I want to meet all the nice people in the world....

I'm happy to admit my skepticisms - about politicians, nutritional content, the true value of sunscreen, how often to floss, moderation vs. indulgence - among others.  But one thing continues to surprise and please me.  There are nice people everywhere.  Recently I visited Aspen, Colorado for the first time.  I confess my preconceived notion of the playground of celebs, rich, Fendi/Gucci/Dior sporting svelte, pierced, rockers, cooler than cool, players.  Instead, I met kindred spirits - lovers of music, musicians, beautiful blue skies, coffee shops with more outdoor seating than in, blue bicycles, rugby players in clown outfits and the celebration of them all.  I'm no fool....there are curmudgeons everywhere, even the occasional rude & snotty clerk.  But folks like the FedEx man in the Auburn shirt with infectious smile and robust laugh more than make up for them.   I will contemplate the symbolism of Aspen - the possibility of the third point of my TN-FL-? triangle, for now.  So, for today, this is really real - I believe in the goodness of people and their desire to connect and will celebrate my insatiable need to collect friends.

An Oklahoma connection - always.

A Nashville connection.

An Aspen connection.

A 30A connection.

Lynn and Alexandra

Pondering their next move.

Suzi + Kim = mustangs.

Aspen committee meeting.

That Cheryl's always smiling.

Nathan and Kate.  Winners in every category.

Mason Reed and Heather Larson having fun in the Library.

Why Must I Compare?

Everyday, yes, every day, if I took a phone call with a voice asking me if I am a lucky, blessed and fortunate person, I would without hesitation reply 'yes'.   I would end the call and promptly proceed to carry on thru that everyday day blind to the precise people and circumstances constituting my previously declared status.  I scan CNN, HLN, Yahoo reports for world conditions and now read warnings of impending oil on beloved white beaches, as well as on wildlife whose only possible infraction against BP oil was to poop during a fly-over.   For the past three days, the Nashville area has been under siege by the same Mother Nature who brings us glorious sunsets, harvest moons and roses of an indescribable color.  Too much of a good thing is not, in this case, a wonderful thing and can only be compared to the insufferable absence of hydration.  So, for today, this is really real - I am a darn lucky, blessed beyond merit, fortunate with every tick of the clock woman and most days I do not live like one.  But I want to.

Can I be betrayed by people I don't even know?

I have previously confessed my obsession with photographs, namely mine.  Today, I reenter the confessional booth.  Anyone who knows me, even casually, can testify as to my preoccupation with the purchase of tickets to live music events, and namely the choice seats. To summarize, I like to be close enough to read the set list taped to the floor.  So, when a favorite duo contacted me a few days ago with the promise of a presale that would begin today, I entered the date & time into my ibrain, setting not one, but two, alerts.  Without a thought, at the last minute I dodged an appearance at a meeting, instead playing my preferred one-key instrument, the refresh button. BUT THEY SAID 10 O'CLOCK!!!  No information immediately turned to Sold Out, the most dreaded two words a musicoholic can hear. Nothing to do but tweet my frustrations, relieving 'my' musicians of responsibility, of course, but fulfilling my need to reveal the wrongdoing.  Roughly three hours later, again at my instrument of delight/doom, curiosity led me back to the presale page, where I was informed tickets would be available within the half-hour.   Again, I delayed my appearance without apology, and just to prove I could, purchased three times the number of tickets I would have originally. While I'd love to think that my tweet was directly responsible for the reappearance of the presale opportunity, I'm not that hopeful.  So, for today, this is really real - I am a person who loses most of my sense of reason when it comes to getting what I want, at least when it comes to tickets.   Rodrigo y Gabriela

For today, these are photos of really real people and places.