Hey everyone!

I am very much looking forward to the summer time here in beautiful Austin Tx. I know there are lots of people here that poo-poo on Austin. “It ain't what it used to be," is something I hear a lot. Also, “It was better 15 years ago,” I hear that too. Lamentably, both points are probably true. Here's the thing though, Austin might not be what it used to be and it may have been better 15 years ago BUT it's still great right now.

It's real easy to live in the past. Especially when it's looked at from rose colored glasses. Yes, thing were simpler back then. Perhaps a bit slower, more innocent. BUT... we don't live there. We live HERE, in the now.

Living in the past is being a victim in the present. If I did that I'd never move forward with anything.

There is a senior living community I perform at regularly. As I enter in, there is a long hallway with a number of photos of Austin TX taken from South Congress Avenue directed at the capitol building. They are great! One is from the 1940s. The town is so small, and some of the side streets look to be dirt still. Another is from the 1960s. The cars look amazing. I can see there is some commerce going on. People are dress up (compared to today's standards).

In the third, it's the mid 1980s. Lots more building. When I compare, I see some of the buildings from the 40s are gone, and in their place are different ones. The cars actually look kinda cool. Lots of 1970s trucks and sedans. And the last is from the 2010s. Totally different skyline. Misc building are gone, some are still the same.

What I am getting at is yeah! If we yearn from a simpler life, yearn for things to slow down, yearn for nostalgia, yes... it probably was better back then. Too bad! You and I don't live there. We live here. In the *now*. We can't go back. No matter how many hours you pine away wishing it. So, perhaps it's best if I, and you, and everyone else embrace the *now* as best we can. Make the best of THIS moment. Embrace the tenants of the past and not try to exist in the past.

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Record design is done. Heading to the manufacturer. I really think you are going to like how everything looks and sounds.

J