Life 2.0

On the eve of a major book launch party for "IRONMAN!"-The Autobiography of Legendary Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley-I've had an interesting week watching all the puzzle pieces come together on this project. Add to that a new wrist-watch (not unlike my old one) as well as some thoughts on watching the 81 year "Rebel" signing books and I cannot help but think about how fast our timelines seem to evaporate. Then, a late night text message from country music superstar John Berry seals the deal, and it's another attempt at audio excellence and podcasting possiblities.

There is an old saying..."You can't push the river" but we try to anyway. As humans, we are often more like a stone, firmly entrenched in our opinions, beliefs and experiences in the river of life, than the waters that flow around, over and under the stones, eroding, polishing and refining them. This past week, I’ve had a few reminders of perspective, and the power of asking better questions, and how much I enjoy getting my quills cut at the barbershop-all of it an invitation to “be like water.”

I've been working on a book project for exactly one year. When the Author's Proof finally showed up, I had some fairly serious insights to the process that always takes over my life to a greater or lesser degree, and the satisfaction that comes from creating a book out of some pretty thin air. It's humbling, frustrating and magical all at once. 

Everybody running around buying lottery tickets, all the while not realizing that they have already won the biggest lottery there is-LIFE. What you do  with your winnings is a matter of choice, not chance. Don't believe me? Check your Human Math.

A milestone was reached this past Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. (and 9:02 a.m.) EST as my son Andy and daughter-in-law Kaitlyn, welcomed identical twin girls to the world, and I officially became "Poppa John." It's been a few days of reflection and memories, lessons and reminders, delivered to me, via the two newest members of the Human Family. 

At one time, John Denver was the biggest-selling artist in the world.

When he embarked on an ambitious tour of the USSR in 1984, there was no cultural agreement between the USA and the Soviet Union, as the Cold War was just starting to thaw. Roger "The Immortal" Nichols, the engineering genius behind Steely Dan, accompanied Denver to Russia with a small yet state of the art recording rig, at the urging of John's brother Ron.  The tapes of those historic concerts eventually became an album after Denver died in a plane crash in 1997, but then were swallowed up over time. 

In an effort to restore history, Roger's daughters Cimcie and Ashlee have spent the last decade tracking down the master recordings, and along with their mom Conrad Reeder, successfully completed their mission, with support from the Denver Estate. 

These historic concets from 1945/85 are now available for digital download on all streaming platforms. Connie, Cimcie and Ashlee join me to share the journey, recount the incredible efforts of Roger to capture the concerts in the USSR and how 40+ years later, Denver's message of peace looms larger than ever before.

Included in this episode are some of Denver's classics, recorded on stage, just as he peformed them, for a very receptive audience in the USSR.

 

There was a time that I paid my bills running an 80 pound jack hammer all day. The lessons of those years of hard work, have played out in my literary life decades later. Whenever it's scorching hot and I'm doing yard work, sweating in the summer sun, I go back to that time as well as football practice and the memories infiltrate my mind. Also, its a fodder filled show that has me wondering if John Denver should be in the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame (maybe/maybe not) and a follow up on the sh*t show from last week with listener suggestions. 

My dad used to say that the only difference between sh*t and spaghetti, is the sauce. Fresh off a stop at the auto parts store, where F'bombs were dropping in blitzkreig like fashion, thought I would share the "Know Your Sh*t" list, so you can be more accurarte in your verbiage. Monday is our 247th birthday as a nation, and I've got some trivia you can use at the BBQ to impress your friends and neighbors. Did you know that a 16 year-old designed our current flag? Didn't think so. Be safe!

50 years. That's how long it's been since I last saw many of my classmates from the Belding Elementary School Class of 1973. Back then, I was a tadpole in terms of human development. Last night we celebrated the half-century mark, with a few hours of memories and laughter, bundt cake and pictures. It also took me back to that day in June, when my dad took off a half-day of work, and with Father's Day fast approaching, some lessons learned from Poppa John. Add to that my mom's efforts that transformed my bedroom into a Rocky Mountain cabin, and it all adds up to another deep dive into the memory pool on the Life 2.0 podcast.

We're rolling back to Father's Day 2022 on this episode as Jen and I share memories of our dads, and some thoughts on the journey of our friend Joe McQuillen, who lost his son Chris, but continues to inspire and inform grieving parents. The lighter side is a romp through my first sit-down drinking experience with my Old Man, and a rare "Daily Duff" feature from the highly talented Chris Duffy.

It's talk that matters.