Hey, Everybody! Today I’ve been contemplating how a choice that we make at a moment in time will define us.
There is a poor, abandoned creature of our maker who has been living outside of my fence on the street here in Houston, and it saddened me to see that, even on Easter Sunday, families continued to pass her by, all dressed for church, as they headed on their way. I couldn’t help but recall the parable of the Good Samaritan and to be struck by the hypocrisy and the ironic inhumanity of humankind.
Then, out of nowhere, it dawned on me that I can save this dog, and it was quite extraordinary how it felt that suddenly a burden was lifted from my mind. Since that defining moment, it has just been a matter of following my heart and doing the right thing, which has proven to be a worthwhile, yet challenging and time consuming endeavor, that requires a great deal of patience. Maybe there should be a TV show called “Are You Smarter than a Street Dog?” At the moment, I believe that I’m not.
I think that, in many ways, dogs serve as our role models, and she has made it very clear to me that she would rather suffer with mange and starve on the street than to ever be collared, leashed, or trapped in a man-made cage called a “kennel.” There must be a lesson for us all there.
I wish that she could know that I am trying to take her to the vet and nurse her back to health, but I know that in time she will begin to trust me and allow me to help. In fact, just yesterday evening she let me gently caress her face, neck and ears, and she relaxed and ate some food. Progress.
At this rate, I should have her to the vet in another day, and it will all be worth it not to have to watch this little one suffer alone on the street any more. If you haven’t seen a dog with mange, I can’t begin to describe to you what a torture chamber a body and mind can become due to that condition, which I wish could be eradicated from the earth forever. It will certainly be a great relief to us both to get her help as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the other day I got a call from Jimmy, and he asked me if I would like to host the Tuesday night songwriter showcase at La Carafe in downtown Houston. Somewhat like saving a dog, hosting is a commitment that will involve some level of preparation and following through, but I’m looking forward to kicking it off tonight with Greg Henkel on fiddle:
Tuesday, April 29 from 8:30-11 pm
La Carafe @ 813 Congress Ave
in Market Square, Downtown
713-229-9399
Convenient, free street parking after 6 p.m.
Nice outdoor seating/smoking tables facing scenic Market Square.
Good wines and beers. Friendly, down-to earth-service.
Casual but classy.
May be haunted.
Best classic jukebox in town between live sets!
Under the downtown lights.
And thanks to Big Kev (WLVR radio, Bethlehem PA), I now have some experience, for I made my debut as a showcase host in Austin in March and really enjoyed playing that role for four hours, as well as performing my songs, accompanied by the Hot Guys band, in Kev’s popular, annual week-long radiothon that featured forty great American roots music acts from Texas and all over the nation.
Everybody that I booked for my “Stories Straight from Texas” line-up brought a receptive crowd and put on an engaging show, which was recorded live in Austin during SXSW for radio broadcast on the East Coast. I'm pleased to say that it was all a great success, and everybody had fun.
And now I’m going on a New York tour in June with one of those talented artists who performed in Austin via New Hampshire radio—Billy Eli. What a genuine, real deal honky-tonk man from the same East Texas neck of the woods as mine!
Many adventures ahead . . . A new album on the way, too! I’ll keep you posted on all of this and more, as always. Wishing you a strong start to the glorious month of May.
Y’all come!