Flying

I’m doing a show Wednesday on the theme of flying, and that has me thinking about flying on planes, in dreams, with birds, and in metaphor. To start with I’m not a good flyer on a plane. When I was a kid I loved flying. I flew with a school group to Washington, D.C., for the bicentennial and also with another school group to Europe a couple years later. Both those trips were great fun on planes without a lot of drama, but at some point I rode on a really bumpy flight down the Front Range of Colorado that permanently messed up my equilibrium. I’ve never been the same. Now when I fly I am dizzy and disoriented for almost a day after I settle back on terra firma. Maybe I’ll get over it. I’d like to. Then there’s flying in dreams. I used to have dreams on a regular basis where I would fly. Sometimes it would be flying over an ancient snow-covered mountainous landscape at night with the cold wind in my face. Sometimes it would be simply lifting off in a crowd and floating by the ceiling. Sometimes it would be holding someone’s hand to help them lift off as well. I never made much of these dreams other than loving the free and weightless feeling although I know some spiritual writers say that this is some sort of spiritual evolution. On flying with birds I mean mostly the thrill of watching birds soar on the breeze so graceful and effortless. It is so wonderful to watch a bird ride a thermal updraft or dive at high speed. Mesmerizing! Lastly flying has always been used metaphorically to symbolize the ultimate feeling of freedom and grace. I guess it is because humans are earthbound without the help of wings. I’ve always felt that the sky and the expanses of the universe are our true home. I love when flying is used in poetry, literature, and songs to express this longing for timeless peace and happiness.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all. I mostly did songs for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving - thankful songs. Those are really fulfilling to play. I know it was meaningful for the folks.

My Wednesday online show was songs from 1945, and they were so neat to do. I love singing these oldies, and I don’t get as much chance to do them as I once did. I know the group liked them. They had a contest to see how many they knew.

Friday I thought I might be playing at the Garden of the Gods Club, but they decided to not do any music for November and December and the slower months of the year. I have mixed emotions about that. I enjoy playing instrumental tunes on the guitar although it’s really not my forte. We’ll see if and when I’ll be back there.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and it was a good one with lots of great requests and a couple new tunes. This is consistently the most meaningful night of the week for me with the great interaction and tunes.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m sure I’ll be playing more songs for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving - especially since I’ll be playing a veterans breakfast on Veterans Day as well as a couple other tribute shows that day. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be doing flying songs as I wrote of above. This is going to be a nice mix of songs about all the elements I wrote about - planes, dreams, birds, and metaphors. It ought to be a blast. Come out if you can.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I always say it’s the highlight of the week because it is. The songs and camaraderie are just great. Tune in if you’d like a relaxing evening of friendship and music.

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That’s it for this week. I do have an exciting concert coming up in December in Alamosa. My good friend Don Richmond has asked me to play a Christmas show at Society Hall on December 12th from 7 to 9. Don will be sitting in on all the instruments he plays, and it should have a lot of the elements of my Christmas album that we recorded together almost 25 years ago. I don’t know the ticket price yet, but I know the sound and the vibe will be great if you’d like to come up to Alamosa for this show. More details to come. 

Happy Veterans Day, and I hope you’re healthy and happy.

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of flying songs

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

When:  Wednesday, November 12, 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, November 16, 7-8:45 pm mountain time