I remember the roar of jets flying over as one of them peeled away to represent the ‘missing man’…I remember the crack of the rifles firing a 21-gun salute…I remember feeling smothered by the heat of a Mississippi July day as we laid Mama’s baby brother, “Action Jackson,” to rest in our hometown 
cemetery. In my memory, it seems like most of the town turned out for his service. He died trying to guide one of his squadron members to safety. I was 12 years old. He was 41.
Countless brave and selfless men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice during the many wars our nation has seen…wars for which the reason for some is easier to grasp more than others, but every conflict devastating as is the nature of war. So we pause to remember…to memorialize…to give thanks for duty and service and sacrifice. Let us never forget…
The Deep Roots music movement is going well, and I’m having fun with it. Folks are glad to be outside after being ‘locked up’ for over a year, and it is such a joy to see how music can be a real connecting point in building a community. There are some great photos from some recent shows on the Deep Roots Facebook page HERE. Or our Instagram page HERE. Please ‘Like’ the pages for updates. If you haven’t seen the video series we’ve done featuring our local Deep Roots artists, here’s a link to the YouTube channel (please subscribe!): Music From The Ground Up. In fact, last Friday’s feature was me performing “The Heart of Dixie”…enjoy:)
For all the difficult things that have come with the pandemic, the ability to connect online almost anytime/anywhere has really been an amazing gift. Yes, I, too, have suffered from ‘Zoom fatigue, but this Thursday is a fun example of having the opportunity to connect with folks all across the world, and that amazes me. Jeff’s Place, a virtual coffeehouse hosted out of New York City, will be celebrating the 39th birthday of the Bluebird Cafe` by presenting an ‘in the round’ show online with me, Fred Knobloch, Amy Speace, Paul Jefferson, and Amy Kurland, the founder of the Bluebird Cafe`. The show will be this Thursday, June 3, at 1:00 pm CST. Free tickets are at this link: https://tinyurl.com/jeffsplace2021. Hope you can tune in!
As we head into the heart of summer, I hope that you will have some long overdue chances to gather with your friends and loved ones on a big front porch somewhere with the perfect tomato sandwich, a glass of sweet tea, and a fat juicy slice of watermelon (no salt for me, please). And traveling mercies as you head back out on the road!
From the Big Front Porch…stay safe, keep a song in your heart, take time to dance in your kitchen, and be kind to your neighbor. But…who is my neighbor? Look it up…the Gospel of Luke…chapter 10:)
+peace+
Tricia