Remaking Myself at 50, well 60 then!
Monday, April 15, 2024
Earth
Monday, April 8, 2024
1930s
I’m doing songs from the 1930s for my Wednesday show, and that has me thinking about what I know about the 1930s. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the Great Depression. People of my generation grew up with stories and reminders of what our parents had gone through in the Depression. We were taught frugality sometimes to a fault. That decade was also the development of much of the entertainment industry with great movies, plays, musicals, and music. The music was mostly jazz, popular, and hillbilly or western music. My dad grew up learning tunes in the 1930s as a teenager off the Hit Parade radio show and later playing those on the piano in the evenings in our house in addition to other songs he loved. These songs were mainly the jazz-influenced popular music of the day, and so that is what I mainly know although I’ve also learned much of the western and hillbilly (folk) music of that decade as well. Some of these songs were kind of innocent in their content and lyrics, but the melodies have stood the test of time, and even the words, though sometimes quaint, have an honesty that I really love. Those times and values led us into World War II, and so there is a sweetness and nostalgia for what strengths and weaknesses shaped the minds of the folks that progressed into the war years. It was an interesting time that is fascinating to relive through the music of that era. Most of the music is just plain good!
——
What have I been up to?
I had 7 senior facilities last week, and they were all so enjoyable. It’s funny that I’m writing about songs from the 1930s because my seniors are mostly too young to want to hear these now. When I started playing these facilities back in high school they wanted to hear songs all the way back to the 1890s.
My Wednesday online show was songs about the sun and moon for the eclipse. That was a lot of fun! I wish there were more songs about eclipses. I had a very nice audience of great folks.
My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones including a new opening song I’ve been working on for a couple months. Of course, I’ve already rewritten it since last night, and I still don’t have a title for it. There were so many nice folks in my audience.
——
What am I up to this week?
I have 9 senior facilities this week, and they should all be very rewarding. Seeing the smiles on faces and getting the chance to share some memories makes it all worthwhile.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from the 1930s as I wrote above. I have almost a hundred songs from this decade on my list, and I’m sure I could add a bunch more. It will be a stellar evening of tunes. Come on out if you can.
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and these shows have morphed into an even more freestyle evening of requests and surprises. I’d love to have you in the audience if you can make it.
——
What is coming up?
I have a very cool concert coming up on May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace. This building has great acoustics, and the openness and generosity of spirit is wonderful. I’m planning to do a mix of original and album tunes so there should be a wide variety of laughter and tears. There is a suggested donation of $20 at the door. Doors open at 6:30. I’d love to see you there if you’re in the Pueblo area or want to make the trip. It’s located at 740 West 15th Street in Pueblo.
——
That’s it for this week. I hope you get a chance to view the eclipse (with proper eye protection) today, and I hope to see you soon!
Best always,
Tom
——
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of 1930s songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, April 10, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, April 14, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Monday, April 1, 2024
Eclipse
There is a solar eclipse next Monday throughout much of the U.S., and Jen and I had hoped to go to see it in totality, but we can’t make the trip this time. We’ll settle for seeing the partial eclipse here if the sky is clear. A solar eclipse is such an amazing event. It reminds us of just how small we are and how much we depend on this big burning ball in the sky that powers our earth and most all life here. I think the ancient people who lived in the outdoors every day understood that more than we do nowadays, but it can still affect us in profound ways. I have a natural affinity for the stars and the outdoors, and when I look up at the night sky I feel that I am a part of them in many ways. We are stardust as Joni Mitchell said in her song, “Woodstock”, and star-stuff as Carl Sagan wrote. Seeing star events and solar events rings that bell in us that we all seem to understand somehow. I imagine some of you are going to be able to be in the path of totality, and I salute you and encourage you to see it in all the ways you can. Many folks will make those little boxes that you can see the eclipse in, and hopefully all will get the cheap eclipse glasses that you can gaze directly at the eclipse with. There is a list of fun things to see and even an app that tells you when to look for interesting phenomena during the eclipse called “Solar Eclipse Timer”. There is a great video to watch with lots of these detail here - https://youtu.be/791qJZivHpk?si=H8jxu6VWIGfHml0k. I would love to hear your eclipse stories if you have any to share!
——
What have I been up to?
I had 9 senior facilities last week (I forgot to include one in my blog last week that I had on Easter), and I enjoyed every one so much. I mostly sang Spring songs although. A couple still wanted to hear some Irish tunes. Of course I did a few Easter songs as well.
