Campfires

I’m writing this week about campfires. I’ve always been mesmerized by a good campfire. There’s something primitive and spiritual about sitting around the campfire sharing stories and songs. It has to go all the way back to our first ancestors who gazed into the burning embers of a good campfire. I love everything about it - the warmth, the light, the smell, the crackling sound, and the mystery that watching the flames lights in my soul - I think you know what I mean. There is just a comfort and a timelessness to feeling the experience of a fire near you with the warmth on your front and the chill on your back. I even have a candle with the scent of campfire that I get out just to sniff occasionally. I have a lot of fond memories of sitting around a campfire at places I’ve camped or played at over the years. Many songs I sing mention sitting around a campfire with the wonder and peace it brings. There’s the new-to-me “Mountain Song” by Flatland Cavalry or “New Mexican Cowboy” written by my old friend, Curt Rom. There’s also “Colorado” by Chuck Pyle and the old cowboy song, “I’d Like to Be in Texas for the Roundup in the Spring”. And my song, “Stories to Tell” has a line expressing that the “dreams that burn in our hearts” are like the “amber embers” that burn when the campfire is just right. A campfire is just a magical thing that I cherish in my life. Do you have any memorable moments around a campfire? I’ve got stories a-plenty!

What have I been up to?

I had 13 senior facilities last week, and every one of them was meaningful. I’ve taken to picking some interesting themes at some of my shows lately that really go on a journey with my folks like cattle-drive songs or songs by a particular obscure songwriter that the folks have never heard of. It ends up being a very fun hour.

My Wednesday show was doing blues tunes again which was a blast. These songs just have a fire and a passion that is great to be a part of. The audience seemed to get into it too.

Thursday at the Yellow Pine Barbecue was a good night with lots of familiar faces. All the cabins had been rented for one family’s reunion, and they were such a good audience in addition to the locals and regulars. And the barbecue was smokin’!

Sunday morning I provided the music for both services at Cuchara Chapel in Cuchara, and it was a rainy a thunderous morning that was remarkable with a good lesson by Clayton Oliphint.

My Sunday online show was doing favorites and requests as always, and there were some good ones! I did something different in playing a nylon-string guitar all night on songs that I’ve never played that way before. I love playing for these evenings of good friends and fans.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to every one. I say it all the time, but I love playing for these folks so much. It’s good to feel like you have a purpose, and these shows make me feel my purpose in such a real way.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be doing songs from the campfire as I wrote above. There are so many fun songs that fit the campfire environment from camp songs to old cowboy songs to sing-alongs, so this should be a really fun show. I’d love to have you there!

Thursday 6:30-8 is the Yellow Pine Barbecue once again, and we only have 3 barbecues left so each once is very special. I’d love to have you come out if some good barbecue in an old 1890s barn with my music sounds good to you. It’s always a very good time with a campfire off the porch and fruit cobbler in the belly and maybe roasting a marshmallow or two. It’s a piece of that campfire spirit I wrote about above. Call 719-742-3528 to make a reservation now. There were still seats available the last time I checked.

Sunday morning I’m playing the 9:30 and 11:00 services at Cuchara Chapel in Cuchara, Colorado. These are always very nice mornings in a beautiful place with good folks. Come on down in you’re in the area.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be broadcast from our old family cabins in northern New Mexico with my brothers and sisters in the audience. This will be a mostly family-favorites show with a few requests from one of the places I love best. I’d love to have you tune in and listen if you can!

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That’s it for this week. The summer is rushing by, and I’m trying to squeeze every last drop out of it. This last week of July has always had some favorite memories for me. 

I hope you’re happy and well.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of campfire songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, July 24, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing & singing at the barbeque

Where:  Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528

When:  Thursday, July 25, 6:30-8:00 pm

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing and singing for chapel service

Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO

When:  Sunday, July 28, 9:00 and 11:00 am

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of family favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, July 28, 7-8:45 pm mountain time