My Past Entries

Shadow Man

These are my entries from the past. I always try to keep my thoughts to just a few paragraphs; most people do not want to read long diatribes of opinion and/or speculation. Obviously this list will grow as time passes, as will your picture of my beliefs and irritants.

Now you can count how many times I have gotten up on my virtual soapbox!


My Past Entries

"Virtual Oxymoron"

Acronyms are everywhere, especially in on-line communications. I know that one of the most commonly used acronyms online is - IMHO. With all due respect to those who have used this shorthand, there is no such thing!

To use the term "humble" and "opinion" in the same phrase is pretty ridiculous. I know from a personal perspective that none of my opinions are in the least bit humble. In most cases they are the exact opposite! Most individual's opinions are so strong that people will engage in real or virtual discussions (and sometimes arguments) to defend their positions.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against opinions. Opinions, and the disagreements that usually follow, are what keep life interesting and allow people to grow. Many of my own personal beliefs are the result of the opinion of someone from my past. But once again, I don't remember any of those life changing opinions being at all humble.

So let me officially begin the grass roots movement to eliminate the online acronym - IMHO. To make my suggestion complete, I will suggest a new alternative - IMASO (In My Arrogant Stubborn Opinion)

LL

Posted: 11/11/2006

"Supporting Our Troops, Opposing the War"

Contrary to the belief of some on the extreme right of the political spectrum, I believe it is possible to support our troops fighting overseas and still be against the war. At this point, with the exception of the executive branch of our government, I believe most people agree that what we need is a graceful exit strategy. Sending in tens of thousands of more troops would simply be adding fuel to the fire. I am now totally convinced that the best way to "Support Our Troops" is to work to get them home.

In November, the American people sent a clear message to Washington in general and specifically to our current president. People are obviously sick of daily body counts with no obvious progress. The saddest part is the constant glossing over of the Iraqi causalities; these people are living in constant fear and losing dozens of their countrymen on almost a daily basis. I hope and pray that the new congress will not lose their obvious campaign zeal to end the current conflict.

Now a current study has indicated that even those in the military have lost faith in the current administration and their handling of the war. Being a veteran myself, I found this news astounding. The military, prior to the current conflict, was always a stronghold for conservatives and their agenda for decades. This truly is a final verdict on a war formed in deceit and lost through poor planning. It is unfortunate that our best and brightest had to pay the price for the inept actions of others.

I urge you that if 2008 rolls around and the blood is still flowing in the streets of Baghdad, use the one weapon that all Americans still have; vote for peace.

LL

Posted: 1/21/2007

"Goodbye to a Friend"

Yesterday I said goodbye to a very good friend. For almost twelve years now, she has always been there for me. She never demanded much in return, and never complained, not even in the end. When I wanted to go walking, she would walk. When I wanted to go outside and play, there she was. If I just wanted to sit and think, she sat quietly with me.

It was sad to watch her deteriorate over the years. She was so big and strong when she was young, and in the end she could no longer even lift herself off the floor. She had a sparkle in her eye as a young girl, but her eyes and her mind clouded as she aged. But one thing was always for sure, she never stopped loving me in the way that only she could; there were no strings attached, true unconditional love.

Those of you who love your pets have already figured out that I am talking about my oldest dog. It was hard to let her go, but it was the right thing to do. I held her head as her doctor gave her the "relief" she had probably been longing after for months. In the end, it was a quality of life issue. My girl's life, through no fault of her own, had become limited to just simply existing. She no longer played or wagged her tail; she simply ate, slept and went outside only when absolutely necessary.

As I said earlier, her love was unconditional. I believe the love of a dog is about as close as we can come in this life to understanding the love of God. Always there, never failing, and asking nothing in return.

Rest in peace girl and remember, you're "Daddy" will always love you.

LL

Posted: 1/31/2007

"You might be a bully if..."

I spent many years in the United States military during the "cold" war. During that time, and while growing up under the threat of worldwide annihilation, I slowly but surely began to distrust and fear Russian people. Only after the fall of the old Soviet Union, and after some serious personal reflection, did I realize that my fear and mistrust had no foundation in fact. One thing is true however, the former USSR was at one point consider to be the "bully" on the international stage and publicly admitted that their goal was worldwide domination.

