Back To The Well

Tonight was an emotional night. Heck, they've all been somewhat emotional lately. The past two weeks have definitely qualified as the most balanced of my life. There have been highs, some great highs. And, a couple of lows. The good still outweighs the bad, but sometimes you wonder. You start to assess things a little. Why does one do the things they do? Whether it be radio, writing, working on cars, or horses, passions consume us. Is it too much?

I have asked myself that question a lot over the past few months due to some of life's changes. Tonight was one of those nights where I, for better or worse, received the answer. Kenny Rogers played the Hall Of Fame tonight as part of the Artist-In-Residence series. I will tell you that - though I do consider myself to be a writer and a professional, I am also a fan. I grew up on Country Music. If I didn't have friends to play with growing up, I was listening to the radio, watching TV, or reading Billboard Magazine. (Even at age eleven, believe it or not!) That music, but particularly Kenny Rogers, helped to define my childhood. One of my earliest memories was watching the clouds go around and around as his records would play on my record player growing up. Family trips - either to Illinois or to Hickman County - usually featured one of his 8-track tapes or cassettes in the car deck - sometimes frustrating my parents. You didn't take a Rogers tape out. It was not a pretty sight!

Well, back to tonight. Kenny took fans on a trip through his many musical twists and turns. The psychadelic sound of "Just Dropped In"....the classic story songs of "Lucille," "Coward Of The County," and "The Gambler"....the romantic ballads of "Lady" and "Morning Desire." But, the song that got me the most tonight was one he doesn't do in concert too much anymore - "Twenty Years Ago," a hit from 1987. It took me back a ways to that kid who was studying the charts more than he was his school work. To that kid who made up his own imaginary radio station growing up - WBRQ (W-Burns-Q)....And, now it's been twenty-five years since that song. A lot of changes since then. Many decisions I wish I had back. Some I wouldn't change. I guess life is what you make it...not what it was. If that makes any sense at all.

Listening to many of these songs brought back memories tonight, and reminded me that it is worth it. God has blessed me with a career that has seen more highs than anything else, and I am grateful. I have about five or six different jobs right now, and though there are nights I wish I was asleep at 12 midnight, I wouldn't change a thing. Getting to communicate my love of a song, an album, or the excitement of a high school sports game - I love it with all my heart. I am a very fortunate person to get to do what I do.

There's an old saying about going 'Back To The Well.' Tonight, that's what I did. I may not be the best at anything I do....but I can tell you this...nobody loves all of what they do any more than the person who is writing this. Though there's a lot of uncertainity right now about other sections of my life, I got a reminder tonight of why I do it. Thanks for reading tonight!