Good Things on the Horizon

For years I've been confusing being spontaneous with being lackadaisical. Events that I would have enjoyed have come and gone as I stood by, a wistful observer, too little-too late, on the outside looking in.

No more. I now actually maintain a calendar that actually has things written on it. As I click over from July to August, I feel a surge of anticipation for events both near and in the future.

On Sunday, we'll be going to the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston to see the reconstituted Crowded House, fronted by Neil Finn. Neil had learned his craft in his brother Tim's band, Split Enz, before forming Crowded House. They scored the huge hit "Don't Dream It's Over" and several others, such as "It's Only Natural", "The World Where You Live", and more recently, "Weather With You." They offer a combination of thoughtful lyrics and rich harmonies that reminds me of the Byrds.

On August 9th, Great Big Sea will be at the Cape Cod Melody Tent with their combination of Newfoundland Celtic songs and original work. I'm not sure sure if we can make that show, but we'll definitely be on the Cape the following week when the Saw Doctors arrive with their rollicking Irish tunes. We'll be back down to the Cape for Labor Day weekend, too.

On the day after Labor Day, for the first time in 36 years, I will not be greeting returning students. Instead, I'll be thinking ahead to a week on Block Island in mid-October during the thick of the bass and bluefish migration, and maybe even allowing myself to dream a bit about next March 1, when we touch down in Jamaica for a week at the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay.

Hey, I earned this.