hour drive) because he really wanted to see Brad Reynolds live. Earlier this year, he bought a copy of Brad’s cd and loved it enough to make the commute.
After Brad and David played, Jackie ‘flat-picked’ a couple of bluegrass traditional songs with Brad including “Will the Circle be Unbroken”. My mother was in attendance, and asked if I wished I had my guitar out. I told her “Jackie is getting his blessing right now; I got mine during the last couple of hours”.
Years ago I remember going up on ‘stage’ at a bookstore after a band called Stancil Martin Webber and Brown finished their set. I asked the lead guitar player Barclay Martin how to play a neat riff that he wrote, and he actually strapped his guitar around my chest and taught it to me. It’s a great memory, and I was thinking about that when Jackie was playing music with Brad.
I spend most of my free time with artists. As I looked around the room on Friday, I saw writers, musicians, poets, web designers, and painters. Even the friends I have in construction have a flair for design. My Sr. Editor is a phenomenal bass player (and can play about 20 instruments) and is a part time inventor. There are two people in my work area, and one of them has written plays, books and has been in several bands. The other guy has a design degree and produces awesome looking websites for a living. My boss is a drummer!
These people enrich my life in many ways, and not always directly with their art. I like the way they look at life… They notice beautiful things, and can find the good in others. They don’t care about what you do for a living or how much money you make a year. They concern themselves with the important things like character, community and love. They kind of remind me of Jesus. (I can only guess what kinds of artistic masterpieces He made out of wood!)
Jason
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 am
Now THAT was an exciting piece. The only problem I could see… it ended too early. I wanted more. That’s ok too because they will be more later… right?
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 am
I’m sorry you got hurt! You could’ve let us know!!! I hate we missed Friday night, hopefully we’ll make the next one! Hope to see you and the family soon, we miss you guys!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I’m sorry that you sprained your ankle. Perhaps that is old age catching up to you. You know, you’re half way to 74 instead of 72 now. I’m glad that you know the RICE method. That is promoted a lot in the running. Icing and elevating it will help a lot. I’m also glad the soft rock concert went great as well. Have a Happy 4th and stay out of the way of shooting bottle rockets….
August 17th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Jason, my dear friend,
I don’t know how I missed this earlier, but I’m glad I read it now. I know the ankle issue was a long one, and I prayed for your recovery.
I am proud to know you and to have your influence in my life, and especially for those “spur of the moment” sessions we have where you hear my concerns and offer advice.
My friend, you are blessing in my life, and I hope to be able to meet you face to face someday soon, but we both know, if not there, then “in the AIR!”
God BLESS your 37th year, and beyond. I don’t remember mine too well, but I am almost certain I injured myself pretty good back then too; This year was just the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back, lol!
Great pics, by the way… But if I may tease a bit, where’s the ones of the birthday boy?