Not a Good Time

There are times when it is wise to not reflect too deeply. Not take your emotional temperature and wonder why you you’re not having a happy Pepsi moment. Not reflect on whether you belong to the group of people you’ve been thrown together with. Not write a reflection on a Blog that should carry something of interest to others. 

 

I think when you wake-up at 3:30 am in Venice and go to sleep at the equivalent of 3:30 am the next day in New Orleans after traveling for 24 hours might be such a time. 

Somehow I’ve soldiered through the day, reuniting with my fellow jazz band folks and my New Orleans Jazz Course host, in spite of being given a moldy room in a funky dorm that made me feel ill within ten minutes and then insisting on a new room that wouldn’t be ready for another 45 minutes of so. And then the key not working and the too-cold air-conditioning not possible to shut off or make warmer. (This was all last night.)

Still, I managed to sleep somewhat, then this morning, get a desperate laundry going, walk to a market with the lads to go shopping, check out the teaching space, set it up and go over a few tunes, look for an open restaurant at 3:30 in the afternoon, check out my still-wet laundry in the dryer  and now an hour free before teaching my first session from 7:00 pm – 10:00pm. 

 

It's Father’s Day and not a good time to reflect on the gifts I received from my father, 19 years now gone from the planet. Not a good time to reflect on my own immeasurable joy in being a father (and grandfather) from day one to today, not admit my failings or celebrate the surprise of doing some things right. Not a good time to discuss the needed move from toxic male parenting to men truly learning how to nurture and care. Nor is it a good time to acknowledge the Summer Solstice, happening to fall on the same day.

 

So this is all I can manage at the moment. I still hope to call my oldest daughter who gave me a sweet little message and requested a talk for the occasion. (I spoke with my other daughter yesterday). 

 

So Happy Father’s Day and Happy Solstice to all! 

 

And now I need to check on the laundry.