Craig's Blog of Destiny

Rush in concert in Chula Vista (San Diego) California; the third concert in my Rush tour.

Rush in concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles

Rush in concert at White River Amphitheater, Auburn (Seattle) Washington.  The first concert on my Rush “Snakes & Arrows” tour.  The kids are coming to this one and they are very excited.

I recently asked Kristin about setting up a blog (which she has obviously done for me)…     It’s surprising to me how consistent the response is from various people when I bring up the idea; always a variation on “why?”  It’s made me evaluate the “why” of this particular idea more than I do most. 

Why indeed?  The answer I’ve have been giving has been “because I want to be published!”

I’ve never been particularly social, not feeling the compulsion to “interact” that seems to me to drive the human race.  In his excellent book Pastwatch Orson Scot Card has a short section that examines the social nature of humans and their tendency to group together and form communities: the social need of the species.  I’ve never really felt that, for so much of my life preferring my own company to that of just about anyone else.  The games I remember playing as a very young child in Ogden, Utah were solitary games, being by myself in imaginary worlds where I was the hero.  Growing up I found it easier to be by myself than to suffer the potential consequences of ridicule for some perceived misstep.  In my late teens I formulated my conviction that people are generally idiots (“I’m surrounded by morons!”).  I don’t believe I ever felt lonely, but definitely more comfortable with myself than with others.

However, as I’ve gotten older, and as I’ve grown emotionally, particularly over the last few years, I’ve noticed a strong desire to share.  While it remains a thrill to me to listen to great music, or to read a great book, or see a great movie, I am feeling a strong desire to share those things with those around me.  Surprisingly, I was so compelled recently to have Kristin read “The Time Travelers Wife” that I could hardly endure finishing it myself and getting her to read it.  I’m getting such a kick out of sending Sam some Led Zeppelin songs, playing my guitar along with J’Neil’s piano playing.  Obviously, I’m sharing with those people close to me, but I’m also sharing just for sharing sake:  playing the new Rush cd at the beginning of my management classes has way more to do with my desire to share than it does who it is I’m sharing with.  I realized with our most recent trip to Hawaii that I wanted to bring something from Hawaii to the guys in the band as a way of sharing my trip with them.  On a recent flight (my first to Alaska!), I was very aware of my sense of sharing the view with those around me as we flew over the cloud shrouded mountains around Anchorage.

That I’m feeling this desire to share out of the fact that my life is good is probably a subject for a whole other treatise – for here, we’ll just say my life is good these days.

So, the “I want to be published” assessment may still hold some water, but I’m starting a blog because I want to share.  Not sure exactly what I’ll be sharing, how often it’ll happen, or if what I share will have any sort of value, but I want to share…   something….  I hope you (whoever you are) find some value, but I’m doing it for myself and the value I receive from sticking myself out there.

Faithless, by RUSH
Recently, Rush released their nineteenth studio album, Snakes & Arrows. It was released on May 1^st, and waiting for it at our house was reminiscent of waiting for Christmas. So that evening, the whole family gathered around my PA and we put it on, probably a little louder than we should have, but it was so good. After listening to it one time, we went back and played some of the tracks again; the one I picked to play again was Faithless. As it was on, I looked to Kris and said, “This is the one.” They were all great, but Faithless spoke to me. Musically, it’s got components that evoke the sounds of Rush through the years, I can hear early Rush, Rush from the 80’s, Rush from the 90’s, the sound they had after the turn of the century, and even the sound that makes this latest cd unique. However, what spoke to me, and the reason I’ve posted it, is the lyrics. Indeed, the whole album is outstanding lyrically, but every line of Faithless speaks volumes, and echoes so well feelings I have. I have my own moral compass to steer by, and like a stone in the river against the floods of spring, I will quietly resist the well-disguised fools and thieves. The chorus really strikes home: I’ve been accused of being faithless, yet, I’m trying to cling to hope, I believe in love, and that’s faith enough for me. Enjoy.

I’m currently waiting for enough free time to write my first post in this category.  In the meantime, why don’t you tell me what YOU are reading?

The setting-out of the Fellowship from Rivendell

It’s Brent’s birthday today.