Centerfield

Sometimes it feels like most of my major revelations come through music.

Tuesday night UB and I got to see John Fogerty in concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He put on a fabulous show. He’s one of those artists that sounds just as good live as he does out of the studio. UB and I have talked about this several times in the past – how there are some “artists” who can’t carry a tune in a bucket without a lot of studio engineering to back them up. But John is the real thing, and there was no doubt about it the other night. Every time he would play the intro to a song, the audience would be cheering and screaming, knowing immediately what they were about to hear, and singing along with abandon. (“Bob, I can name that tune in three notes…”)

John Cameron Fogerty will turn 61 this May. He’s been a professional musician and songwriter since the mid-1960s or so, which basically means since his late teens or early 20s. Can you imagine, making a living at what you love to do? Making a life out of your passion, instead of relegating it to a weekend or when-I-have-the-time hobby? And boy, is he ever still 110% into it… jumping and running all over the stage doing his little white-boy-playing-guitar dance… So naturally, that gets me to thinking. What do I love to do? What am I truly passionate about? It used to be the theater, and if I were to get back into that I’d have a blast, I’m sure. I love to dance and to sing, but I’m not professional quality – unlike my mother, who has somehow found a way to branch her talent into a side business, though I don’t know if she’s doing that in Colorado as she did in California. But what I really, really love to do is write, and I have to find a way to bring that into my life in a fuller way than just this humble little blog.

But what else am I passionate about? Social work. Helping people with their problems. Connecting them to the resources and services that are available to them, to help them create a better life for themselves and a better future for their families. I’m not officially a social worker yet, still need my MSW. And where I work, though not officially called a social worker, that’s a big chunk of what I do. I’ve been getting disillusioned lately. Caught up in the drama and the garbage, letting the bureaucracy get to me, letting things get me down, or get me angry. John Fogerty reminded me of something. For many years, he went through legal battles with his former bandmates, that kept him from being able to perform their songs in concert (despite the fact that he was the songwriter). So what did he do? Did he give up and let the bull get to him? Nope. He wrote and recorded new material for a long time. I imagine he played his old CCR stuff to himself, for his family, for friends. And he kept forging ahead, fighting his battle until he won. And now here he is, almost 61 years old, but when you watch him sing, the years fade away. The energy is palpable.

So now, what do I need to do? Ignore the garbage. Vent about the things that are bothering me and then let them go. Do the best I can with what I have and with what I am allowed to do. Search for ways to empower myself and to work within the limitations that have been set on me. Put me in, Coach, I’m ready to play… today… look at me… I can be… centerfield.