Not just another weekend... but rather one that took me from one part of my life to another and back again. Gathered up some my closest remaining family members and converged on downstate Mt. Zion, Illinois to celebrate moms 93rd birthday yesterday. 12/21 is winter solstice, the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year and my mothers birthday ever since I can remember. We celebrated another landmark; after 90 they are all blockbuster events certainly! We left the cooking to outsiders and enjoyed the buffet at the Decatur Airport just off the runway there. No planes actually landed or took off but that wasnt the point. It was more symbolic of past journeys...and a few that have yet to be taken. Although we are always on road arent we? Until were not anymore and after 93 rotations its still not over. Thank God for that. Much later I found myself back in the city, sitting with a new friend in a relatively quiet Lincoln Park club, thinking back on the past day and new possibilities. After we parted and just before I headed downtown to The Drive, I had to swing down Halsted past two of my fave spots in that hood...B.L.U. E.S. and Kingston Mines, two of Chicagos longest running blues venues. Didnt have much time but popped into the latter to catch a number by my friend Sharon Lewis who was bringing it as usual. I stood in the doorway and listened for awhile. On the way out I ran into Big Ray (not literally, that would have hurt!) whose B.L.U.E.S jam I so enjoyed last week. I didnt have a chance to speak with him then but I remember being touched when he referred to Joe Moss, his guitarist that night as his brother especially since they dont share the same color skin. On another Chicago weekend when there was way too much gun violence, thats the kind of spirit we need, not the other....
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 07:36:20 +0000
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