May
22 We had
a lovely dinner with Jim and Penni last night. It started off a bit
whacked as those days do when everything seems to go sideways. I sat
for an hour and a half at the wrong restaurant and both Andie and I
forgot our cell phones but in the end it was good company and good
food. It is always a pleasure to spend time with people like Jim and
Penni, they are enjoyable company and even more, they like each other.
Sometimes it seems like a lot of couples don't. I was thinking of that
song that Liz used to sing when she was little, " Make new friends,
but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold. We look forward
to more time with our new friends.
I heard from Chani yesterday. She is doing good and also going through
some changes like we all do. I am proud of her independence and her
talent. She has a great future ahead of her in art. She is truly gifted
and she works hard at improving. I have folders full of her early sketches
and it is fun to see how she has grown over the years. She is one of
a kind.
I was thinking this morning about the teenage years. We all go through
them twice. Once on our own and once again with our children. I think
both are tough. Which is more difficult is relative to where you are
standing. It is hard from both sides. It is a time of passage, of letting
go. It is hopefully the prelude to the birth of a butterfly from a
caterpillar. Love sees us through all things. Sometimes I think it
would be nice if we had heart Band-Aids that we could patch on when
our hearts are bruised or broken. One thing for sure, life goes on
and teenage years pass in time.
May
19th I scraped frost off my windows this morning. What
is that about? I have always said Washington is one of the few places
where you can have all four seasons in a single day. Hi to Sarah Maria.
She wrote and told me of a beautiful Thai sunset. It reminded me of
a memory I have of being on the coast of Thailand and realizing as
the sunset in a burst of color, that it was one of the those moments
I would always hold in my heart, like I hold Sarah Maria.
H. David Jones spoke at church Sunday about forgiving our fathers.
What a powerful speaker and message. Healing wounds with our parents
and ourselves through forgiveness opens the door to closeness with
God.
May
15 & 16 Had
a double good day on Saturday. Scott and Deb MacGougan and our son
Freedom. Freedom stayed and visited with Andie for a few hours after
I went to my gig. Deb and Andie fed us way too much good food. Freedom
is such a good example of total faith in God's care. As he carries
his message to the people, he goes where his heart calls and the Lord
always provides. I hope someday he will be able to spend some time
in the studio with me. We talked about life and music and how his brother
Josh enjoys the Washburn guitar I gave him. That was good to hear.
He is off and gone again, but here in my heart.
Played in the Mr. Right Now Band Friday and Saturday night. It was
a lot of fun! Lonnie Mueller rocked out on guitar. Scott Drexler played
percussion and harp. Mike Daily was on Drums and Jimmy Culler on bass.
Some young people were out on the street and I heard them say "There
is some kind of Latin Rock Band in the Green Room." It was us.
I loved it. Saw my buddy WD. It was good to see him. He used to come
in on many a Mellow Monday and play guitar with me at Bickford's Steakhouse.
Saw Julia and April. I also got to talk on the cell phone to Crystal
who I have known for many years. What a treat that was. Hope to see
her soon. A good time was had by all. It was a "Mur-Rock 'n Roll"
evening.
Update
on Dale. Dale is now in Intensive Care and could really use your prayers. He
is a sick puppy. Haven't talked to Kathy but I will pop a note in when
I hear more. Still haven't heard about Dale, I will try to reach Kathy
today.
Freedom did a drive through yesterday and I heard he was in town after
he left. It looks like I will be playing at the Garlic Festival. I
spoke to Beauty Israel today. I added a link on the home page to the
Garlic Festival site, but the site is down at the time I write this.
I decided to leave the link in hope it is just a maintenance thing.
Thank you for your time. Hold hands and say your prayers.
May 14, 2003 Pay attention, that is on my mind today. My thoughts
are with our friend Dale, who is suddenly ill with some unexplained
condition. None of us know from one day to the next what will happen
to us. Our health can change in the blink of an eye. I think it is
so easy to forget that each new today is a once in a lifetime experience.
