Magical Moment 69, "Lodi"

“How do I get into these situations?” That’s what I asked myself last night as I worked my tail off playing every “show-stopper” song I had in my repertoire. Somehow, I wound up in a Russian bar in Brooklyn playing for tips. I agreed to play for tips because I’ve never had too much trouble bringing them in before, especially when I bring my list and people start making requests. I quickly found out that a tough-looking, Russian speaking crowd doesn’t sing along and break out the 20's when a Billy Joel or Eagles song comes on.

My song list carries a wide enough variation in styles, that I can always find a song to please every crowd, however I guess I neglected the all-Russian crowd. I decided to use the evening as an opportunity to rehearse some songs that I’ve never done before. Ever since we moved to northern NJ, I’ve been fascinated with the song “Lodi” by CCR and as I played it in front of a crowd for the first time last night, I decided it’s my anthem. Especially the last verse.

Just about a year ago, I set out on the road,

Seekin' my fame and fortune, lookin' for a pot of gold.

Things got bad, and things got worse, I guess you will know the tune.

Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again.

Rode in on the Greyhound, I'll be walkin' out if I go.

I was just passin' through, must be seven months or more.

Ran out of time and money, looks like they took my friends.

Oh Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again.

The man from the magazine said I was on my way.

Somewhere I lost connections, ran out of songs to play.

I came into town, a one night stand, looks like my plans fell through

Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again.

If I only had a dollar, for ev'ry song I've sung.

And ev'ry time I've had to play while people sat there drunk.

You know, I'd catch the next train back to where I live.

Oh Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again.

Well, I called it quits that night after a very solemn, older Russian man stepped on my acoustic guitar and didn’t even seem to notice or care. I left with barely enough tips to break even between the tolls and gas that it cost me to get there in the first place. If I only had a dollar for every song I sung that night, at least I'd have some money to grab a burger or something. And as I drove back home, disappointed and still upset about my guitar, I figured I would just have to take comfort in the fact that someone else, somewhere in the world, felt the same frustration and went through the same struggles as I’m going through now. Empathizing with those in the same boat would have to be enough to console me for that night.

**This is the song "Lodi" from last night. It's a little hard to hear at first through all the noise. The second half gets louder.

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...

Magical Moment 584, "Conversation with Willie"

I opened the glass door of the retail store and walked inside, eyes immediately drawn to the mannequins donning outfits I could never pull off. Yet I couldn't keep my fingers from running over the fabrics displayed on racks that were laid out, row after row around me. Months of penny pinching and shopping-deprivation made me like a hungry child in a bakery. My arms were full of clothes in mere moments. A sales clerk politely offered her assistance and asked my name. "Elizabeth," I told her. "I'm Willie," She replied with a slight southern accent, cheerfully as if we were about to become best friends. She was an older black woman who I noticed was just as attentive to all the customers in her section. Animated and friendly, Willie drew my complete attention as she continued, "Elizabeth, I can remember that. That's my sister's middle name. Her first name is Mary," she explained. Before I could help it, I told her that my first name was actu...

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