Oh Papa; Slacker

Folks give me a hard time about my infrequent (some would say almost non-existent), blogging. I agree that I am a pretty shabby blogger and am humbled by the output of my brother and sister bloggers in Floyd like Fred First, Doug Thompson, David St. Lawrence and Colleen Redman. They blog daily, sometimes hourly. My wife, who cares for a disabled man in our home 24 hours/day, even out-blogs me! It's amazing! Why can't I keep up? Well that's simple. Despite my baby-boomer generation status and its reputation for diligence and hard work, I'm a slacker!

I've been interviewed several times by media doing stories about the Crooked Road, Southwest Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. Often I'm asked why I opened the Pickin' Porch, my acoustic music store. I think what they want to hear is how inspired I was by the traditional music of this area and how deeply connected I am to the community. But the truth is "I'm just trying to avoid real work!"

Sure, I'm inspired by the area'straditional music. I'm equally inspired by its non-traditional music. Sure, I'm dedicated to serving the community of music makers (current and aspiring), and music lovers here in Floyd. However, my true motivation to open the store was a desire to work in the community in which I live Let's face it, there ain't much work to be had in rural America. More importantly, living as a self-employed musician for most of my adult life, the few employers I've had have found me hardworking yet "difficult" and "unmanageable."

So what to do?

Well I could crawl down the mountain five days a week and put in 40 hours in some office building or assembly plant so I can afford to live in the country. I could abandon my family and amble around town barefoot contemplating my navel and relying on "the kindness of strangers." Instead I chose the "easy way out" and opened a retail business that served a need in my community. So I crawl to town five days a week and put in 25 hours schlepping strings, instruction books and the occasional guitar or mandolin to the locals and the infrequent lost Crooked Road pilgrim. Since this provides no income, I spend another 30 hours each week giving guitar lessons. Thanks to a supportive family, and a low maintenance lifestyle (and a wife who earns "real" money) we scrape by. Quite the life don't you think?

So the next time you amble over to this blog and see that nothing has been posted this week (more likely month), you'll know the real reason. I'm avoiding blogging by avoiding real work. What a slacker!