GREETINGS!
SUMMER TIME! Yup, it’s “summer time” – one of the seasons which should be the most full of fun and good memories – but as I’ve been contemplating the Greetings section for this summer-time issue, it’s hard to know just what direction to take…!
As I’m writing this, just today, there’s an almost oppressive list of things taking the air out of all the fun that’s supposed to be a part of “summer time”… take for example: at this very moment, tomatoes are being pulled off the grocery store shelves and restaurant plates because of apparently legitimate fears of potential poisoning; there are sections of the Midwest who are right now contending with unprecedented flooding; we’ve already had a record number of very destructive tornados all across the country, and there’s lots more of the year yet to go; we’re being warned about a “ worse than ever fire season” here in Southern California and along with that - even more fundamentally - there are warnings and worries about simple levels of water supply… The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to effect families all across the country; we’re deep into the upcoming Presidential Elections which promise to keep our air waves and bandwidths all full of fluff and thunder of dubious value for the next five months; and the price of gasoline is now averaging over $4.00 a gallon and seems to be going up just about daily (a gallon of regular is $4.51 at the corner station out here in California – and that’s comparatively good!)… Adding to that partial list, if past experience is any example, the fall-out of just all that is probably going to steam roll in surprising ways for us all in the weeks to come, keeping us all on our toes, and bringing us challenges which are most certainly worthy of our abilities (whether we know it or not!)!
ON THE OTHER HAND – the fact that it is “summer time” still deserves to be celebrated! While there’s indeed much of consequence that’s out of our personal control, we each still have total control over how it is we move through our days and nights - anyway! (Remember: nobody can jerk you around if you’re not holding on to the chain!)
SO I HEREBY PROCLAIM that NO ONE should let doubts about things in the present (or fears of what may be lurking in the future) take away the special moments still available to us (in between all the rest of them) every day this summer!
Make it a point to recognize and relish in every opportunity to soak up the simple joys of “summer” – at least one, every day! Choose your mission: find that most delectable slice of watermelon – the best ice cream cone – the strawberriest strawberry – the most perfect lemonade – the most beautiful of all the sunsets – the perfectest day at the beach – the best hug – the musical phrase that sends you over the moon – (add your own list here, and keep it growing) – don’t let anything dissuade you from taking up the hunt for the next thing on it, next chance you get! Keep notes if it helps. Each such moment is a treasure…. be open to them – and may they surprise you, both in their number and in the richness that each brings to your soul!
With this issue, we complete our 24th year of service (who’d have thought it?!)! AND – the adventure continues! Our next issue is to be the combined September/October issue; press deadline for that one is noon on September 10th.
NOW ON A RELATED MATTER -- if you've been accessing Flute Network issues exclusively online, well we're delighted to have you visit! BUT DID YOU KNOW you're missing out on some special things that can ONLY be shared in our hard copies?! This April issue included another wonderful offering (a teaching duet) from Howard Vance, just by way of example... and there's lots more planned to come, SO -- the following notice which was also on the front page of April's issue comes in here:
Yes - FLUTE NETWORK is DESIGNED to be shared – posted - and passed around but…um… DID YOU KNOW…? … if you’re not currently getting your own copy of The Flute Network - and would like to – we’d be delighted to add you to our free bulk mailing list! ( … you DID know that subscriptions are free, right ?! ... ) Looking ahead - we are thrilled to get to share some pretty special offerings with you in the next several issues (for example, check out page 5 of this very issue, and that’s just for starters!) … For many reasons, though, these kinds of things can ONLY appear in our print editions. .. SO - if you’d like to be receiving your very own copy – or know someone who would - just let us know! Here’s how to do that: all we need is (1) to know that you’d like to be added, and (2) a name and address for which we can generate a bar code that the USPS recognizes as valid – that’s it! As always – snail mail and phone requests are welcome… and all of the following email addresses are still active as well: jan@flutenet.com -- jansp@verizon.net -- jansp@charter.net
(You can rest assured – we are zealous about protecting your privacy – no part of our address list is ever sold or shared.)
