It's Springtime and I've Been Thinking....

Well gang, all the signs of Spring are peeking out from behind the last frosty curtains of winter and here in the Sunny South the flowers, the blooming shrubs and trees and the scores of songbirds are announcing the fact that it is time to get started on our annual renewal.  For those of us who are practitioners of the Christian faith it is a very special time of the year;  a time when we celebrate the anniversary of an event that took place nearly two thousand years ago.  It was an event we believe resulted in the opening of a pathway for peace for our entire world and an opportunity for relief from the burden of our errant ways.  It is a system of belief not shared by all of our fellow men and women but, for us, it is an exciting time.  So bear with me for a minute or two while I ponder those thoughts. 

Actually, it was the fact that there are so many negative things occurring these days that led me to think about this idea of "renewal".  Stop for just a minute and think about yourself and the folks with whom you spend your days.  I'm pretty sure that, regardless of where you live or what you do, you have those around you who are important in your lives.  They are people whom you want to live in peace in comfort and for whom you make a special effort to help them achieve those ends.  It might be family members, co-workers, team members, comrades in arms or whatever.  But, there they are.  You know that when you fulfill your role as a trusted and supportive friend, things are better for you and for those with whom you associate.  If you are honest with yourself you will be forced to admit that that mutually supportive environment brings a level of comfort to you that results in feelings of warmth and peace.  Well, here's the deal folks.  If we extend our support, our consideration to others around us we have the potential to create an environment that can expand and bring those same feelings of peace to enormous segments of our society.  No, it is not easy to change attitudes, philosophies, behaviors, ways of life.  But the simple fact is that the level of antipathy, hatred and distrust that exists in our world today threatens to engulf us.  To crush the chances for peace among the people of our planet.  But it does not have to be that way!  We can change our course.  Look at the signs of spring - of renewal - around us.  Think about how wonderful it would be if we could all step back and take a different approach to how we relate to each other.

In this country and in other parts of the world we have become obsessed with certain approaches to things that I think have gotten us off track.  We have created educational curricula that emphasize "what we should learn" rather than "how to learn."  We have tried to articulate "what we should think" rather than helping each other learn "how to think."  We have promoted religious doctrines that dogmatically state "how life should be lived" instead of teaching us "how to live a life of peace and harmony".  Now is the time for us to change those approaches.  We must reach deeply into our hearts and souls and cast aside those destructive, misanthropic attitudes that have led to so much misery and realize that it is within our grasp to build a world of peace and happiness.  We can do this folks! 

I do not care whether you are Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist, Agnostic, Athiest or none of the above.  There is a simple, undeniable, absolute truth you can count on without question - if you are only brave enough.  That is - if you treat others as you would like to be treated - our world will work.  Do not let dogma dictate to you how you should behave toward your brothers and sisters.  Realize that the ultimate truth lies within yourself and that if you will allow yourself to open your heart and mind to the idea that we can be compassionate and considerate to each other this planet can become a true paradise.  It rests in our hands.  I promise - those who tell you otherwise are not telling you the truth!!!!!!!  You are my brother or my sister.  I love and respect you and want you to live in peace.  Join me in this idea.  See ya.

Amazing Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina

OK Gang, we’ve been away for a bit but – we’re back!!  We’ve had really cold weather here on the East coast and our neighbors up North have been brutalized by Old Man Winter.  In fact, as we speak (or write as the case may be) we expect to get some more freezing precipitation tonight in the Sunny South.  Who knows?  But we got a reprieve yesterday with temps in the high fifties/low sixties so we hooked up with a couple of our buddies and headed out for one of our most enjoyable outings – a Bluegrass Festival!!! 

You folks who joined us last year for the Bluegrass Festival at Magnolia Lodge will recall some of the spectacular music we saw right here in wonderful Ridgeway, SC.  Well,  Patty and Doug who we introduced you to back, then joined us for a visit to the Haynes Auditorium in greater metropolitan Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. for the second event of the 2015 Haynes Bluegrass Series.  Now, folks, this is something to mark down on your calendar.  It turns out that this tiny town, in the far western corner of Lexington County, S. C., has become a mecca for some of the most outstanding practitioners of bluegrass art in the country.  And I say that advisedly gang. 