Having said all that, I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of Russia's President Vladamir Putin recent comments regarding America's current foreign policy. Not only is Putin obviously a former citizen of the now defunct Soviet Union, he is also a former high-ranking KGB Intelligence Officer. In addition, Putin recently used strong arm tactics in former Soviet states to keep "revolutionaries" in line. Please understand, I am not trying pass judgment on Mr. Putin. I do not understand, or claim to understand, Russian life or politics. I am simply trying to put into context the seriousness of his recent comments about my own country.

How far have we as a nation fallen when we are seen now, even by men like Putin, as the new "bully" on the block. It is now not only the quieter nations of the world who distrust and fear us, but now even former "super powers" are concerned with our current direction. What new low have we achieved when even aggressive leaders are questioning our "hyper use" of international force. We have flexed our military muscle so much that even the Russians no longer feel secure.

All of this comes barely five years after the world rallied around us following the tragedy of September 11th. Following the terrorist attacks of that day, the international community stood ready and willing to help us rebuild and track down the perpetrators of that horrendous act. But then came the "war" on terror and an administration consumed with waging a losing battle in a land already ravaged by years of economic sanctions. Not to mention the fact that a majority of the hijackers did not come from Iraq but from our "friend" Saudi Arabia.

Now we stand almost alone, besides the reluctant British and the already isolated Israelis, in a war we can not win. And if that was not enough, now we are trying to pick a fight with the Iranians. Haven't enough of our sons and daughters died in far away lands where they were not welcome in the first place. Will the madness only stop when our military is stretched so thin that we cannot even protect our homeland anymore?

As I have stated in previous entries, if 2008 rolls around and there is no end in sight to this insanity, please use the one tool that we as Americans still have - vote for peace.

LL

Posted: 2/11/07


"An Apparent Contradiction"

Recently former Vice-President Al Gore was awarded with an Academy Award for his work in the environmental documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" about the dangers of global warming. I would like to begin by saying that whether or not you agree with the premise of the piece, most discerning film lovers had to admit that it was an extremely well made film. I was very happy to see the film makers also receive recognition. I not only agree with the premise of the film, but believe it was one of the best made documentaries I have ever seen.

Let me begin by saying that I applaud Mr. Gore for his efforts. It has taken someone of his political stature and personal wealth to bring this important subject increasingly into the public eye. Having said all that, I too was bothered by some apparent contradictions in the movie; not to mention the "facts" brought to light by conservative groups after he won his award.

Why would a man who is so eloquently telling us of the dangers of global warming drive himself around in a luxury car during the film? He obviously could afford to buy any hybrid car on the market. In addition, he is seen many times in the film being chauffeured from point-to-point? Would not the front seat of the car of one his many hosts be sufficient? I was however impressed with him apparently using commercial flights for his long distance transportation instead of a private jet.

Then came, what we all obviously knew would happen, the attacks from Gore's political enemies. These attempts to discredit him were a foregone conlclusion, especially following the increased media coverage that accompanies winning the Academy Award. It was obviously biased and exaggerated the facts that made him look the most hypocritical. But as with most things, there was some truth to this obvious political "smear" job.

Should his personal energy consumption be compared to that of the average citizen? I do not believe so. Mr. Gore's life and schedule has not in the past, nor will it probably be in the future, similar to that of most Americans. Could Mr. Gore probably reduce his "carbon footprint" by using some of his personal wealth? The answer to this question is obvious. But we must all admit that none of us are doing everything within our power to reduce our own personal effect on the environment.

Thankfully his work, and the work of many others, is starting to have an effect. Even the current administration is starting to push for alternative power sources and conservation of resources. As the film so powerfully stated, we must act now or we will reach a point of no return. Our current home, planet earth, is a beautiful gift from God and should be treated with respect.

All of us (myself and Mr. Gore included) could and should do more.

LL

Posted: 3/3/07

"The Virtual Generation"

Recently I was quoted in our local newspaper. Nothing major or impressive, just something to do with my job. What was interesting was the realization of how long it had been since I had actually purchased a newspaper. I was sure my Mom would want a "hard" copy of the article, so off to the store I went. I realized that I could not remember the last time I had gone into the local corner mart and slapped down fifty cents for a dose of the daily news. It is not that I think negatively of our local press or their publication, in reality it is a fairly good paper, it is simply that I have become part of the "virtual" generation.

