I haven’t yet found a place for it in one of my songs, but someday I’m going to use these lines–which as far as I know I made up–in a lyric:
“I’ve been awake for so long that it’s going to be a race
To have my head hit my pillow before my face hits the floor.”
Russ
I LOVE this post. It nearly brought me to tears. Tears of joy. Of connectedness. “Because what I enjoy most about writing is that it allows me the opportunity to make others feel special and valued.” I can think of no better reason to write, or to live, than to make others feel valued and special.
Russ
I am not a good conversationalist. I’m awkward and a little bit slow. I don’t know how to offer information up without being asked for it, and even then, the words never come out exactly right. Every night I return home and think of things I should have said and ways I should have said them. I rewrite entire conversations. I relive entire days. I know this is the reason I first picked up a pen.
A dear friend of mine once sat me down to tell me a secret, and I didn’t respond the right way. It wasn’t that I responded the wrong way, just not the way I would have liked to. I asked a lot of questions, and when all of them were answered, I sat in silence and waited for more words to arrive. But they didn’t come, for reasons I cannot explain or excuse. There…
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I have mentioned a time or two that it sometimes takes awhile for me to become human in the morning–and often involves substantial amounts of caffeine in order to do so. Today was one of those mornings.
I was awakened by the annoying ringing of my alarm clock and my business phone. I jumped out of bed and while trying to clear my head of morning fog to figure out which annoying sound to deal with first, I ended up leaning forward with my arms out of position and did a slow-motion low-speed crash into the wall with my forehead as the impact point.
I no doubt muttered something to myself. I have no clue what it was but it probably wasn’t fit to hear anyway.
Shaking loose the cobwebs in my head, I stumbled as fast as I could to my work phone two rooms away and got to it between the 4th and 5th ring, picking up the receiver just as the caller hung up.
And left no message.
(In case you’re wondering whether all of that was the “unexpected pleasure” part of the post as advertised in the title, rest assured that it was not. While it might seem sometimes that I’m a glutton for punishment, I swear to you that I am more of a glutton for pleasure kind of guy.)
Then the dogs wanted to go outside. Then inside. Then outside. I finally got back to my desk, precious coffee in hand, when a dog barked. I work best without a lot of distractions and with a lot of quiet, so let’s just say that up to that point I wasn’t the happiest or most productive person you’ll ever meet.
That dog’s bark was one irritation too many. That was it, I was DONE! I turned in my chair to look through the window over on my right, and filled my lungs in preparation for a very loud yell, when mid-breath my eyes caught a rose bush just outside my window that had exploded into a glorious display of floral beauty with perfectly white flowers and buds that were illuminated by a sun that had just burned through what had been an overcast sky.
It was a view of perfection that that I’d been too blind to see.
I never got the yell out. The dog–I don’t know which one–stopped barking on its own. What began as just another negative in a growing list of them this morning became a wonderful reminder as to the beauty, wonders, blessings, and joy all around me when I open my eyes, mind, and attitude, to experience them.
It’s going to be another glorious day.
May yours be glorious too.
Russ
I just started writing a lyric that is currently titled (“Ain’t Nothin’ Better Than Our) Grandma’s Love”. My apologies to English teachers everywhere, but the word “Isn’t” sometimes just doesn’t cut it in some kinds of songs. My favorite lines so far:
Even our Grandpa who’s known her way longer than us
Says there Ain’t Nothin’ Better Than Our Grandma’s Love.
Russ
“Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.” –Walt Disney
I love Walt Disney, and like this saying. But I also believe that for most adults, a lot can be lost when going from being a kid to being an adult. Fortunately, there is a cure. Grandchildren! Having grandchildren can help us to recapture much of what we lost when we ‘grew up’. We can re-discover that sense of wonder, the power of imagination to change and create whole worlds, and the sheer joy of playing and of being alive.
One of my greatest blessings is being a grandparent. In fact, I just decided to write a song about it. Stay tuned…
Russ
I thought some of you would like to see one way that a song project evolves. So, below is my first very rough draft lyric of my latest song. It is written in honor of my dog Duke and all the dogs and their humans who have a special bond. The lyric is likely to change a lot before the song is completed–if ever. Sometimes the original is unrecognizable in the final lyric. This first draft just lays out a basic possible approximately 3 minute story. Each section needs a lot more work regarding fit, rhyming, story continuity, theme, the feelings we’re trying to evoke, and of course meshing with the music that my collaborator creates for it.
Russ
“My Old Friend”
I remember how you picked me the moment we met
Somehow you knew it right from the start
Of all the people you could choose from
You ran right into my arms and into my heart.
Who could resist your soft warm puppy licks
Or your big blue eyes (now brown)
You were a squirmy bundle of furry energy
I wanted to hold you forever and never put you down.
Chorus
My Old Friend, My Old Friend
Life with you is never boring, My Old Friend
It’s always an adventure that I wish would never end,
I’m glad we have each other, My Old Friend!
Remember when you ruined our new carpet
After eating my wife’s whole birthday cake?
It’s lucky she thinks we’re cute or we’d both be dead
And getting sick is no excuse for all the mess you made!
You must have been hungry or jealous
Because you ate her rose bushes too
Every flower and every thorn
‘Til she planted balloons in their roots
My Old Friend, My Old Friend
Life with you is never boring, My Old Friend
It’s always an adventure that I wish would never end,
I’m glad we have each other, My Old Friend!
From your tail-wagging welcomes
To your sad-eyed goodbyes
You let me know you’re always here for me
You stay right by my side
No matter what goes wrong
Even when I’m sick or cranky for days
And growl, bark, and snap at you,
You love me anyway.
My Old Friend, My Old Friend
Life with you is never boring, My Old Friend
It’s always an adventure that I wish would never end,
I’m glad we have each other, My Old Friend!
Bridge:
Your face is growing whiter and your pace is off a step
Let’s make the most of the time that we have left.
My Old Friend, My Old Friend
Life with you is never boring, My Old Friend
It’s always an adventure that I wish would never end,
I’m glad we have each other, My Old Friend!
I’m glad that we’re together, My Old Friend!
I believe the recipe for lasting happiness may be a bit different for various people, but I’ll bet that for everyone it involves heaping helpings of gratitude.
I don’t know any happy people who aren’t grateful. There must be something to this gratitude thing.
Russ
A reader asked about the lyric for “No More Secrets/No More Lies” so it is below. Lyrics tend to change over time. You might want to consider this a snapshot of what it is today. Please also keep in mind that a lyric is naked without its music. If you haven’t yet requested that I send a free copy of the full song to you and would like to hear it, please do so in a comment and I’ll send it to you via email.
Russ
No More Secrets/ No More Lies
You can’t even cover half the rent
And said by now you’d be back on your feet
You tell me that you’ve been working late
But that’s not what I’m hearing on the street
You’re seeing her again
Don’t tell me you’re just friends
Chorus
No More Secrets/No More Lies
No more looking like you’re surprised
There’s no truth in what you say and now you’re going to pay
No More Secrets/ No More Lies
All that stuff you moved into my house
I threw it in a pile in my back yard
You had all day to come and pick it up
And late last night I lit a big bonfire
Man you’ve got some nerve
Sneaking around with her
Chorus
You’ll find the joke’s on you
When she hears you’ve been playing her too
Chorus
No More Secrets/ No More Lies
(c) 2012 Denis Loiseau, Russ Towne
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Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 