Dale knows that. Dale is a good friend and he is in our prayers. This
is all so sudden. We hope and believe that he will come through all
of this all right. I have never been rich in money, but I am rich in
love of family and friends. I am grateful to have someone in my life
who loves me like Andie does, Dale has Kathy and so I know he knows
what I mean. It seems like time goes by faster each day and it becomes
more and more challenging to make the time to show the ones you love
how special they are. Today I will take the time. None of us know when
our time is up, only that it is coming. I love the phrase "Seize
the day." Today Andie and I will seize the chance to visit our
friend Dale and see if we can be of help and comfort his wife Kathy.
The thing about love is this, it makes your heart more full and rich
and spills over onto those around you if you let it. But you have to
pay attention. So if you could, hold hands with someone you love and
say a prayer for our friend, give thanks for your health and as always
pray for World
Peace.
May 7, 2003 I
watched the sunrise this morning. It was pink and lavender with purple
clouds sprinkled across the sky. It faded into a soft peach color.
It had Shibumi, simple understated beauty. I was thinking of our daughter
Sarah's description of sunsets in Indian and wishing I was watching
the sun rise with her. She is such an amazing person, so intelligent
and well traveled and talented musically and artistically. I treasure
the times we get to spend as she is gone so much of the time. Riding
some bus in the mountains of Columbia, traveling by train through India.
I know she sends us love and mental pictures and sometimes I feel like
I am there. As a parent with any child, grown or little, you also feel
their pain. I know she misses us as we miss her. The sunrise and sunset
are very healing experiences and spiritual moments of closeness when
shared with someone you love. So today I was sending love her way and
hoping she will be home soon for some rest, some music, some good Columbia
Winery Wine, some family love and some beautiful Washington sunsets.
May 5, 2003 What a blast
this weekend was! We met some great new friends, Jim and Penny, and
we look forward to getting to know them better. Province's was too
much fun. It was great to see Dana again. Andie sang beautifully. Kelly
and Aaron were out together and Kelly did a whole set with me. I have
it all on mini-disc and it turned out great.
Sunday we went with Columbia Winery on the Spirit of Washington Dinner
Train. We pulled up at 5:29 PM (not recommended) and noticed everyone
pointing at us as we walked towards the train. The whole trip Nancy
reminded us that we had held up the train! Oops! We met and dined with
Bluesette and Jason. I led the car in singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow
with the help of Sharon Peterson. And that was the start of a host
of sing along songs. We had people coming down from the other cars
to see why we were having so much fun. Paul, our waiter, said it was
the first time that the passengers had entertained him. The wines were
fantastic. Thank you Gary Law, for the invitation and to Jesse and
Karen for the hospitality. We had such a good time I was hardly aware
that we had only slept a few hours the night before. Think about joining
the Columbia Winery Cellar Club. They have lots of events planned for
the summer and there are plenty of benefits to joining.
That's my story and I'm sticking to
it.
May
3, 2003 No one gets
out alive. Life is like a video game, no matter how good you play'
you die in the end. It is what happens between the beginning and the
end that matters. There is that saying that the uncontemplated life
is not worth living. Well, I think the day to day makes it pretty challenging
to contemplate the deeper meaning. Spirituality seems to take the back
burner to the cares of the day. As years go by I try to come to terms
with this mortality thing. I believe in eternity and have faith but
the part where this ends is so hard to grasp.
I loved what Robert Frost said, he
summed up all he learned about life in three words,"Life goes
on." Andie and I were talking about how old people don't see themselves
as old. We are quickly heading for a new phase with new choices and
that is scary and exciting at the same time. I am grateful for the
time I have had and the time that remains and hope to grow more at
peace at the whole reality of the terminal end to this life. I look
forward to the next adventure. Some things about life are so hard,
I know there are many people longing for release. So much of the best
parts of being here on the planet are free. The sunrises and sunsets,
the sound of waves and rain on a roof, the sparkle in a loved one's
eyes. So I think again, hold hands and say your prayers and keep you
eyes open to life, and what to the beauty and love around you. No one
gets out alive, but love and memories go with us when we leave.
