Aside from some mild embarrassment over my mistaken conclusion that the fellow I talked about last month was joining us on drums, it may have been a blessing in disguise. He responded immediately to my post and disabused me of any notion that he would be joining the band. Sometimes the nicest people have a hard time telling you what they really think.
Very happy to report that our friend, Cameron Shells, is going to cover the drums for us on the 15th next month. Cameron is a bandleader, songwriter, and, fortunately for us, multi-instrumentalist, and we are lucky that he had a spot for us in his busy schedule.
In the event that anyone has forgotten, Barbed Wire Valentine, my band, is playing a 30 minute set at 9 o'clock the evening of October 15th at The Big Easy, 128 American Alley in Petaluma. It's a show featuring three songwriters put on monthly by Drew Pierce's Secret Song Club. Starts at seven. Big Easy is a great place to hear live music, and their support for shows like this is a priceless contribution to the community. I'm expecting every one of you to be there unless you have a very good reason why not.
I'm reading four books now. Critical Race Theory, a collection of essays that I picked up because I wanted to understand what all the commotion was about…all the right-wing objections to this being taught to our children. Believe me when I tell you that this is not a subject for children. These are complex issues regarding the evolution of civil rights legislation written by scholars in the field.
Also reading The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. I've been hearing about Joseph Campbell for years, and a friend just recommended this particular title. Seemed like a good place to start checking out this influential writer.
My sister, Diane recommended Parable Of The Sower by Olivia E. Butler. Nice to get an occasional break from my usual diet of nonfiction.
The fourth is Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about the second Trump presidency as it unfolds. Recommendations, including one from Jamelle Bouie got me to pick this one up.
Speaking of books, I'd like to remind all of you that I had copies of Revealed Translation of John's Revelation printed. If you'd like one, email me an address (richard@richardstrick.com) and I'll send you one. There is no charge. The reason I'm promoting this book is that I believe that it is what it says that it is; a direct communication from Jesus to this medium, Archie Inger to explain a book that directly concerns the changes unfolding in our time.
Best Regards,
Richard