music

kissing a painted sky and paint bank /  by admin

©2011 gary garbett.com

Following an early morning lead, yesterday sent me on a road trip to Paint Bank,Virginia located in the southwestern region of Virginia on Potts Mountain, just five miles from the WestVirginia border. The day was beautiful and my roadtrip equaled that along the stunning scenic two lane Virginia route 311. I can't recall ever having driven more S turns than I did through theJefferson National Forest. The vistas were gorgeous and I seemed close enoughat times to reach out and kiss the few clouds that painted the sky.

The day was a path of basics - core places, people, and moments of real lifeof real America. I received a genuine hello with sincere waves as I drove past two young mothers at a rural bus stop, waiting for their children to arrive homefrom school. I passed a field lit up from the sun. Sitting behind the harvestwas a pale yellow barn in the distance with an American flag covering theentire façade. The aromas of freshly cut grass filled the air along severalmiles, and the few General Stores I did pass were tidy, welcoming, andunlittered from excessive commercialism.

Nearly an hour after exiting I-81, I found myself approaching a 35 MPHzone. The square green sign with white letters read PAINT BANK. Less than halfa mile ahead, just past the Volunteer Fire Department, was the crossroads at route 608 were the Paint Bank General Store and the Depot Lodge share theintersection and all of downtown Paint Bank. I was greeted by hospitality in person, listened to authentic local music, snapped more than a few pictures, and made a new friend named Jeremy.

There are days when life is just beyond rich. I'm thankful for those kind of days.

battened hatches, stones, and hurricanes /  by admin

©2011 gary garbett.com

With the coming of Irene, I battened down the hatches. My hunkering down in my home office with a piping cup of French Roast, a bubbling lava lamp, the Rolling Stones in Exile documentary, and the pups resting at my feet with their favorite cookies is a true test of nerves.

I'm thinking of all of my friends in the Tidewater and coastal areas. Be safe and better yet… be smart.

a mile of an open heart and a six string /  by admin

©2011 gary garbett.com
So much of how I perceive life to be is incredibly sacred. When I witness such an honest outpouring of it, it extends to me the greatest hope.

During my 6AM drive to the office a few weeks ago the expressiveness of a soul captured me. Along the monument of avenues was clearly the openness of a heart. One of pain, one of apology, and one of sincerity. Posted on each street pole for nearly a mile were single-line love notes, each beautifully hand written with a heavy black marker on random neon colored papers. Each were posted at the same height along the heavily traffic route, four to six per block. Without coming across as overly sugar coated, the mile of I love yous was the most sincere and genuine love letter I may have ever read. The sentiment was honest, confessional, joyful, sorrowful, and real. Following three sunrise mornings, random letters began to slowly go missing. By the end of the week, all were gone ....leaving nothing but a memory.

God bless the poets, the songwriters, and every love letter gone unread.

taking a spin with george harrison /  by admin

©2011 gary garbett.com

Music centers me. From the time I was a little boy, it always has. I get lost in it and it simply finds my soul. I've had my share of music devices over the years from numerous record players, a lime green portable AM radio with a thin plastic wrist strap, chrome retractable antenna, and a single mono ear plug, several 8-track and cassette tape decks - both portable and stereophonic stand alones, a Sony Walkman, cd players, an iPod and other digital media players. The one that got me started around 1964 was a box unit Beanie and Cecil record player. I then started collecting 45's from the time I was about five or six years old. By the time I was nine, I was serious about my music and began buying albums, partly because of the art as well as the music. A few of my firsts were Led Zeppelin III, Credence Clearwater Revival - Cosmos Factory, The Guess Who - Canned Wheat, and The Osmonds self titled. Yes, the Osmonds.

My appreciation of vinyl albums continues and I try to make it a point to listen to a few each night. I love the artwork and packaging. I love reading the liner notes. And I love hearing the depth and richness of the analog sound as the reflection from the grooves dance on the turntable. It's been nearly 50 years since Santa brought me that Beany and Cecil box and the love it opened up for me continues. Record albums define who I am. They've been my best friends for a long, long time.

Last night I enjoyed time with Cat Stevens - Teaser and the Firecat, Santana - Abraxas, and George Harrison - Thirty Three & 1/3. Seems fitting.