April 29, 2003 Relationships.
I think one of the most important things about relationships is paying
attention. Not to just what you hear but what you perceive. If you
are not paying attention, you miss signals that tell you what your
partner needs. I say this because I have been reflecting on all the
signals I miss. So I am making a goal for the future for my mate. I
will see Andie swim with Dolphins. I will see Andie working in her
green house that I am going to build for her. I will walk through the
archway in front of our cobblestone sidewalk, the one she has wanted
for years. I will help her landscape the back yard and plant flowers
in the elevated gardens we build together. I will scuba dive with her
in the Caribbean again. I will visit the Lavender Gardens with her.
We will look at the cost of Log Cabins together. We will have lunch
in Paris, after attitudes settle down. I will see her shooting digital
movies. We will make a CD together. That is the beginning. My dad and
I were talking yesterday and I said, if you set goals you reach them.
If not, time just keeps on passing. As for me, I plan on paying attention
because Andie is the better part of me. I want our relationship and
love to last. I've gotta go buy some lumber.April
20th Happy Easter. We had a great time today with Kathy and Dale and Lars, Andie's mom, Faith,
Liz and her friend Rachel . We had a fine Easter meal, good visit and
an Easter egg hunt. Ate too much food probably. Family time. I love
my family. I love my children. I mostly think of them from a distance
since they are travelers or just too busy to drive out in the sticks.
Of all my blessings I am most grateful for the privilege of being a
father. Although it is bitter sweet at times, what an amazing thing.
I remember when Aaron was just a baby and I would hike through the
woods with him on my back in a back pack. I talked to him and had him
touch the leaves and the trees. I realized not everyone was excited
about parenting as me. I remember a lady talking about her children
and she said "When they are young they step on your time, when
they are teenagers they step on your heart. That has been true in some
ways but it is the coming of age. I can't help but believe that the
transition need not be so angst driven and painful. This next phase
of life is exciting as we get the chance to know each other as adults
and drop all the role playing labels that may have slipped in over
the years. This is my favorite time especially with Sarah, Aaron and
Chani. I am hoping in time Josh will come around. Liz is making her
way through that teenage roller coaster state of mind, sometimes graciously,
sometimes not. I am proud of them all and glad to know and love them.
One day at a time. I love my family.
April 23 I
heard from Sarah today. No good red wine in India apparently. I miss
her so much and look forward to her return. What a kindred spirit.
Happy Birthday on Saturday Sarah Maria! I also talked to Aaron this
weekend and he seems happy and content to be in the Rocky Mountains.
I miss his face as well. I also spoke to Joules yesterday. We talked
about the state of the world, her tour and life. She asked "What
happened to love?" We were talking about the hearts of people
in general and in power. We are inundated with rules and boundaries
that seek to separate us from our oneness as a human family. Love lives
in the heart of each of us and we can make a difference, one person
at a time. I was just thinking of a poem I wrote when Aaron and Sarah
were little and I was trying to make peace with myself.
The beauty that lies within each heart
Is there for all to see
The rainbow hues in sunlight lands
Are restrained only by the bands
We build inside, around and above
The beauty that lies within each heart
That is my thought for this day. Reach down inside where the happy
child lives and say "Come out and play!"
April 19th Wow
there are a lot of birthdays this month. I just found out I missed
Kenny Lee's birthday on the 16th. Happy birthday Kenny. And Aaron's
birthday is the 19th. Happy birthday Aaron. I had another great night
last night at Province's. Kelly and Aaron are trading off on nights
out and so Kelly sang with me a lot. She has learned a lot of the harmony
from Room With A View and so I loved it. It was fun to have a chance
to sing some harmony myself. I miss that, singing solo.
I hope every one has a happy Easter. I just learned I will be at Province's
on the first weekend in May. Dana is coming to town and it is a party
on the first Saturday. Be there.
