I have two other posts waiting but I just heard Dolly Parton died today.
They can wait.
Pretty much everything can wait.
To say Dolly Parton positively influenced my life is such a gross understatement it feels silly typing it. If you are a human being, believe me, she positively influenced your life.
If you don’t feel a sense of loss at her passing, you aren’t able to appreciate a beautiful spirit that was as generous as she was astronomically talented.
Twice Oscar-nominated actress, award-winning singer, expert musician, timelesssongwriter and shrewd businesswoman are just a few to start with.
Her philanthropy is legendary and will long outlive her in the people she gave the gift of reading books to and the many recipients of her generosity, much of it, evidently, away from the glare of the press and the spotlight.
Her love of music and purity of spirit comes across in the sheer joy she derives and gives from singing.
I won’t turn this into a religious forum and start bringing up things like What Comes Next, because none of us knows.
As for myself, I said a quick prayer to God asking him to take good care of Dolly.
He knows who she is…
Think about it.
We are doomed from the very second we take our first breath on this planet. It’s just a matter of how and when.
I neither fear nor welcome it.
What I do fear is not waking up and seeing the smile of my soulmate every morning and hearing her laughter as she plays with our two Cocker Spaniels…the Corleone brothers.
It registered with me at an early age that we are all here for a finite, yet unpredictable, period of time.
For having a MENSA IQ, I am quite the dumbass. I have risked life and limb for no reason on several occasions and I am alive today in spite of the ridiculous and illegal things I did on my “journey” which has resembled more of a carnival ride than a sojourn.
But I had hell fun.
I spend my time now writing songs, doing my blog (1373 and counting) and performing at nursing homes, memory centers and rehabilitation facilities and I donate my earnings to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.
I actually have to turn down more offers to play than I accept due to several factors, including the availability of my unpaid roadie, none other than the inimitable Domestic Despot Karen bin Laden.
Death-defying used to refer to circus acts and the occasional whack job who just didn’t give a shit.
In today’s world, we defy death by waking up every morning.
The Grand Conspiracy includes as-yet-to-be discovered viruses and other biological agents to go along with our contaminated food, air and water.
Microplastics.
Diabetes.
Don’t tell me they haven’t already found a cure for it.
Drunk drivers.
It’s easy to sit back and castigate offenders, reminding everyone of the availability of alternative transport options, but it merely emphasizes the disease hasn’t been cured yet. Sometimes an old alcoholic will say, “if we had Uber back in the day, I would have never received a DUI.”
Bullshit.
You wouldn’t have listened to anyone suggesting it, because when you are drunk, you and you alone, know better.
Right.
Insane mass murderers.
Crooked politicians.
And all the usual suspects: war, hunger, natural disasters and (drum roll please)…greed.
And since we are human….you must account for stupidity. Sometimes we just do stupid shit.
No rhyme, no reason.
Since we are leaving no progeny, Karen and I have purchased cremation services for our departure.
There is no elaborate ash-scattering ceremony or anything lame like that.
I have never been a fan of semiotics or symbolism, so …turn the page.
Later…
Everyone has their own ideas as to what comes next….if anything.
One of the very first songs my first band Purple Mirror, played in 1966 was the Grass Roots’ Live for Today.
Great short-term advice but not a highly-recommended choice for a lifestyle.
Of course it was the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
So my advice (if anyone wants it or not) is to do what makes you smile or laugh.
Then do it again.
Stay well.
