Monday, August 18, 2008

Camping With Chloe

Most of the weekend was very relaxed and restful. I slept more than I wanted to do. Even though I often complain of being tired and weary I really don't like to sleep too much. I prefer to be awake, not only spiritually but physically as well. Occasionally my body craves sleep but I am happier when I am awake and enjoying life.

Early Sunday afternoon I went to visit my father in the nursing home. I had hoped to get there for his noon meal so I could feed him but by the time I got there he had eaten and was back in the bed for his afternoon nap. I talked to him for a little while but he fell asleep so I left him in his dreams. Shortly after I arrived back home Chloe and her parents arrived. My son was going to do a few chores for his mother and my job was to take care of Chloe and prepare dinner. Knowing that Chloe would be a full time job I got dinner prepared on Saturday so all I would have to do on Sunday is pop it in the oven. I have an honorary PhD from the University of Oz in Applied Imagination but I am no match for the imagination of a four year old child. Yesterday Chloe and I pretended we were on a camping trip. She was wearing my wife's back pillow and I was wearing my brief case. These were our backpacks. Various pillows were our sleeping bags. Two of my bookends were our friends, the rabbits. Every time we got settled in our campsite, she would want to hike to a new room. After about the fourth or fifth time I must have showed a little impatience. She looked at me and said, "Pa Paw, you need to chill out like my Mommy"! By this time most of the chores were done so I baked my dinner, fed everyone, cleaned up the kitchen, gave Chloe and her parents the leftovers, and sent them backpacking to their own home. How could such a little girl wear me out so much???

Way back in the mid to late 70's, I walked into a hip little record store called Karma Records. I was on a mission. I was curious about a new kind of music I was hearing about. Keep in mind that there was no Internet in those days. I walked up to a clerk and asked, "What's this reggae music I am hearing about"? She handed me an album, which was something we old people listened to before CD's, IPods, and downloads. The album was from an artist called Bob Marley and the Wailers. I have been a fan ever since. I thought about this experience over the weekend after watched a documentary and live concert on DVD that a friend had recently given me. Sadly, Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36. During his lifetime, and to this day, he is considered the biggest superstar of the Third World. Reggae music has a hypnotic beat and it's lyrics are usually filled with deep social commentary about race, poverty, and freedom. Many people of all races love Bob Marley's music and message. If you are not familiar with Bob Marley, here are a few CD's I would recommend as good places to start. This music is not only enjoyable to listen to, it's music with a message.

Legend (This is a greatest hits collection)

Babylon by Bus ( A very nice live collection from one of his last tours)

Live! (This is the first thing I ever heard from Bob Marley. It's a recording from the Rainbow Theater in London, England during the late 70's)

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