It was loud last night. There were lots of people and
they were having a good old time. My friend Bill Shanks started to
leave because of the smoke but got some fresh air and stuck it out
till the end. I am taking it easy today so I can have a good night.
I think Jimmy and Lonnie are coming to sit in. I am resting my back
as I hurt it lifting something on Thursday. I have kept a journal for
years. It is a great way to work things out. It is where I have written
most of my songs. It is different with a computer. There is not the
same energy as with a pen and paper. It is just a perspective really.
I am getting more comfortable just letting it flow and writing. Part
of the challenge is asking myself, is this the newsletter or journal.
I guess I will update both pages regularly so I can relax and write.
A lot of new song ideas are brewing. Yesterday on the way to the dump
I was thinking of another rewrite of the song Don't Wait. It went something
like
Give her love when she wants it, anyway she wants it, any time at all
Give her love when she needs it, show you love her till she believes
it
Then you'll never ever have to grieve it, because she won't walk away
If you give her love
I love the song musically but it has never seemed right lyrically,y
so I keep coming back to it. It was originally It's Too Late, but I
thought if it's too late, who cares. And so on. Gotta run. Later, Greg
April
19th 2003: I was born an old..
I knew about everything: parenting, love and life. I used to explain
my parenting philosophy to my dad when I was about 5 years old. One
of two things happened over the years; either I was born with a lot of misinformation or I
forgot everything I knew when I discovered music and romance. Life
may have played a part in the lost information: stuff like divorce
and Viet Nam. Trying to find what I had lost over the years led to
a lot of broken hearts, including mine. I have chronicled the whole
journey in journals, poems and songs.
Life wounds
us sometimes. A broken heart is slow to heal. We get guarded. I lost
a lot protecting myself over the years. My wife, Andie, has helped
me to break the bands and to take down the walls a brick at a time. She has eased me into
adulthood. We have had all 5 children in our home and, given the diversity
of them all, it was an amazing thing. I am slowing gaining more understanding.
The kids are mostly grown and on their own. One thing I have learned
is stepparents are the most unsung heroes on the planet. I learned
that love is putting others first. I learned that biology doesn't have
anything to do with parenting. I have learned that children are their own entities and we are simply
blessed with the chance to love them and help shape their lives and
then let them go. I have learned they remember
some of what I forgot. I learned to open my heart and pour out love.
Sure, you get stung sometimes, but what doesn't kill you makes you
strong. My whole journey put together led me to Andie and to love,
full circle back to what I thought I knew when I was little. I saw
the beauty in her heart and she helped me see the beauty in mine. I
love her a lot.
April
15th I was
thinking how much fun it is to make music with a band. We didn't outnumber
the audience on Saturday night, but it was close. It was the whole
gang, Jamie and Becky (who is far more entertaining than we are), Jimmy
and Loretta, Mike and April, Scott and Andie & me. Kathy and Dale
were there with Lars. I saw so many people that I hadn't seen since
the days of The Banana Brothers. What a blast. New week and on we go.
I am hoping to be at the Columbia Winery on Labor Day but I will let
you know. I am glad to be at Province's this weekend and it should
be fun. I hear Kelly is coming in and I am not sure if it is to work
or play or both. I am bit confused on what is the journal and what
is the news letter so today this is the Photo Journal page. Thanks
for the visit.
I
have made some new musical friends over the last year, Don and Oman
Quijano. They are both exceptional musicians, originally from the Philippines.
I gain a ton of knowledge just working around Don, philosophically,
technically and musically. And man, can Oman sing! Check out there
link below. It is a good thing when life puts you in contact with refreshing
perspectives and people. I look forward to feeling better and expanding
my musical horizons in the coming days.
Flash Poems
Journal Archive
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contents ©2003-2022 and to infinity and beyond Andie Murat and Greg
Murat All Rights
Reserved
Greg Murat (mur-rah)
Singer-Songwriter Guitarist
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