This event led me to begin examining many parts of our new internet based society. For most people under 40, and for many of us over that magical age, computers and the internet have become a huge part of our lives. While many claim that this has greatly increased the amount we communicate with each other, I question the effect that this "impersonal" tool we use to do that communicating has had on us. Obviously there are other people on the other side of that screen, but are we socially experiencing the same thing as we did when people used to use the phone or actually have face-to-face conversations.

If you have not been able to discern it yet, I have very mixed emotions on this subject. I love using email to keep in touch with family and friends. But even that does not have the same personal touch as a "hand-written" letter. I really enjoy getting a message via email from an old friend, but it pales in comparison to hearing their voice over the phone. I really enjoy the convenience of "online" banking, but I no longer know what the tellers down at the local branch office look like. I really enjoy digital photography, but even that has an impersonal feel to it until the pictures are actually printed.

It is almost as if there is a whole other "virtual" world out there. A digital world of machines, networks and wires. A world where very few faces are known, only "screen names" and email addresses. All of us who are heavily involved with using computers (both personally and professionally) have relationships with people that we not only don't know what they look like, but we don't even know the sound of their voice. No matter how well you write or how powerful your computer is, you still can not convey the "tone" of a person's voice.

As with most things though, there are two sides to this coin. The internet has greatly increased our awareness of other nationalities and cultures. One of the key factors, in my opinion, to eliminating the scourge of racism and oppression is simply to get to "know" one another. In addition, the plight of people in less fortunate countries is much more widely known and discussed, making it harder for politicians to ignore. Not to mention the fact that we literally have the world at our fingertips; any subject or interest can, with only a few keystrokes, be unveiled with a massive amount of information.

So how do we reconcile the good with the bad of this new "virtual" world in which we live? One thing we must not do is take the all or nothing approach. Some would want us to abandon the "evil" that is the internet and drive us back in time to a "simpler" day. While others would be happy to increase their use of technology to the point where human interaction became almost non-existent. Neither of these two options make any logical sense to the objective observer.

My hope is that the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Personally, I like to think of my computer and the internet as a tool. A tool to make my life easier, more efficient and entertaining. Maybe each of us can simply keep it in the back of our minds not to avoid the "human" touch. If a phone call will work just as good as an email, give that person a call. If your local merchant has something you need, stop by and see him/her instead of ordering it online. If you see a neighbor when you are out walking to the beat of your ipod, hit pause, then stop and talk a while.

Why not use the technologies available to expand our personal horizons while not ignoring the person next door.

LL

Posted: 6/12/07

"Confessions of a Former Conservative"

Those of you that have read my previous entries are quite aware that my political views do not follow any specific party line. I have also made it no secret that I do not support the current administration or the current military action in Iraq. What I have never made "publicly" known before is my background as a mainstream conservative who voted for a man I now believe should resign immediately.

You could probably guess that the "man" of whom I speak is President George W. Bush. Prior to 9/11, Mr. Bush and most of the inhabitants of this country were sound asleep in our bed of complacency. We were of course the greatest nation in the world and everyone loved us, right? Nothing could have been farther from the truth. What was a tragic day for our country was the beginning of a personal awakening for me.

I was at that point in my life, part of a large chunk of our society which was happy to sit back in our affluence and ignore the suffering of those on whom we had built our way of life. I could give a long list of causes for my apathy, but they would simply be excuses and inappropriate in light of all the suffering and death that has occurred since then. Little did I realize how much my own life would be effected by a day that obviously also changed the course of American and world history.

It began slowly at first. Originally I supported the invasion of Afghanistan; after all, someone had to pay for the death of all those innocent Americans, didn't they? But then I started to notice the suffering of the people caught in the middle of our "revenge" as we used their homeland for a battleground. They were, as are the Iraqi people, as innocent as the Americans who died on that horrible day in September.

Then came the push to invade Iraq. Now the questions in my mind really began to spin. Why Iraq? Had not most of the hijackers come from Saudi Arabia? Why now? Had not the people of Iraq suffered enough through years of economic sanctions? Why war? Could we not just hit the targets  that concerned us with laser guided precision? Question after question, and for the first time in my life, I began to openly object to the decisions of our leaders.

