I wanted to write about my best friends today - our devoted pets over the years. We had a dog, many guinea pigs, and several cats as kids, and we’ve had 4 dogs, 1 ferret, and 4 cats and several foster dogs over the past 35+ years on our own. They’ve all had an awareness of life and living that took me many years to accomplish myself. Some have been selfish. Some have been loving no matter what they were going through. Some have been goofy and cute. And some have been frustrating to understand. But they have all been friends and companions at a level that seems deeper than most human friendships I have had. Those of you who have had pets know of what I speak. They seem to have an innate sense of awareness that we big-brained beings have lost. They understand just being in the moment without all the baggage we attach to living. So we develop these relationships with these little beings that enrich us in ways that are hard to fathom, and when we have to say goodbye at the end of their shorter lives (unless you have a parrot) the experience is deep and affecting. So here’s to our beloved pets today. I’ll be doing songs for them and about them for my Thursday show this week.
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What have I been up to?
I did a live show and a few recorded shows for my senior facilities last week. It’s interesting doing shows for later viewing at my facilities. I know some of the people who will be in the audience, so I can talk to specific folks, but I also don’t know if they’ll watch in a small group or individually, so I have to keep that in mind as I sing and interact. It’s still fulfilling, and I know how it makes a difference in their week.
My Thursday show was a love theme for Valentine’s Day week, and we really did some good love songs including some wonderful new songs that folks requested. It was pretty special.
My Sunday show ended up being mostly love songs as well since it was Valentine’s Day, but we threw in some darker songs that had been requested too as well as a couple Mardi Gras songs for this Tuesday. My head is usually swirling with all the requests and with trying to remember all the melodies and riffs I’ve tried to master in rehearsal. It’s sometimes a jungle in there.
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What am I up to this week?
I have a couple online shows for my senior facilities this week over Zoom and Skype that I’m looking forward to. Some of them set up a camera so I can see who I’m singing to as well which adds to the experience.
My Thursday show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the above-mentioned theme of dogs and cats. There are some pretty neat songs about our pets, and there are plenty that mention dogs although not as many as there are cats. It will be a time to remember and cherish these little beings who fill out our lives.
My Sunday show 7-8:30 will be favorites and requests as always. We have such a warm and inviting group, and many have become good friends outside of the concerts - a fact which thrills me to be part of. I’d love for you to be part of it too. Come on out!
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That’s it for this week. We’re waiting for it to warm up to at least zero degrees this morning to walk Beau who is lying on his bed next to me impatiently waiting to go. Have a wonderful week and be safe.
Best always,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of dog and cat songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Thursday, February 18, 7-8:30 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, February 21, 7-8:30 pm mountain time