Country Music and pants

Most people who know me know that I love the Blues. In my twisted brain the Blues are a great reminder of how painful life is, which always keeps me focused on eternal things instead of temporary things.

Don't try to make sense of it, just accept it.

But this post is about Country music. I cannot listen to Blues in my car. The Upper Valley inexplicably does not have a blues radio station and my car's CD player does not work (yes all the cool local people call this area "the upper valley"). I listen to Country Music while in the car.

I have had an "on again, off again" relationship with Country music over the years and Karen and I would often listen to it at home. Apparently the people of the Upper Valley appreciate Country music more than the Blues because I can get 4 country music stations on my car radio.

Unlike the Blues, Country music is depressing.

I can do fine with songs of sorrow and woe. The country music songs that talk about getting done wrong, being broke, and "my baby left me" are just fine. That it like the Blues with a different tune. It is all the stinking love songs that are killing me.

When your wife and daughters are 3000 miles away, try this on for size:

Got a baby girl sleepin' in my bedroom
And her momma laughing in my arms ...

Every stoplight I didnt make
Every chance I did or I didnt take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank god for all I missed
Cause it led me here to this (meaning his relationship with his wife)

Thanks a whole stinking lot Darius Rucker

Or how about:

So, we planned it all out for the middle of June
From the wedding cake to the honeymoon
And your momma cried when you walked down the aisle
When the preacher man said say I Do
I did, and you did, too
Then I lifted that veil and saw your pretty smile
And I said...

Are you gonna kiss me or not
Are we gonna do this or what
Look at all the love that we've got
And it ain't never gonna stop
Are you gonna kiss me or not

Shut up Thompson Square.

Country Music is depressing. Give me some Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson or BB King please.

Pants:

For the last 24 years I have worn Jeans to work almost every day. Part of the joy of Spring Hills Community Church is that even the pastors do not have to get all dressed up. In my private practice I was the boss. The boss said that I could wear jeans. Sometimes I would go all high class and wear black jeans, but unless it was a funeral or wedding I was in denim.

I cannot wear jeans to work anymore. I don't have to dress up all the way (no ties) but I cannot wear jeans.

The adjustment has not been as bad as I thought. I found some inexpensive business casual trousers (don't you just love that word) at Walmart that are comfortable, and I barely notice the difference.

The only problem is what is missing in the front right pocket of my pants. Ever since I got out of high school I have had a knife in my pocket every day, everywhere I went except for planes and courthouses.

For some reason they don't think I should have that inside of a maximum security state prison. So I wearing high class new pants every day but I feel naked. My knife is the first thing I grab when I get home, then I go look for something that needs opening.