Hey everybody!   Thank the LORD it is Thursday.  The weekend is approaching y’all…we just gotta hang in there!!!

Some of you may recall the old school Calgon commercial.  It was always a brunette in a bubble bath crying out in her best Scarlett O’Hara voice : “Calgon, take me away”!!!!

Personally, I’m more like something between Forrest Gump and Jennn-naaay.  “Dear Lord, make me a bird, so I can fly: far, far away from here.”  Over…and over…and over.  I’m sure God wonders why I’m so repetitious.  It’s not like He didn’t hear me the first time, or suffers from short term memory loss.  And my guardian angel is probably wishing he could chew God out for being assigned to me in the first place, ROTFL!!!
No matter how bad the urge is for me to run, I learned a long time ago that running away from our problems doesn’t do us any good.  I’ve watched folks run from their lives, and mostly themselves.   Sometimes they’re  changing friends like underwear.  Others drown their sorrows in substances and casual sex.  Some folks hide in the shelter of their homes, and never venture out because they’re afraid.  The tee-totalers think they’ll go to hell if they take a drink or pop a Xanax, so they just go to the Chinese buffet or Golden Corral instead.  We all have coping mechanisms.  But, finding positive ways to cope keeps us steady in the boat, and resolves the real issues sooner than choosing to run away. 
I pray and play music.  I’m pretty good at drowning my sorrows in a song.  I could be the professor of that course:  Music for the Melancholy 101.  ROTFL!!  I can almost aways find a song to fit my mood.  I’ve got songs for road trips.  Songs for riding the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Songs gor practicing drums.  Songs for Friday afternoons.  Songs for Sunday mornings (fried shrimp, shrimp creole, shrimp n’ grits…here we go Forrest).  You get the point. 
Y’all may have seen the meme on facebook that says you can tell what’s on a girl’s mind by what song she’s listening to, and that’s the truth.  If you think your girl is preoccupied in thought and you wanna know what’s going on…ask her what songs she’s listening to this week:  It’s a dead giveaway.  You can thank me later.

I can’t tell you the first time I heard Drift Away by Dobie Gray.  I’m sure I was very young.  But everybody seems to still love that song, no matter how young or old they are.  It’s just catchy like that.  I love singing the harmony parts too.  And besides, the lyrics to the song are literally beckoning to take you away.  I’m pretty sure that obligates me as a musician to like this song.  At least it’s not the Electric Slide, right?  Worst.  Band.  Song.  Ever.  C major for 4 beats, D minor for 4 beats into eternity while saying “Boogie Woogie Woogie”.  Welcome to Musician’s Hell, folks.

There is a lot to be said for a song taking you on a journey somewhere.  It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re a musician.  Music can be therapeutic to the broken heart.  Or a motivator on the elliptical machine at the gym.  Or the song you slow dance to with your lover.  No matter what, it’s a powerful thing.   Taking a breather from the cares of the world is not a bad thing, either.  In fact, I find it very beneficial.  Just don’t get lost.  Keep good friends around for support.  Have faith that things will get better and that you’ll be a better person at that point.   You’ll be in a better position to have more gratitude for the good times. 
Well, I’m gonna see if I can drift away to dreamland.  Hang in there, my fellow insomniacs.  To my snoring loved ones…I’m jealous, and y’all be loud sometimes, lol!!!!   Take care my friends, and we’ll talk again soon. 
Love to all!