My husband is an editor by day and a bass player by heart. Nothing makes him happier than music. One of the perks of living in Las Vegas is the chance to hear a lot of live music. I can’t begin to name all the people we’ve heard since moving here. OK, I’ll try: Sting, U2, James Taylor, Carol King, Tony Bennett, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Al Green, Leonard Cohen, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Van Morrison, BB King, Joe Jackson, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon . . . . Last night, I drove half an hour in the rain (yes, it rains in the desert!) to meet him after he got off work to hear Los Lobos, one of his favorite bands. He was very happy. So happy he didn’t even complain afterwards when we discovered I’d locked my keys in my car. Duh. We had to drive home in his car to get the spare keys, then back to my car and home again _ and he was still smiling. Have I mentioned he’s a good and patient man? I woke this morning to blues skies and sunshine and _ I wish you could see this _ snow on Mount Charleston! (Yes, it snows in the desert.) Daylight Savings Time ends tonight, so we’ll all set our clocks back (if we don’t forget) and “gain” an hour tomorrow. All of this is to ask two questions: First, what kind of music makes you happy? And what will you do with your “extra hour” of sunshine?
Nationally syndicated columnist . . . Mother, daughter, sister, friend, wife . . . and Nana!
ABOUT SHARON
I so enjoy your weekly columns in the Redding Record Searchlight and am delighted to find your website.
I’m married to a bass player, too – and a blessedly patient man. We play a lot of music in our house, but what makes me happiest is playing “Goodnight, Irene” for the residents of a local assisted living facility. The old folks join in and sing along, including sweet Irene, who beams like a princess.
Looking forward to reading more.
Erin, what a lovely thing you do! Next time I’m in Redding, I’ll hope to meet you and Irene and sing along with you! Best to you and your bass player!
Hi Sharon
I also love your article and as some of the others I always save it for last and enjoy it when I am having my last cup of coffee before starting my day. You are so inspiring ,funny and I love the real to life stories that we all know are so true and happen. The kind of music that I like is the good ole rock and roll and am a little partial to some country too. The way that I spent my extra hr was resting and reading a good book.
Thanks, Lynn, I like your taste in music and the way you spent your “extra hour.” Best to you and your family!
I, too, love Los Lobos and drove over three hours to hear them last year in Birmingham, Alabama and stood in line afterward for autographs. There’s so much music to listen to, and I can’t pick a favorite, but I do love it live, particularly small venues. But then, outdoor concerts aren’t bad either. That would be a wonderful way to spend a sunny day, but the best would be to be in Michigan (a long ways from Alabama, for goodness sake) with my 5-year-old grandson.
Thanks, “Nonni”, I’ll tell my husband I heard from another Los Lobos fan. 🙂 Kiss that grandboy for me! Best to you and yours!
Hi Sharon! I have so enjoyed your column for years and am happy to see you have a website now. Even though I’ve never had children (all my kids have four legs: 7 horses, 7 cats, 2 dogs, and whatever other critters cross the farm) you’ve made me feel like it would have been a worthwhile experience to have done so! Thank you so much for your column. Like Judy, above, I save your column for last and spend some time thinking about it after I’ve read it. I usually blaze through the paper because I’m so busy (I grow organic produce for the market and there’s always so much to do on the farm), but with your column, I slow down and throw it into neutral for a while. I thank you for encouraging me take the time to think about life, and enjoy what is around me, and it’s quite awesome. Sometimes, it’s very hard to slow down and appreciate what’s around us, and that’s a shame! Looking forward to many more of your missives!
Thanks for your lovely note. Where’s your farm? I’d love to visit it someday! Best to you and all your four-legged children! 🙂
I miss that bass like a taco misses its salsa! Anything live is music worth listening to, and Sonoma and I are watching The Sound of Music with it raining outside. 🙂
Hey, Greg, I wouldn’t have this web site, if not for you and all your help! Glad you’re enjoying your sweet Sonoma!
Every Sunday morning I read through the paper but save yours until last because it’s my favorite. Since I’ve had the wonderful experience of welcoming 13 grandchildren to this world (each one so special) I enjoy so much you sharing your times with your little ones. Now my oldest is graduating from dental school next May and my youngest is 10. So quickly all the tea parties, cookie baking togeth…er, backyard ball games, have turned into graduations, proms, and watching them spread their wings and some moving to far places many states away to attend college. Thankfully they still keep Grandma and Grandpa iinformed via this wonderful thing called “skipe”. Keep sharing about you family, love it.
Thirteen grandbabies?? Congratulations, Judy! Kiss them all for me, will you? And thanks so much for your kind words!
I think I will spend the “extra hour” listening to the music that makes me happy: my husband and son banging away on the piano.
That sweet music makes me happy, too! 🙂