Done

I’ve had a weird compulsion all my life that I’ve never been able to understand. It’s the feeling that I want to be done with whatever my current activity is, whether that’s a short project or a trip or, I suppose, life’s journey in certain ways. I don’t know know if that’s because I want the satisfaction of having finished something and checked it off the list, or alternatively because I’m lazy and don’t want to continue to work hard to finish something. I know that the journey (and then the reflection) is the important part of every goal we set. That has born out in my own life countless times, and yet I still have the desire to be done with almost everything I take on. Is that strange? I have always kept to-do lists, and I think this is a good practice, but I also know that those who let life flow without being enslaved to a list are often much more happy. It’s like taking a road trip where you don’t really have a destination. You have a general plan, but if you see something interesting along the way you can stop and having a totally new and wonderful experience. In some aspects of my life I will do this. For instance, I usually figure that people are placed in my path for a reason, and I take the time to find out what they’re about and how that relates to my life. Often this allows me to have more empathy for every person in the world, and I see something special about each person. In general I guess that I could have accomplished more in my life if I had a defined plan that I stuck to, but I have taken some detours that have enriched me although they limited my “success”. So as I explore this idea of “doneness” I see that even though I desire it I still often am willing to stop and smell the roses. I’m just one big contradiction! How about you? Do you want to be done?

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What have I been up to?

I had 10 senior facilities last week, but one ended up being a double-booking so I had an unintended day off which was a pleasant surprise that let me get some stuff done. I enjoyed all of the facilities I did play, and there were some wonderful moments. I love these folks!

My Wednesday online show was playing songs from 1976, and there were so many good songs. Everybody kind of assumes that 1976 was mostly disco music, and disco is not everyone’s favorite genre, but there were so many other types of songs that we all loved. I still have many great songs left from that year to do, so we’ll do 1976 again this week.

Saturday I had scheduled to play an online concert for Philmont folks, but I had mistakenly booked a gig in Cuchara for June 30 that was supposed to be for May 30. I explained my mistake in the update I put out when I realized it. I’m grateful that the event contacted me on Friday to confirm or I would have missed it. So I played in Cuchara at Cuchara Mountain Park for their Green Chili Cook-off. I had friends come down from Colorado City and up from Trinidad to see me, and it was great to see them as well as seeing all the fine folks from Cuchara whom I haven’t seen since last summer. The green chili was great, and the vibe was really special. I got to do songs on my Favorites list that I haven’t played in a long time.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it was a huge variety of really neat songs. The Munch Bunch really knows how to request a wide swath of song styles!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I’m sure I’ll be playing summer songs and songs for Father’s Day as well even though it’s 3 weeks off. I’m looking forward to seeing everybody.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1976 as I wrote above. I love diving into these years and reliving the era through memories that the songs bring back to life. Come on out if you can. The bicentennial year was a good one!

Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show (again) of Philmont songs for Philmont alumni to celebrate the start of another season at the scout ranch. This is what they call “Scatter” when the staff goes out to the backcountry to set up for the summer. It’s an exciting time for the staff and for us old alumni who remember our time there fondly. If you’re Philmont alumni and would like to relive some of those times you are welcome to join me at my Tom Munch Philmont Songs Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370/ or on my website tommunch.com/online-concerts. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, except this week I’ll be doing it live from my good friends Matt and Deann’s house. It’s so different doing these shows with folks in the room where I’m recording it, and Deann always does such a great job entertaining and hosting the show. She’s making a playlist based around the theme of “life” and is taking requests from the Munch Bunch to help put it together. It should be really entertaining, so tune in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. Next week I start playing the Yellow Pine Barbecue on Thursdays, and I start doing parties and other fun events. I can’t wait! I hope you are healthy and happy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1976 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, June 3, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing an online concert of Philmont songs

Where:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370

When:  Saturday, June 6, 7-9 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests from Matt and Deann’s house

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

When:  Sunday, June 7, 7-8:45 pm mountain time