Klarinet Archive - Posting 000614.txt from 2001/10

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] Off topic Chat and Slightly off topic Chat.
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 10:04:31 -0400

I have to chime in here and add my 2 cents.

I lived in Germany for almost 3 years while in the Military and because =
I
was in the top Army Band (7th Army Europe) I had the opportunity to =
travel
quite a bit around the continent since we got the first pick of all =
gigs.

I learned to appreciate the way Europeans have a sense of life and love =
and
living for the moment if you will. They always seem to find time to =
stop and
smell the flowers. I know this is a worn out clich=E9, but it really =
says a
lot.

Those of us that live in the U.S. seem to be so driven in our careers =
that
we end up missing the little things in life that can bring enjoyment =
and
meaning. We tend to always be in a hurry going somewhere or to do =
something.
Especially those that live in a big city. Everything always in a rush =
and we
get this attitude that I call the "right now" attitude. We have no =
patience
for slow processes and slow things in general. This permeates the way =
we
live and the way we practice. Now I am making a generalization here and =
this
clearly does not apply to everyone living in the U.S. or abroad.

I envy the French. I read somewhere that it is now mandatory that every
employee receive 5 weeks of vacation a year. Regardless of seniority. =
Many
American business prophesied that this would ruin their economy and =
cause
many businesses to go bankrupt. But I have yet to read of this =
happening. No
doubt it did cut into the profit margin of all the businesses, but they =
put
a higher priority on life and time to live it than we do here in the =
U.S.
where everything is the bottom line profit.

Now that I am getting back into playing clarinet after a hiatus of 25 =
years,
I think I can finally say that I am doing it for the pure enjoyment of =
it
and not just for the sake of accomplishment.

Tom Henson

-----Original Message-----
From: Alisa Hixon [mailto:ahixon@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] Off topic Chat and Slightly off topic Chat.

tony,

i subscribed to this newsletter for my daughter....she is in concert =
band in
junior high school.

but i feel i subscribed for "me" today......

the words you sent today are "right - on". we must have a sense of fun =
in
all we do otherwise life would have little purpose.

thank you!

--a clarinetist mom

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subject: [kl] Off topic Chat and Slightly off topic Chat.

>>>>>>>> I believe there has to be room for both kinds of
>>>>>>> contributions.
>>>> With respect, I refer everyone back to Walter Grabner`s =
contribution of
15th
>>>> OctI believe that. "There has to be a sense of fun in everything I =
do".
> >>>this quote could almost begin a new religion, and new way of =
living
with our
> >>>fellow human beings, if we had the <drive> to initiate it. It IS =
what
we
> >>>lack, and have lacked for a long time. Let us begin to live with =
that
again
>>>> starting now, in spite of all our world troubles. It IS what will
'carry' us
> >>>thru` all the pain we are suffering at present, not least on this =
list.
>
> Tony Wakefield.
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------