My Wednesday online show was doing songs I’ve never done for my online shows, and there were some very sweet tunes that I think the group really liked. They said as much too!
My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and I included a couple songs there that I’ve never done online as well. It was a very sweet evening.
——
What am I up to this week?
I have 7 senior facilities this week, and it’s time for more Spring and also April rain songs. There are so many good ones, and it is so much fun sharing them with my seniors.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs about the sun and moon to celebrate the solar eclipse that happens next Monday. This is such a neat event, and even though it’ll just be a partial in Colorado I’m still looking forward to going outside and seeing it through eclipse glasses. Come on out on Wednesday and hear some great sun and moon songs.
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These are very special evenings with good friends listening and supporting each other. You’re always welcome to join in.
——
What is coming up?
I have a very cool concert coming up on May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace. I just haven’t done that many real concerts since the pandemic, and I haven’t done one in Pueblo for many years. I haven’t made my setlist up yet, but I’m thinking it will be a really heartfelt evening of music and stories. The Center for Inner Peace is one of those buildings that just brings it out of you. I saw my friend Don Richmond play there about 3 weeks ago, and the vibe was amazing. There is suggested donation of $20 at the door. Doors open at 6:30. I’d love to see you there if you’re in the Pueblo area or want to make the trip. It’s located at 740 West 15th Street in Pueblo.
There’s more coming up in the summer, but I’ll write about those dates as they come up. I have made Facebook events for most of those, and you can always see them on my website calendar at http://tommunch.com/calendar.
——
That’s it for this week. I hope your life is going well, and that you are healthy and happy. No April Fools!
Best always,
Tom
——
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of sun and moon songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, April 3, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, April 7, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Monday, March 25, 2024
Breath
Monday, March 18, 2024
Spring
Monday, March 11, 2024
Irish
Monday, March 4, 2024
Sick
Well, I officially tested positive for Covid last week although it felt like a brief cold. I tested positive the day before the CDC changed its guidance on isolating and precautions. I’m happy to try to use every smart practice with disease, but it’s so confusing knowing what to do in so many situations around health. I very much respect all the science that goes on around diseases and illness, but it leaves me asking more questions most of the time. That’s unfortunate because it leads to a level of distrust around science and medicine that’s unwarranted. We have all heard the news about new science and medicine studies that we scratch our heads over when they seem to contradict a different study we heard sometimes in the same year. I follow science stories weekly and am so impressed with the knowledge and empathy that so many scientists have in their work and relationships. It really is a field where the majority are working from the right place as far as sincerity and honesty. Many even have the balance of spirituality and religious conviction to temper their science. That helps me have understanding for the perceived conflicts and confusion I see when I consider my own dealings with health and illness. I do trust that the science is always improving and giving me the best information I can get. Still I live day to day with some uncertainty, but I don’t let it bother me too much. Hey, I’m well today, and I never let my health be taken for granted.
——
What have I been up to?
I had 6 senior facilities last week, but when I tested positive for Covid I cancelled 3 of them Thursday and Friday to be safe and follow guidance. I surely missed the folks, but I’m happy to consider their safety first. I’m right at the start of playing Irish tunes for them!
My Wednesday online show playing songs from 1971 was so much fun even though I had to stop to mute and blow my nose a few times. (Sorry about that!) 1971 had some super songs. We still had a blast, and we’ll do it again this week!
My Sunday online show was doing favorites and requests as always, and I had a wonderful group of folks with some great requests. I busted out my Irish guitar, and it sang like a banshee.
——
What am I up to this week?
I have 8 senior facilities this week although one cancelled to follow their guidance around Covid, and I’m waiting to hear back from 2 others whether they need to cancel for their guidance too. I love playing for these folks, and I’m happy to keep them safe although I’ll miss them if they have to cancel.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be another batch of songs from 1971. This was a great year of music, and I’m really enjoying reconnecting with these tunes. Come on out and join in with my great music folks.
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and after last week’s banner evening I don’t know if we can top it this week. But I’m willing to try! You’re always welcome, and I’m happy to do a request for you.
——
That’s it for this week. I’m so happy that my illness was short-lived and not bad at all. I hope you are well and happy too!
Best always,
Tom
——
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of songs from 1971 again!
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, March 6, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, March 10, 7-8:45 pm mountain time