A Note from Joe: Can’t see the forest for the trees!
I tend to go have my breakfast on the roof when I have an opportunity.
Usually on market days, sometimes on mornings that I wake restless, sometimes just 10 minutes to be quiet. Always the same – a bagel with peanut butter and wheat germ (not sure why wheat germ but I saw someone else doing it and it seemed like a good idea) and a big cup of coffee from Mean Cup served black and full of abuse.
Today was one of those mornings; woke up at 3:30, mind running, thoughts racing, heart beating a little too fast. Tossed and turned till 4:30 trying to talk myself back to sleep.
“Joe stop thinking”
“Hello mind please oh pretty please be quiet”
“Shut up! Oh I’m sorry did I shout at you? Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”
I tried the left side, I tried the right side, legs spread, legs stacked, flat backed, curved backed, upside down, inside out, head to toe, toe to arse. I meditated, I counted sheep, I counted pigs, I counted chihuahuas jumping fences till one poor fellow got stuck.
I counted backwards from 10, all the time talking to myself in a very deep hypnotic voice.
“Tennnnnnnnn, You are getting sleepy.
Nineeeeeeeeeee, you are feeling very relaxed.
Eighttttttttttttttt, your eyes are feeling heavy.
Sevennnnnnnnn, you are getting sleepy .
Sixxxxxxxxxxxx, sleepy sleeeeeeeeeeeeeepy.
Fiveeeeeeeeeeeeee, Heavy, heavvvvvvvvvvvvvvvy.
Fourrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, you are some muppet.
Threeeeeeeeeeeeee, wakey wakey.
Twoooooooooooooo, maybe I should just get up.
Oneeeeeeeeeeeeee, oh well, que sera sera”
So jumping out of bed with the enthusiasm of a politician on his way to confession I rolled into the shower, fell into my clothes, filled up the water bottles and paddled off to work.
A quick stop to leave a few of the lads in and to market for my daily fill. I hadn’t been on the roof for breakfast for what seemed like months. With construction going on for the last three months the days have been starting early and finishing late. Running hectic, fighting to get done, scrambling to remember all we have forgotten in an effort to open today, yesterday and a month ago.
So this morning I remembered our roof, got up from my computer, half eaten bagel in hand, cup of coffee in tow and headed north. Elevator to the stair, stair to freedom. I walked to the back of the roof and sat.
The back is my favorite part of the roof, fully vegetated but not planted. When building the roof, running low on money, we spread cuttings on the back of the roof instead of plantings like the front and middle. These vagabond, ragamuffin collection of cuttings took better than the plantings. Joined by gypsy weeds and flowers it has grown into this rooftop mountaintop garden of this and that’s and those and them’s that feels just so right.
We tried weeding back there (I have the sunburn scars on my backside to prove it) but we lost. It has a character of its own, strength of its own and beauty of its own. So now we go with it and it all works out just fine, better every month than the one before.
I am greeted by a flock of starlings flying over the courthouse, the first I have seen this year, surely a sign that summer is coming to a close and fall is fast approaching. I watch in silence, my mind finally quiet, mesmerized by the simple natural flow and chase of the flock.
I start to see the grasshoppers camouflaged in the greenery. In seeing them I start to understand that they are always there but I am not. I also understand in striving to build what we are building I have forgotten at times why we are doing it.
I have not been able to see the forest for the trees. In the rush to get done, to get open, to get this figured out, that squared away, beer picked (well alright beer is important), bands booked, store open, hours figured out, people hired, woodwork done, I have forgotten the reason we are doing it.
Grasping the forest, a simple way of life full of creativity, art and music. Time for people and not just to say hello but to get to know them. An open mind that sees grasshoppers and hears all ideas. Time to learn and grow. A place full of love and hope.
So construction will finish when it finishes, we will get open when we do, our liquor license will be approved when it gets approved and it will be all-good. We will continue to do the things that we like and when we stop liking it we will do something different.
I will try my best to see the forest and I look forward to spending more time with you all. I thank you all for making my life better, I am excited for what the future will bring and whatever will be will be.
Live Free,
Joe
8/30/13
8 Comments
Rick Frescatore
August 30, 2013 5:11 pm
Joe
I can relate to every word, emotion and conclusion you have written. Different objectives and pathways do nothing to dilute the passion of the pursuit, or the similarity of mission. I applaud you and know you more than you know.
While the ripples have settled in the waters of my mission, the stillness is my roof, the mission will continue, and stillness will give way to ripples, then waves.
People like us cannot rest well unless the balance of waves and calm are felt in their entirety, and simultaneously.
Godspeed my Irish friend. You’re a dreamer and innovator, and our community is lucky to have you in it’s midst.
Sincerely
Rick
Seth Dochter
August 30, 2013 5:13 pm
Nicely said :)
Sue Killian
August 31, 2013 8:05 am
Beautifully said
Cindy
September 5, 2013 8:41 am
Beautifully refreshing and honest thoughts…so many of us locals appreciate what you’re doing downtown and are excited to share in supporting your adventure!
Robert Ardale Glick
September 5, 2013 9:52 am
And a big THANKS! You have no idea how much your efforts mean to us and the music community.
Bill
September 5, 2013 9:16 pm
Slainte’
Kassie Schelling
September 9, 2013 5:38 am
Yes, Joe, it is and will be “all-good”… It is truly a testament to your hard work (and somewhat of a miracle) that you finished for the Tabletop Sessions first night. That was really lovely and I felt honored to share in the first night.
I echo the others whom recognize your contribution to our fine little city. I’ve seen many come and go, but you apparently have sussed out the right formula for what it takes to make it downtown. Bravo, for a job well done. Kassie Schelling
Teresa Devoy
September 11, 2013 5:59 pm
When I saw this piece it made me feel really proud of you.It seems like you have found the meaning
of life alot faster than most of us.Take time to enjoy the trip