The Slow Return

As many cynics would predict, this blog is most likely going to join the list of the "whatever" blogs with some musical endeavors on the side. In the musical Next to Normal, the daughter sings how she can't "expect normal" from anyone basically because that's way too out of reach (i don't remember the exact lyrics!). But she "would like something next to normal..." And perhaps the title of this blog knew itself better than what i thought it was going to be...it will not be a musical blog only, it will be something next to that!

I won't waste time moaning how I have not written. Oh whoops...This summer has established a few new traits in me! First, I am now one of those creativity geeks who walks around with a pocket-sized "creativity journal" to capture ideas in those certain moments. Though I haven't gotten any farther on the music of our musical save that one awesome song that is actually posted to facebook, I have a lot of play ideas down. I am tickled pink with the idea that as I go through a string of months writing ideas down, maybe all of these thoughts will scatter across the table and somewhat form themselves. It's like a puzzle that I can forcefully make fit together, and it's justified. I take the ideas I've written down and simply avow that the personality characteristic from July 3 and the traumatic experience written on August 7th belong to the same character in my play! Inspiration is rolling me like a marble, oh yes.

I have also taken to poetry. Actually, slowly returned to it, as I am facing so many slow returns in life now. I think poetry is so elevating yet I think I used to hate it because it did not bring much glory in return. I used to very much be the man who needed to be noticed and needed to be the best. That was a bad way to go, friends. I hope I don't slowly return there. Anyways, my new goal is to write so much poetry that people will be suprised that they only saw a shaving of it. I want to kind of be an Emily Dickinson in number of poems, but DEFINITELY not in style nor in reclusivity. I also plan on wearing colors, not just white.

One day I hope to finally fuse the lyrics of my poems to music but it's just not the time right now. I don't seem to have that gift. Probably in a vain way, I love to compose music WITH people, but I find many are not willing to collaborate these days. It's a downer.

In this mosaic of thoughts, I'm realizing some of my greatest loves: piano, inked words, the idea of culture, relationship....

It seems that the only thing we usually slowly return to is our banal sin. For good modems- relatives such as charity, service, creativity, honesty in the arts, true worship - let us consider a return to these devices as well.