Through the Misty Dawn - Editorial

A Fresh Start Promises Better Days Ahead

Being tired from our long trip to Ohio and back, I went to bed early on New Years Eve only to be awakened by a mysterious force at 11:45 PM. I could hear the rain pouring down on the roof top as I slowly arose from my bed.  I looked at the clock in amazement and realized I was just in time for the celebration.  But more importantly I noticed I had forgotten to close the garage door. The driving rain was splashing onto the garage floor. I quickly went to the garage and closed the door.

When it rains and particularly when there is lightning flashing I always un plug my computers. The 14 symphonies, etc. thereon require protection from power surges even though I have such protection. I ran to my studio to remedy the problem.

As I watched the New Year's celebrations on TV I began to think about the coming year. It was serious business, to be sure. I vowed to do several things far better in the coming year. The first was to drive more carefully and especially at intersections. For the past several years I have slowed my driving down considerably because I am simply not in a hurry. Somewhere along the way I realized that I was not going to be late for work and even if I was late for something, I preferred to drive more carefully.

My thoughts then went to the subject of my health. I vowed to watch my diet more carefully and take my daily regimen of medicines more faithfully. That issue grew to big proportions in my mind. In fact all the above subjects were so serious that I turned off the TV and went back to bed. They reduced down to two easy words to remember - Safety and Health.

With five acres and eight gardens all in need of attention I quickly dismissed those ideas because one merely needs to go to the front porch for morning coffee to be reminded of the tasks that await my attention. Similarly with my studio; opening the door to the studio reminds me of the clutter that needs attention. Eccentric composers tend to have a little clutter. The reason is rather obvious. There are composition projects, promotional mailings, printing projects, Photo Journals, reference books & materials (nearby) and the "To Do" stacks on the left side of the desk.  I vowed to clear the clutter on the first cold and rainy day. We all know today is a Holiday and not a day for hard work.

As for politics and the national scene, I thought briefly and decided that I had written just about all I knew on the subject. There was little more I could add in my Journals. My advice was being ignored by the President, whereby I concluded that free speech had an important but limited value to an Editorial Writer. But I had made my contribution and that was sufficient.

So, it boiled down to Safety & Health and................a little clutter.

Realizing those were issues I could do something about, I then turned out the light and gave my dog Liberty a few strokes of affection and prepared for a good night's sleep. Liberty jumped down from the bed and picked up his pet frog (Froggie) and jumped back up onto the bed beside me. All was well as we headed into the Happy New Year.

Several favorite photos are displayed above.

Richard Englefield

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

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