Concert

The concert at the library went very well.  There were about fifteen or twenty people who attended--enough that extra chairs had to be brought in, but not so many it felt claustrophobic.  People seemed to have a good time.   One of the reporters for the local paper came (not my friend Gayle but a perfectly nice person.)  I was a little surprised to find myself briefly interviewed after the concert. 

Cousin Mary came all the way from Jonesboro to hear it, and was sorry the rest of her family wasn't there.  I promised to tell her when I was going to do it again so they could come if they wanted.  My canoeing buddy Steve came.  But many of the people there didn't know me from Eve and had just come on spec.

One person asked me if I was recording.  A couple of people expressed an interest in getting together to talk songwriting.

If the Monday concert at the assisted living place goes as well I will be very happy.

Compassionate Rats, and other developments

In case you haven't seen it, here is a link to the NPR article about rats turning their backs on chocolate (?!) to free trapped cage mates, then sharing the chocolate.

This is not the first time behavior that appears empathic or compassionate has been noticed in animals, of course.  Just another flower in the bouquet, so to speak.  But I thought it was cool.

I finally got it together to buy Christmas presents for my Dad and brother.  Now that there is Internet, this doesn't even seem late to be doing it.

I have been asked to contribute a couple of songs to Jefferson City's Christmas caroling on Friday of next week.  I explained about not having written much Christmas stuff, but the organizer didn't seem to mind.   I am thinking of going with _Blowing Winter In_ (but maybe it's kind of mournful for this?) and _I Meant To Do That_, which went over very big at the library.  Seeing as _Axial Tilt_ and _Happy Holidays_ , which would otherwise be perfect, are probably too secular for this crowd.

I just called the only other atheist I know in the area.  I got her answering machine so I didn't even say "atheist" in the message, because who knows who might be standing next to her when she plays it back?  I said I'd written some holiday songs she might like, and would she like me to come carol at her sometime?  I shouldn't have to worry about this.  But it would be foolhardy to ignore it, and downright unethical to ignore it for somebody else without her permission.