Events and Traditions

Special events and annual traditions are really important because they build relationships. They provide opportunity for reflection, celebration and commitment to a future. Last Sunday, we celebrated our second Porch Music Store recital at the Franklin Elks Club. The joy of it brought me to tears more than once through the afternoon.
In reflection, we witnessed the progress of amazing young people at the beginning of their musical journey and expanding their musical journey. Some were part of our first recital at the Barrow Little Theatre last spring. Others were new students who, in just 6 months, were able to prepare for a recital performance. As I shared the pride of their families and instructors, I could not stop tears of joy.
We packed the Little Theatre at the spring recital. We had to limit the number of guests. Back then, just over 6 months ago, we had just 20 or so students. Reflection - so much has happened since then! Just after that recital, we expanded into the Porch Music Studios. Now we have 82 students! And there's capacity for more.
Last Sunday, we filled the Elks Club with 140 people attending and only around 1/4 of our students performing. Our timid adult students didn't want to perform, some of our young students were too new and others were committed to other activities. Thinking back just months ago and looking ahead to the next recital, the impact was again one of joy. Just 6 months ago, we could not have imagined this! In 6 months, where will we be?
I looked over at the instructors. They are a wonderful group of talented collaborators. I looked at the audience full of family and the parents/grandparents we see every week. They enthusiastically show support to all the other young people as they do their own. In the days after the recital the depth of their kindness and support was incredible. Tops was a parent asking about one student who did a wonderful job with a difficult piece and asking if they could bring that girl flowers. The young woman had lost her place in the middle of her performance, she held her composure and finished the piece beautifully. She may not fully understand but we saw great poise and character in how she handled it. It was more significant than if she had played it straight through flawlessly.
That young woman reminded me that we are not always perfect in what we are doing at Porch Music Store. But our true character shows in how we handle the difficulties. This recital has left me inspired to follow her example of poise and determination.
Special events and annual traditions are really important because they build relationships. They build lasting memories and inspire us to greater things.

Mr. President! Build that San Antonia wall!

Dear Mr. President,
Your recent siting of the border wall success in San Antonio is brilliant. It's easy to see how this can solve the whole wall thing and end the shutdown. There is no reason the Democrats won't agree to do exactly the same wall the entire length of the southern border!
Put that in the budget deal with specification to spend the same price per mile and this shutdown is over. Within months you can tell your base the wall is underway and way ahead of scheduled completion - no land disputes, no EPA concerns and no cost overruns. Boom! Done!
It will drive the media crazy as you repeat the winning success at rallies and in interviews. The new chant can be "love that wall". As the media questions, just do the same thing you and your staff have been doing these past few years. Your base will believe whatever you tell them. You tell the wall is done and it's done!
The whole wall thing will dominate the news. Democrats will go crazy. Meanwhile, you can point to actual data; Illegal immigration levels at a 20 year low, fewer illegals crossing the southern border, crime rates down....
Sarah Huckabee Sanders has your back on this one, Mr. President. She's great at this. Imagine the press conference...
Reporter - "The budget just passed and doesn't actually fund a wall. Is the president aware of that?"
Sarah - "It most certainly does. Don't you people read?"
Reporter - "But the fact is you cannot build a wall like the one in San Antonio, because there is no wall there."
Sarah - "Look - the fact is the President got a wall deal. That's what you should be reporting. He got the government re-opened. Millions of people are now back to work, thanks to this president!
Reporter #2  - "Does the president actually believe that a wall is being built? Facts don't back that up."
Sarah - "You people have fact checked this president to death. And nobody cares! Look! The facts are that illegal immigration is at a 100 year low. Not a single illegal immigrant can pass over that southern border now. It's over. Unemployment is the lowest of any civilization in existence! There are more super rich people in this country than ever before and we can thank this president for that."
Then the reporters start asking about income disparity and she's got that covered too!
Meanwhile, the whole Russia things gets buried.
Mr. President! Build that San Antonia wall!
Thank you,

Amused Citizen

What would George say?

Once an election is over, candidates have a short amount of time to remove campaign signs. It doesn't matter if they won or lost, the campaign is over and signs must come down.There are likely many reasons for that beyond signs cluttering our streets and roads.
Removing the signs represents a transition from campaign mode to governance. It's time to put the wounds of the campaign behind us and focus on the missions at hand. Whether we like the outcome or not, democracy has served its purpose.
Can you imagine making a flag of the mayor you voted for and hanging it in front of you house? Or your senator, representative, commissioner?
The flag waving and obsession over a particular office holder defies democracy. It's short sighted and divisive. We humans have a tendency to get caught up in celebrity hero worship that clouds our vision and ability to think rationally.
That human tendency is not new. In the early days of our country, George Washington was a great hero. He was so loved and trusted, that he held the power to shape the presidency into any form he wanted. It would serve us well to revisit his legacy and the wisdom of the path he set for the highest office of our land.
We have traveled far from his early vision. Before you raise a celebrity flag, consider the values of the one that we all claim. Visit President Washington's history. Compare that to what is happening today.
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-first-president/