As with most transformations, the process is still ongoing. Hopefully I will never be lulled back to sleep again. I must admit however, I was much more comfortable in my old role. As they say "it is easier to go along and get along" than it is to question and be questioned.The easy way however, is not always the right way.

Let me conclude by saying "Thank You" to Mr. Bush; his actions, no matter how much I disaggree with them,
set me on my current path.

LL

Posted: 7/13/07

"The Ultimate Disgrace"

Just when I thought the United States government could not stoop any lower, I was proven wrong. As if it was not bad enough that we are sending our sons and daughters into harms way for no logical reason, now some of them are returning home to treatment that can only be classified as disgraceful. No, I am not talking about the Walter Reed scandal, even though that too is a disgrace; I am discussing the current trend to discharge combat veterans with a "Chapter 513" separation. This type of military discharge states that the veteran's mental condition was preexisting and had nothing to do with their time in the military.

A case in point is Army Specialist Jonathan Town, who not only served in Iraq but was awarded the Purple Heart after a rocket ripped through his unit's headquarters exploding two feet above his head. You would assume that Towns would receive excellent medical treatment upon his return to the United States and any continuing care that might be necessary, you're assumption would be wrong. Even though the rocket blast left him with hearing loss, memory problems, anxiety and insomnia, he was denied treatment and quickly discharged after returning home. The Army informed him that his problems had not been caused by combat but by a condition that predated his military service.

For those of you who are not familiar with military procedures, this is baffling. All military service members are mentally evaluated upon entering the service. They are also evaluated again before being sent into combat. So how does a young man's "preexisting" mental condition not get noticed by two different doctors, but become obvious upon his discharge? The answer is obvious, it does not. Jonathan Town, and thousands more like him, are simply being discarded by a military that no longer needs them and does not want the financial burden of caring for the wounds they inflicted.

Thankfully this case, and this disgraceful trend, gained national media attention when musician Dave Matthews brought it to the public eye during one of his concerts. This was followed by calls from numerous Senators and Representatives to the Department of Defense for an investigation into this practice. Due to this publicity, Town is now receiving medical treatment and disability benefits through the Veterans Administration. Hopefully the turn around in his case will be followed by many, many more.

As always, I urge you to do everything within your power to bring this war to an end. Even if you disregard the suffering of the Iraqi people, which in and of itself would be a disgrace, we must work to limit the damage that has already been done to an entire generation of America's youth. We also must never forget them or their needs as they return to a life they may no longer be able to understand.

BRING THEM HOME NOW!

LL

Posted: 7/30/07

"Teachers With Guns"

Let me begin by saying that I am a teacher and a gun owner. At one point in my life I honestly believed that handguns were a viable self-defense option. However, I have never believed that weapons have ever had a place in the classroom. Unfortunately there is a growing opinion, mostly among non-educators, that some teachers should be armed to prevent school shootings. I believe that this is beyond a bad idea, it is a dangerous one.

One of the intrinsic goals for most teachers is to create a relaxed yet productive learning environment. This requires a lot of teacher interaction with their pupils. In addition, students must come to trust their teachers, not only on an academic level but also somewhat on a personal level. They must know that the teacher at no point intends them any physical or mental harm. To place a handgun into this equation would destroy any hope that this goal could be achieved.

Then of course there is the safety aspect. Most teachers, including myself, are not trained to carry a weapon. One of the many problems with carrying a handgun is the possibility that the weapon could be taken away. Then of course there is the chance of an accidental discharge. The list goes on and on. This is not to mention that fact that most of our students are faster and stronger than most of us have been in years.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe that our schools are becoming more dangerous places. I believe strongly that most schools should have multiple resource officers stationed in house. Unfortunately, when this suggestion is made we hear the same response over and over - we don't have the funding. So we must ask ourselves a question as a society, do we really value our children's safety or not?

LET THE TEACHERS TEACH AND THE POLICE PROTECT!

