Today I am grateful for the home stretch.
“The Home Stretch” is originally a horse racing term. It refers specifically to the part of the track between the last curve and the finish line. But in general use, it has come to mean the final stage of whatever you’re doing — the point from which you can see the finish line.
Now that we are past my stepfather’s memorial service, I find myself in the home stretch of my time in Nashville. Our house has to be vacated by May 1, with everything removed, so there are 17 days remaining in the “home stretch.” It is going to be a busy time.
Basically, it’s a 17-day “Everything Must Go!” sale. I’m gathering a few personal items — clothes, books, musical instruments and other music-related stuff, personal treasures, etc. – and sticking them in the closet. Everything else is for sale. (Yesterday we sold the stove and refrigerator to our neighbor, who insisted we keep it here until we leave. A sweet blessing, for sure.)
So, for the duration of the home stretch, I’m in the liquidation business. If you’re in the area and would like to come visit our ongoing estate sale to see what you can find that you can’t live without, you can come to our public event this weekend and the next (Friday and Saturday, 10:00-5:00), Sunday, 12:00-6:00), or contact me (A comment on WordPress, a message on Facebook, or just call if you have my number) for a private showing on any of the other days. We’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule. And please do us the favor of spreading the word. When I say everything must go by May 1st, I’m not kidding. It must.
I will also be setting up my future during the home stretch. You may have heard that I’ll be returning to Minnesota in mid-May, where I lived from 1989-95, and living a little southwest of the Twin Cities, in the Chanhassen-Excelsior area. I have a lot of friends in that area, so there’s an instant community waiting for me, that will serve to make the transition a little bit easier. It’s also the location of the international headquarters of Eckankar, the religion I’ve followed for 35 years. I’m planning to pursue music full-time there, initially performing for seniors, something I did when I lived there before. So during the next 17 days, and on into May, I’ll be making calls to fill my calendar for the summer and create some steady cash flow.
I’ll also be putting together my trip to North Carolina, in early May, to visit a few friends before heading north.
And tomorrow, I’m doing my taxes and filing them before midnight, as well as giving someone a private tour of everything in the house that must go. Like I said, the home stretch is gonna be pretty busy. But, it’s still the home stretch and that means there is finally going to be an end to this chaotic madness.
Now, I am well aware that every ending is also a new beginning. And that what is beginning may well have it’s own form of chaotic madness. Personally, I don’t believe it will be anywhere near as crazy as it has been for, in my humble opinion, way too long. But regardless, I’m gonna have a whole lot less stuff to deal with. And that’s feeling like a pretty big blessing right now.
So, I am grateful for the home stretch. I’m grateful for the feeling of impending relief that it brings. I’m grateful that the “Everything Must Go!” momentum has begun. And for our kind, sweet neighbor, who helped us get it started. I’m also grateful for a new beginning in a familiar community. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with many old friends. And I’m grateful to be getting back into music full time, too. How interesting that, to do so, I’m leaving Music City.
Today I am grateful for an outstanding memorial service.
My Stepfather, Jimmy Johnson, was well-remembered and greatly honored today. For over three hours, at the Nashville Eckankar Center, his friends and his family told story after story and played song after song, in celebration of his life. My brother, Michael, put together a sweet slide show of pictures from his life, set to three of Jimmy’s songs, sung by Jimmy himself, and Mom. And thanks to Nancy Vienneau , there was an elaborate spread of food that was both beautiful and delicious.
Everything flowed smoothly. There were no technical glitches in the sound system or the slide show, no snafus with parking, no shortage of storytellers or song singers, plenty of food to be had, and a roomful of openhearted people to spend time with.
Three hours went by quickly, so we stretched it another 20 minutes or so. And we could have kept going, but you just have to end sometime. Jimmy’s presence was felt by many. One person told me they had an overwhelming impression that, while I was playing my song, “Flying,” Jimmy was standing behind me, with his arms around me. I’m quite sure I was not the only person on the stage to get a hug from Jimmy today.
I’m exhausted, but it’s a good exhausted, because we pulled it off in fine fashion. Jimmy got about as good a sendoff as was possible. Yes, we miss him, but that’s a private matter. Each of us will deal with the loss in our own way, in our own time. But today wasn’t about mourning. Today we celebrated his life and we remembered and shared what we loved about him. And we played music, because, for practically his entire life, music was his life. What better way to say goodbye to someone who lived with a song in their heart than with a song in ours?
So I’m grateful for an outstanding memorial service. I’m grateful for all the people who helped make it happen. And for all the storytellers and song singers who stepped up to the mic and shared what Jimmy meant to them. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to have known Jimmy, as a friend and family member, for almost 19 years. Godspeed, old friend…
March 21 – My Personal Year Of Gratitude, Day 80 – The Opportunity to Celebrate a Life
March 21, 2014
Today I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate a life.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday evening, March 18th, my friend and stepfather, James M. Johnson, completed a lifetime of almost 82 years. He departed peacefully in his sleep, about as pleasant a way to go as there is.
On Saturday, April 12, from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, friends and family will have the opportunity to celebrate his life. We will gather at the Nashville Eckankar Center, 2817 Azalea Place, Nashville 37204, to share stories, music and fellowship in his honor. Please join us if you are able.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to assist with the costs associated with his recent care and his passing, at this website: http://www.gofundme.com/4xym6c. Thank you.
So, I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Jimmy’s life. I’m grateful for the gift of knowing him for almost 19 years. I’m also grateful that when it was his time to go, he was able to do so peacefully. And I am very grateful for those of you who supported him in his last few months, with your donations, your kind thoughts, your songs, and your visits. God bless you all.
My Personal Year Of Gratitude 