I am so lucky to live in a family that shares so many things with each other. We are flung to the far corners of civilization, it seems, but we are all connected by way of the World Wide Web. We celebrate good times together, and we support each other in difficult times as well. Also, from time to time, one of us finds something particularly amusing or profound and passes that on to the rest of us. Just last week my brother in Texas sent a list of amusing anecdotes offered by grandparents. They were all funny, but this one caught my sense of the brilliantly absurd:

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”

I thought to myself that I could identify with the little story. I have ideas about everything – offering numerous theories, sayings, illustrations, songs, and seemingly sage pronouncements. But when it comes right down to it, what do I really know?

Many of the greatest poets and songwriters in the world write long poems and elaborate songs that can be summarized in three words: I love you. Other writers compose large works of fiction with the simple message that people are basically good, or bad, or fearful, or ________ (fill in the space with the adjective of your choice). Every writing teacher I have ever been acquainted with says to write what you know. But in the end, what do we really know?

A quote attributed to Socrates is “The only real wisdom is knowing that you know nothing.” Maybe he is right. Maybe I know nothing – but what do I believe? What I believe will have a direct effect on what I do.

I believe that there is goodness and God is the source of that goodness.
I believe that there is love and the seeds of love are given as pure gift.
I believe that there is redemption and that evil can be transformed.
I believe that I should follow the right path – to whatever degree I understand that path.
I believe that there is worth in all human beings, even if I cannot see it.
I believe that there is knowledge much deeper than what currently passes for knowledge.
I believe that I should keep pounding on that word processor, even if I don’t know for sure what it’s all about.

And maybe someday, along with the little girl in the story, I’ll better understand all the things that I’ve said and written. – Bob Tatum

I could say that Sound Traveler took the weekend off, but we were in the St. Pete area, Gulfport specifically, dancing the weekend away. The setting was gorgeous, the people were very friendly, and the music and dancing were fantastic. The annual event is called Snow Ball, and contradancers from near and quite far make reservations, hoping to be accepted. Largely because of Patty’s reputation as a charming and skilled dancer, they let us both in. All the while, we passed out cards and made connections, hoping for some sound-travelin’ opportunities in the future.

Early as it is, we are already filling in dates for our summer schedule in North Carolina and Tennessee. We have already been asked to play at Music Fest-n-Sugar Grove. We are also in contact with Jonesborough and Roan Mountain for summer engagements in those locations as well. Keep up with our schedule as it develops on this site.

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5 Comments to “SongTravelin’: 1.24.11 – When All Is Said…”

• January 24, 2011 at 9:35 am
  Jacques says:

  Because children are less influenced by the “norms” of polite speech, they can often penetrate to the truth of a situation. Also, because of their tendency to approach any situation from unique perspectives, they provide a foundation for metaphorical connections as well. I am fascinated by the decptively simple speech of children.
• January 24, 2011 at 10:03 pm
  Jep Tatum says:

  Bob,

  Enjoyed your blog entry today. Sounds like you and Mz Patty had a fun weekend in Gulfport. Wish I could be with you in North Carolina this summer. That sure is a pretty part of the world. I would like to do some hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains some day. Glad you and Patty are enjoying yourselves.

  When do you all plan to come back to Florida for the winter? When we go to Florida (planed for this year) we would like to see y’all.

  Love,

  Jep
• January 25, 2011 at 12:57 pm
  Bob says:

  We’re in Florida until June. Patty still teaches down here, so we’re down here most of the time.
• January 28, 2011 at 4:48 pm
  Mike Hodge says:

  I really appreciate your “I believe…” statements. Very perceptive and penetrating. I believe… that you are onto something … that relationships are important …. that living a while grants a smidgen of wisdom … and I believe in you.

  Thanks!
• January 28, 2011 at 5:30 pm
  Bob says:

  Thanks so much for those kind words. They mean something coming from you. You are still a hero of mine.