LL

Posted: 11/13/07

"An American Hero"

I grew up during the height of the cold war. We were taught as children, either directly or indirectly, to fear the former Soviet Union. So it was natural for there to be an unspoken rivalry between what used to be the two most powerful countries in the world. It began with the "Race to Space" and continued on into every Olympic Games for decades. There was however, one arena where we as Americans could not hold a candle to the Soviets - Chess.

To most Americans of the early 1970s, chess was simply a game that old men played in the park and school children learned when they got bored playing checkers. It was not a contest to be taken seriously or worthy of any media attention. Nothing could be farther from the reality of that time in the former Soviet Union. Chess champions were revered as much as any sports star. The Soviets had a system, as they did for everything, to locate and nurture rising chess prodigies.

It was against this obvious imbalance that an American hero arose - Robert James Fischer. He was just another kid from Brooklyn, who became possibly the greatest chess player that ever lived. He first learned to play when he was just six years old. Only six years later, at the ripe old age of twelve, he won the U.S. Junior Championship and became the youngest American ever to achieve the rank of National Master. Then he set a record that still stands to this day, he won the national championship when he was only fourteen, the youngest United States Champion in history. But even after all these accomplishments, Robert "Bobby" Fischer was not a household name.

His success at home was followed by many victories abroad. He eventually added the title of "Youngest Ever" Grand Master to his long list of accomplishments, but still his overall anonymity at home continued. That is, until he shocked the world by challenging the the reigning World Champion Boris Spasky. Could an American actually compete at this level in a game that had always been considered a Soviet stronghold? The answer, as most of you already know, was yes. In September of 1972, Bobby Fischer became the first and only American to claim the title of World Chess Champion.

The game of chess, and the name of Bobby Fischer, became immensely popular almost overnight in the United States. But what also began to become apparent was that our new champion had quite a peculiar side to him. Stories of Fischer's odd demands and antics prior to, and following, the World Championships also garnered the attention of the media. Fischer followed all of this international attention with probably his strangest move ever - he simply stopped playing chess.

Fischer remained in obscurity for over twenty years. He eventually returned to play Spasky again in the former Soviet block country of Yugoslavia. This trip began his problems with the United States government, unapproved travel to Yugoslavia was considered illegal at that time. His participation in this match led to his fugitive status abroad. Fischer never returned to the United States and eventually renounced his American citizenship. During his time abroad he became increasingly well known for his anti-semitic rants, even though his mother was Jewish. He apparently reached the peak of his lunacy when he announced publicly that he believed the terrorists attacks of September 11th were justified.

Our champion died yesterday. He was not at home in Brooklyn, but in his newly adopted country of Iceland where he had garnered so much attention in 1972. I think we should treat Bobby's passing the same way we treat most people's deaths, by concentrating on the "good" side of that person's life. Yes, Bobby Fischer was eccentric and said many hurtful things in his later years; but he was also a hero to this country and an inspiration to many of us who still love to play chess to this day.

Thanks Bobby - Rest In Peace.

LL

Posted: 01/18/08

"An Unsustainable Future"

One thing I have agreed with Mr. Bush on in the last five years is that we are addicted to oil. Some would argue, including myself, that the current war in Iraq and many of our currently absurd foreign policies are motivated by our need to maintain an influence over the world's oil supply. While this theory could be debated, one obvious problem seems to get much less attention - what do we do when the supply of this "Black Gold" begins to run dry?

Our entire society, and much of the industrialized world, is dependent on a product that has a finite supply. Almost everything we do is effected by the price and availability of petroleum and petroleum based products. Sit down and try to think of one thing in your life that was not made, transported or influenced by oil. The list is very short. This fact in and of itself would be scary even if you ignored the dwindling stores of this subterranean commodity.

Very few people argue that the supply is limited. Some theorize that we have already hit the peak of oil production and are on the downhill slide towards running out of our system's life blood. Regardless of where you stand on this sub-plot in our ongoing problem, the introduction of the Chinese into our materialistic way of life has only exacerbated the situation. Now the most populous country in the world is beginning to gulp down this resource, and many others, at rates that even startles most Americans.

My greatest fear is that we have waited too long to recognize and correct this problem. Research and development for a viable alternative just to suit our transportation needs is still in its infancy. Even if we were close to a breakthrough in this area, we would still face the monumental task of literally changing our way of life. Cars in the future will obviously need to run on some type of renewable energy, but they must also be much more function than flash. Will an American public raised on Harleys and horsepower graciously give up their toys - I don't think so.

