Today’s blog, from home
Lynn Murphy Mark
The road home
Yesterday was the final driving leg of my trip. I left Oklahoma City early and set out for home. The route is highway all the way: 40 to 44 and presto, I was home by 4:00. There were a couple of stops for gas and drinks and food and stretch breaks.
One of my luxuries is to have a subscription to Sirius satellite radio. This allows for hours of talk radio, or music of various genres. When the road stretches out ahead and several hundred miles have to be covered, it is a gift to be able to listen to my favorite channels. On the way to New Mexico I discovered the Broadway show tunes station. On the way home, yesterday, I found the Billy Joel channel.
Billy and I traveled 474 miles together. I only knew his most popular songs, “Piano Man” and “My Life”. I never paid much attention to his other music. I deeply regret that because I became an instant groupie over the hours. The channel featured a lot of him talking about how he composed many of his tunes, followed by the music itself. I was amazed by how many songs he has produced that have been performed by other groups. I recognized most of those. So, at age 73, I have a lot of catching up to do!
Billy was born in 1949, which happens to be my birth year as well. We were both born in New York City. Wikipedia states that he has battled depression for many years. I can relate to that as well. Apparently we both love music. There is where the resemblance stops. However, I am grateful to have learned what I did about his work. Listening to his music helped the hours tick by quickly.
As I drove I also thought about my two week pilgrimage to see family in Indiana, and see good friends in New Mexico. The New Mexican landscape is still with me. The mountains, the cottonwoods, the big blue sky – all part of my soulscape. I’m already thinking about when I can go back sometime in 2023.
Now it’s morning and I’m at my familiar desk with my happy lamp shining off to the side. When I got home I was happy to see Jan. Mollie Dog was beside herself with joy when I walked through the front door. I thought she would never stop hopping up and down. My bed felt good, although the beds I slept in on my voyage were all fine. Actually, I’m a gifted sleeper, so I will fall asleep on a stone slab if necessary…
Finally, last night’s Cardinals game was a bitter disappointment. The Cards simply could not get anything going through nine painful innings. Pujols and Yadi played their last game at Busch Stadium, and did not go out as hoped. Instead they exited the dugout quietly, leaving their awesome careers out on the field where the Philadelphia team was celebrating the victory.
It was a sad moment for Cardinals Nation. Next year’s team will look very different without the two icons. Life will go on without Cardinals baseball through most of October, but it won’t be nearly as much fun!