About Grass
Post 24:
Flew into Ohio today. It was kind of a whirlwind deal—get off the plane, get to the hotel, get cleaned up, then go play music for people in a place I’ve never been. The one thing I noticed on the way to the hotel was the grass. It’s really green here. Being from Texas, green grass after a long summer is not something I’m used to seeing.
It got me thinking about the expression, “the grass is always greener.” I’m done with my shift, played the songs, did the thing, yada… I won’t bore you with details. I will say this: the people were great, except for the people that weren’t. In summation, it’s like everywhere else.
But still that expression is sticking in my mind. I’m always looking for the greener grass, the whatever at the end of the rainbow. Don’t know whether I’m an idealist or a curmudgeon, it’s debatable. Anyway, it has me thinking. What if this was permanent? Not saying I will, but what if I move here? It’s a nascent thought, if anything. Could I make a new life, a new beginning, new friends, new surroundings…
Okay. I’ve said “new” enough times already.
It’s one of those ponderables. I know ponderables isn’t a word, but it should be. There’s the thing about wherever you go, there you are. There’s the thing about leaving home and how you can never go back again. Those are nice sentiments, but what happens when it comes down to really making a change? Do you look for greener grass, or is it how you see the grass? I understand this is even more of a rambling post than I usually put forth, but let’s call it stream of consciousness.
New is scary. Trepidations abound, the what if’s and the how’s it going to work’s attack your brain like barbarians at the gate. But maybe that grass is as green as you want it to be, maybe unlocking the mystery is to dispel with the notions of halcyon years lived in a better spot in a better location with better people. Maybe it’s just you. By you, I mean me.
I guess I’ll alleviate my brain and leave you with this: Try to make it work, wherever you are. The myriad forces outside your orbit have nothing for you. Do your best—it works out, or it doesn’t. Then the next thing. I think the “grass” thing is about control, more than anything else. It’s not that it’s greener over there; you just want to know you can go over there, come back, do whatever at your leisure. That’s not life. Hop on one side of the fence, ride it out, don’t look too far back or too far forward. Just own that side. In the moment, that’s your grass. Keep to it, nurture it, maybe it’ll nurture you.
See you after.
