T.C.O.B.

I love the act of creation, be it writing this blog, planning a music class or improvising jazz on piano. But even Bach, in the midst of composing, writing down and teaching some of his 1128 extraordinary compositions, had to take some time to sit down and pay a bill of two. I’ve been so lucky to play my way —musically and otherwise— through an adult life, but each time I choose a creative act or accept an invitation to play or simply set off walking through the wide wonders of the world, something is piling up somewhere that will eventually demand my attention.

 

In the rhythmic cycle of my particular life, it’s often just before a trip that all those bills come due. Time to pay the literal bills, clean my desk, organize my files, re-shelve books or CD’s strewn about, write the e-mails I’ve been putting off. Time to finally take all those socks with holes in them out of my sock drawer and put them in the textile recycling box and then actually go out and buy some new ones. And a few pairs of underwear while I’m at, a pair of sunglasses to repair the one recently broken, toothpaste, shaving soap and so on and so on. 

 

Modern life constantly beckons us to attend to so many little details day after day and sometimes it takes a special effort to resist. That act of resistance is precisely what so many poets and other artists have named as their courage and commitment, what separates them out from the mere dilettante. Sometimes their chaotic life suffers from that commitment, sometimes their children, sometimes their spouse (and let’s be honest, the wives much more than the husbands— a good time to thank my wife for following through on a mild roof leak while I’m away), but in the end, we all benefit from their decision. The creative act refreshes both the creator and the witness.

 

But no need to feed into the starving artist image or the genius who can’t be bothered with an electricity bill. It’s perfectly possible to balance one’s creative and practical life and each of us has to find our own way to it. For me, the truth is that when I finally sit down to sort through life’s everyday demands, I quite enjoy it. The sorting part of the brain gets exercise at once stimulating and useful, the inner Montessori child trained to “a place for everything, everything in its place” feels the tangible satisfaction of order, the little shadow that has hovered over for weeks reminding us “get this done before you leave on the trip!” finally floats away and we’re ready to enjoy the sunshine.

 

That’s all I have for today. My little Taking Care of Business moment, with some more awaiting me tomorrow before my 8:00 pm flight. Back to packing.