As with most societal problems, there are things that we as individuals can do to help. Combine trips when possible, take vacations closer to home, support local farmers, purchase "greener" products when possible, and the list goes on. Most of these things are common sense and already understood by most of us. The nice side-effect, besides reducing your carbon foot-print, is that you will most likely save a little money while helping to slow the beginning of what could be an extremely bumpy ride into our future.

LL

Posted: 03/21/08

"The Luck of the Irish"

I have long been fascinated by the concept of luck. This probably all stems back to my upbringing where I was surrounded by my Mother's Irish culture. Although I have always loved all things Celtic, I never could swallow the concept of being "lucky" even though half of my DNA came straight off the boat from the Emerald Isle.

The concept of luck was further cemented in my mind as I grew up in a country where luck is blamed and/or celebrated for many things in people's lives. Why then did it never make any sense to me? My same immigrant mother, who taught me many valuable lessons, always told me to treat everyone as equals. Why then did some seem to have life so much easier than others, was it simply luck?

Unlike most things that can be explained by science, certain events can seemingly only be reconciled by accepting the idea of chance or luck. Lottery winners, the flip of a coin, unfortunate accidents, the list goes on and on. As someone who works constantly with technology, I much prefer being able to understand the "why" of an event or action. Simply believing that something occurred randomly has always been a hard for me to swallow.

And then there is one of my favorite pass times - chess. It has been a long running discussion (and joke) at the chess club I attend as to whether or not luck exists in the ultimate game. As you can probably guess, my opinion has always been that there is no luck in chess. There are 64 squares and 32 pieces with no dice or cards, just you and your opponent. One of the things that first attracted me to chess, and has kept my interest for many years now, is that the best man always wins. No chance or luck, simply one person's superior skill at that given moment in time.

So where does this leave me? I guess I have to accept the fact that certain things in life are a matter of chance or luck. For example, if I went out this weekend and purchased a winning lottery ticket, I would feel very lucky. If however, as I was driving back from wasting my money on yet another losing lottery ticket and was hit by a truck, I would obviously not feel so lucky.

I will leave you with the only quote about luck that has ever made any sense to me. The Roman Philosopher Seneca once said “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This phrase certainly doesn't answer all the questions in my mind, but it does make something that seems so random sound somewhat logical.

LL

Posted: 4/4/08

"The True Cost of War"

As most of you already know, I have been against the current war in Iraq from the very beginning. However, I do not feel that all wars have been unjustified or unnecessary. The country in which we live would not exist had it not been for the bravery and blood of those early patriots. Many people throughout history have struggled to free themselves from oppression through the use of armed conflict.

So what then is the difference between "righteous" and "unrighteous" wars? That question can only be answered with another question - can we as a nation justify the cost? Unfortunately in our money driven world, people automatically think of currency when we hear the word cost. Nothing could be further from the truth in this context. Yes, there is a monetary cost to war; unfortunately, that cost has become an industry not a method of defense.

From the beginning of the current situation in Iraq, people began to talk about the cost of the war. No one can argue that the decisions of the current administration has cost this country billions of dollars which it did not have. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly popular among people from the left side of the aisle to compare the monetary cost of this war to social programs that could have benefited from those same funds. I must admit that even this irritates me slightly, although I agree with their reasoning and purpose.

Recently, there is a growing trend among people from the other side of the aisle to compare anything financial to the "cost" of illegal immigration. I will not even begin to discuss this topic, or my belief that all this posturing about fences and deportation is just political pandering. What I will not let go unanswered is when conservatives have the gall to compare the financial cost of illegal immigrants in this country with the mounting cost of the war in Iraq.

So what is the true cost of war? If you have any soul at all, you already know the answer - human lives. This cost is not measured in dollars and cents, but in families who will never see their loved ones again. From the American soldiers who gave their lives, to the innocent Iraqi civilians who were simply casualties of war. These are people with whom we will never talk, smile or laugh with again.

