Author Topic: Senior Management (Read 503 times)

hollis · « **Reply #15 on:** April 19, 2004, 12:00:39 PM »

John,
My wife and I spent this last weekend with our grandkids (12 and 3yrs old). I'm not pushing them in any musical direction...suffice to say the congas and various other percussion instruments got good workouts...

The house was a rockin' while our birds (Cockatoos, Makaws, Cockatiels, and a Quaker Parrot)were a squawkin'. We cranked up the PA, invited the neighbors over, a few musician friends (including a bassist who owns a very sweet Rogue)stopped by and the jamming went on late into the night.

Grandma blows a bad ass blues harmonica and Grandpa's Skylark blew the place away!

The weekend was fun for everyone, most especially the grandkids, moreover, it brought great joy to my wife and me..... Whatever the kids think, they know one thing for sure; Grandma and Grandpa rock!

So much time is spent doing things out of necessity, if we don't stop, step back, take a few deep breaths and upon occasion, let loose the purse strings, what's the point of this existence?

The airplane sounds like a a fantastic project...New bass? It'll come. From where I sit your bass karma is in good standing.

Enjoy!

(Message edited by hollis on April 19, 2004)

jalevinemd · « **Reply #16 on:** April 19, 2004, 02:01:52 PM »

Rob,

That saying of your father's is one of the best descriptions of husband-wife dynamics I've ever heard...comical, yet all too truthful at the same time. My dad, who recently passed away, would have loved it as well. Thanks for the laugh.

Jonathan

palembic · « **Reply #17 on:** April 19, 2004, 02:02:41 PM »

Brother Hollis,

my senior management (who doen't play an instrument but loves the music I play and is a big fan) and I just read your post and were really amused.
And the whole rhythm section was the birthcage gang LOL.
If you're 50 and you have grandchildren of 12 ...you must have children early of your own. Now I KNOW that is not easy. OTOH for them it is FUN to have those rocking grandparents. GREAT!!!!!
And now YOU KNOW what I'm gonna yell:
PICTURES-PICTURES-PICTURES of that gig.
And don't tell me the story that there were no people with camera's!!!

Paul the bad one

hollis · « **Reply #18 on:** April 19, 2004, 04:26:23 PM »

Brother Paul,

Pictures soon. My home computer went the way of all cyborgs...I will be replacing it soon.

I'm 51. The grandkids are my step grandchildren. I'm the only grandpa they've ever known.... Jullia (the 12 yr old), was 6 weeks old when we first met. I held her in my hands and made a promise to her that I would be a constant, positive force in her life. Personally, I think I got the better end of the deal. She's taught me way more than I'll ever be able to return to her....I guess I'll just stay happily in her debt.

Now, if you really want to hear about someone starting early, My wife (Janet, the grandkids biological grandmother) will turn 47 in September. She turned a grandmother at age 35. Man! I took a picture of her with 5 living generations.... Quite an amazing sight.

Senior management at our house is such a caring, loving woman, I am constantly blown away by my own good fortune. I'm a very lucky man. I love my life. All this, and Alembic too? Unreal!

811952 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 19, 2004, 07:22:56 PM »

Hollis, Thanks for the kind and encouraging words. Like Paul, I want to see the pictures! I think one of the things I personally find appealing with this group is that most of the members have lived life enough to have accrued a significant amount of wisdom and experience, and the younger members, to a person, have fresh perspectives while also really wanting to glean what wisdom can be gleaned from us old guys. I guess everybody associated with these fine musical instruments can appreciate that sometimes old is good too. 5 living generations is incredible. I wish my kids had known my grandparents. Very interesting people. At least they know my parents, who are quite interesting as well (my 78 year old dad is a broadcaster from waaaaay back, and used to do consulting work for Sam Phillips, among others). While I never imagined this is how my life would be, like you I love it. And my wife Tracy is my soul mate as well. And I own an Alembic bass... And a pony!

John the waxing sentimental one

palembic · « **Reply #20 on:** April 19, 2004, 11:00:25 PM »

Yep ...the Sentimental journey ...which is good. Hollis ...that IS beautiful!!
As you probably know I grat some guitar from time to time and have a really nice old Yamaha FG580 (25 years this year and aging as a delicate vintage port). The whole family we , my brothers and sister, my parents our childreen went for a weekend and I brought my guitar.
When we were outside in the garden of the weekend-house we rented and having an aperitif, my daughter asked me to play some guitar and sing a song.
In my guitarcase are only two songtext on paper Tears in Heaven -what is about losing a child- and Teach your Children (CSN&Y). I picked the last one. Everybody listened.
When I finished singing and playing I said this is the song that EVERYONE with children or aiming at having one or liking to go around with childrfen has to learn by heart.
Mty father -who was in that time reqally sick already and is even worse now- asked the text and my daughter (you know the Finnish one) gave me an appraisal hug.
Well ...not an Alembic story ...but ...hey ...with some music and children (no ...not grandchildren yet)

Paul the bad one

bracheen · « **Reply #21 on:** April 20, 2004, 05:59:06 AM »

That CSN&Y song is a great one. Loving Spoonful did a song about parenting as well but I can't think of the name of it.

John, what's cool about this age to me is the fact that my wild oats are long since sown and I'm glad those days are behind me. There's still some reaping of those sown oats, but the peace and life perspective are well worth any minor,
residual side effects youthful hooliganism.

OK, back on the thread track before I get all misty. One thing that my Senior Manager will do. If I'm working on a new song and she's in another room, she'll call out the name when she recognizes it. It doesn't sound like much but that's pretty incouraging. God bless them all.

Sam

hollis · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2004, 05:10:42 PM »

Sam,
Was that the one John Sebastian played at Woodstock? Something about.....and hey pop can I go ride my zoom? That's a great song.
Paul,
I'm so sorry that your father isn't well.
Teach Your Children is one of those timeless songs. I don't think it'll ever go out of style.
And it is in keeping with Alembic. They recorded alot of CSN&Y and (I'm sure you already know) Jerry Garcia played that unforgetable pedal steel guitar on Teach Your Children.

What's that they call it.... 6 degrees of separation?

Whatever it is, this is such a great club.

(Message edited by hollis on April 20, 2004)