Batesburg-Leesville was originally two towns (of the same names) both founded near the end of the 18^th century and separated by a 500 yard median along the “Columbia, Charlotte and Augusta Railroad (Now Southern Railway).  Batesburg was originally called Batesville for one or more members of the prominent Bates family who had extensive landholdings in the area and possibly the town’s first mayor, Captain A. D. Bates, who was also a railroad official and minister.  But it was later changed to Batesburg to avoid conflict with another South Carolina town of the same name.  Leesville was the site of Captain John Lee’s Tavern, reportedly one of George Washington’s stopping places during his tour of 1791, and the town name was derived from the Lee family.  Anyway!!! The present town (consolidated into one entity in 1992) is the home of some interesting stuff.  Located about forty miles from our capital, Columbia, with a population of about  5,500 people, the town is home to the “Mid-State Mud Bogg”, a wild event featuring a bunch of high-powered pickup trucks with huge engines and even “huge-er” tires whose sole purpose in life is to scream through about one hundred yards of gooey mud as fast as they can go.  But “B-L” also hosts the annual “Poultry Festival” (May 9^th of this year) where you can find virtually anything remotely associated with chickens!!!  And, I have to add that it is also the official home of “Camp Barstow” the summer camp of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  Barstow was originally located Southwest of Columbia and during the many years we were involved in Scouting we had lots of great adventures there.

We arrived at Haynes Auditorium on College Street right at 6:30 pm, picked up our tickets and made our way into the auditorium.  First, though, we had to pick up cushions for our seats!!  (Believe me, we were glad we had them).  We got settled in, said some “Howdy’s” to friends we saw, and very quickly were introduced to the opening band, “Flatland Express”.  This group has been around for a while and is a regular at Haynes but, more importantly, is the “home band” of the guy who coordinates events at the auditorium, Lewis Rogers.  The group consists of Lewis Rogers (Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo and vocal), O’Neal Davis (Guitar and vocal), Marty Carrigg (Banjo, Dobro, and Vocals),  Hugh Fanning (also known as “Otto”)  (Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar and vocal), and Katie Miller (Bass and vocals).  Folks this group is what “real” music is all about.  They are exceptional musicians who, I am sure, want to get compensated for their effort but, who perform for the sheer love of music.  They were great!! And glad we had them!– They performed for a solid hour without a break.  I have tried to attach some photos and a video so you will get an idea of their talent.  Soon, however, they turned the stage over to the “headliners” for the evening, “Darin and Brooke Aldridge”. 

Now, I’ve gotta tell ya, while the name of the group is “Darin and Brooke Aldridge”, every one of the other members of the band could be a headliner in his or her own right!!!  They were absolutely spectacular musicians – with credentials to match!!!  Darin (Mandolin, Guitar, Vocal) and Brooke (Vocal, Mandolin) were stunningly good singers but the talent on the other parts of the stage was amazing.  Dwayne Anderson (Acoustic Bass, Vocal)  has performed with a number of groups and is currently an instructor at East Tennessee State University; Tyler Collins (Banjo) is an incredible musician who has won numerous banjo and guitar competitions throughout the southeast and was Tennessee State Dobro Champion last year.  Colin Willis (Dobro) is from Chesnee, South Carolina and has recorded and played with numerous bands.  Carley Arrowood (Fiddle) is an 18 year old young lady from from Union Mills, N.C. whose credentials include First place (Fiddle) and Second Place (Bluegrass Band) at the Union Grove Fiddlers Convention.  Now, folks, these groups were truly outstanding and our experience at the Haynes Auditorium could not have been better.  I hope you will take the time to find out more about these exceptional groups and consider going to one of the events that will take place on the fourth Saturday each month for the rest of the year.  (And also to some of the other quirky, wonderful events they have around here!!) If you want to find out more about the series bluegrass series, go to http://www.haynesbluegrass.com/.  Next time we go we’ll let you know and, hopefully, we’ll have a chance to meet up in Batesburg-Leesville.  See ya.