Now, as I said earlier, we must ask the question - can we justify the cost? Have the young men and women of this country died by the thousands protecting our homeland from foreign invaders? Have hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died so that they can lead happier, more productive lives? Or are we at war, not for some noble cause, but because we simply needed an enemy to keep the big machine rolling?

I pray that we as nation will someday soon no longer be able to ignore the "true cost" of this war.

LL

Posted: 04/13/08

"A Tortured Soul"

I don't remember the first time I heard the Dave Matthews Band. I do remember hearing something in their music that I hadn't heard from an artist in a long time - originality and passion. I did not become addicted all at once, but slowly but surely I found myself listening more and more. Then I saw them perform live on a PBS special that latter became the "Listener Supported" disc. Now I was hooked. Their passionate music flowed out into live performances that could not be described with words. I finally began to understand why their fans are not just fans, but fanatics.

The more I listened and watched, the more I began to see that this band was not all about the lead singer and guitarist Dave Matthews. It was a unique blend of the amazing talent of five very different men who had become brothers in their journey. Although their histories literally came from around the world, it was obvious on stage that they had become family.

Besides the unique vocals and chords of Matthews, the band's amazingly clean jam band sound centered around the spectacular percussion abilities of Carter Beauford. Their unique sound was created by the haunting melodies of classically trained violinist Boyd Tinsley. The rocking drive of the band was generated by their youngest member, bass player Stephan Lessard. But without a doubt, the soul and passion of the band came from the saxophone of Leroi Moore.

If you haven't noticed yet, I am using the past tense to describe the band; for today was a sad day for DMB fans and the music world as a whole. The soulful passionate side of the greatest jam band that ever was, Saxophonist Leroi Moore, died today. The details of his passing are not important, we must simply accept the fact that he is no longer with us.

I will now treasure more than ever the memories I have of seeing them live. For that was when the Dave Matthews Band really was the Dave Matthews Band - on stage playing their hearts out. Even if the group continues, it will never be the same for me. The band, like most things involving the combination of more than one talent, cannot be the same if a part of it is gone. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for his "brothers" in the band.

Dave once said when asked about Leroi “He's a tortured soul, but man, when he plays, he plays the most beautiful melodies in the world, instantly." Many people say that truly passionate music can only come from the heartaches and pains of life. Maybe Leroi's pain became our joy. If so, I hope now he can finally rest in peace.

LL

Posted: 08/20/08

"Home Sweet Home"

As Hurricane Gustav closed in on the Gulf Coast this weekend, I took time to reflect on my life's journey so far. Much of my early years were spent living near the ocean. I too have spent long nights wondering what path the approaching monster would take. I have sat in shelters listening to the winds howl and wondering if the roof would hold. I have also spent many hours waiting in the traffic created by thousands of people evacuating. But even after all of this, I could not imagine living "inland" away from the sand and sea.

That was until about twenty years ago when I finished my time in the military. It was then that I moved to my newly adopted home in the Carolinas. My new stomping grounds were far from the ocean that I had grown up near and always been stationed close to while on active duty. Even though the initial adjustment wasn't easy, I found myself really enjoying the slower pace of life in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Since settling down in my new home, I have learned new terminologies like "holler" and "pole cat" along with a constant smattering of "you all" of course. My friends and family have even begun to notice an accent when I tell them I am "fixin" to go to the store. I have discovered new foods, like grits and tomatoes sandwiches, not to mention my new life's blood - sweet tea. I fell in love with the mountains and the folk lore that surrounded them. I even started listening to a little blue grass music now and then.

But most of all, I have learned to love and respect my new neighbors. Unlike many of us who have moved many times to many places in our lifetimes, many of them have lived in this peaceful setting for generations. Some would falsely think that this would create a very closed and unfriendly society. Thankfully, as I have come to know first hand, the exact opposite is true. I have found a people willing to accept you for who you are, if you are willing to accept them as they are.

Now it is true that they "don't care how you did it up north" and they will likely kid you a little about being a yankee, but that is to be expected. For this is their home which they are graciously sharing with me. They have shown me a simpler way of life, far from the madness of the exploding coastal communities I used to call home. I no longer worry about the next big storm, now my only weather concern is plenty of rain water for my garden.

By the way yankee, we don't have an accent - you all do!

LL

Posted: 09/01/08