Willie and Trigger + An 84 Year Tenure + My First Bat Mitzvah

You know those weeks where Tuesday seems like Wednesday, and Wednesday seems like it should be Friday? That’s where I was this week, though I’m not sure why. Nothing seemed to drag on. Everything moved at a good pace. I just couldn’t catch the calendar. Sometimes the days blow by so fast you miss them. Other times one day’s passing seems like it took two or three days’ time. A few things caught my attention around longevity this week. Here’s how they showed up:

Listening - Last week’s news of Naomi Judd got me wandering down the dusty trails of country music I was exposed to as a kid. The most prominent among those troubadours is Willie Nelson, so it was neat to see this InsideHook article pop up this week detailing the best of the 88 (yes…eighty-eight!) albums he’s released - just one shy of how many years he’s been on this planet! Among my favorites in his massive canon are Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger, Stardust, and Half Nelson. On all of those records, and for more than 10,000 shows Willie has played a modified Martin N-20 guitar that he’s named Trigger. It’s a battered and bruised beauty that Willie still trots out for every gig. It proves that music is function over form and that new doesn't always beat old. Trigger is such an iconic instrument, it even has its own Wikipedia page. If you haven't seen it, be sure to check it out. And if you've never seen Willie play Whiskey River live, he's still on tour. In the mean time, stream a few numbers from the red headed stranger this week. 

Reading - This very short Morning Brew article about one man’s 84 year tenure working for the same company was refreshing. In a world where so many of us ponder our careers, strive to achieve massive goals, and measure our worth against our accomplishments, Walter Orthmann offers an alternative. He is 100 years old, and when asked why he’s been in the same position for so many decades, her replied “All I care about is that tomorrow will be another day in which I will wake up, get up, exercise, and go to work; you need to get busy with the present, not the past or the future.” That’s incredible! Simple, practical wisdom from a man who’s been around to see so much!

Reflecting on - I attended my first bat mitzvah this weekend. I’m 43 years old so it’s kind of surprising that it took this long. I love seeing different traditions, and being part of this one was very special. The ceremony was held for my neighbor Lorelei as she became an adult member of her synagogue’s community. As part of the ceremony Lorelei offered a lesson for the congregation. She quoted John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, telling us that we must stand up for one another and ourselves. She drew from their speeches and teachings to remind us that believing something is not enough; belief must be enacted to make a difference. She was eloquent and thoughtful in her delivery. And she was nervous too, as most teenagers rightfully are when they deliver a big speech in a high pressure moment of their life. Watching Lorelei smile through those nerves and speak deep truth learned from inspirational leaders made me so grateful that she is part of my community, and it brought me mountains of hope for my children’s generation. 

Weekly Gig - One of the best, and longest running, music shows on television is Austin City Limits. Willie Nelson performed on the pilot back in 1976 and has been on something like two dozen times. Rather than pick a single show, here are 32 tracks from across those appearances collected in one place. 

Have a long running, connected week.