A Look Back At 2023
Yes, I admit that I used to watch Days Of Our Lives. Let me explain. My mom often prepared lunch for me in the 80's when I wasn't at the lake. She watched that show all the time, and for about two years so did I. So there! Judge if you must. As we begin a new year, it's always healthy to reflect on our life and take inventory of all the events, people, places and moments that brought the most joy. I'm a visual guy, so I enjoy looking back through my photos that so vividly remind me of those experiences. Have any of you taken the time to sit with yourself and recall the best moments of your 2023? If so, I'd love to hear about them if you want to share a favorite in the comments section below.
Much of my life is spent enjoying the delicious swirly candy sucker of the music world. Music is woven into my every fabric. I don't know about others, although I have taken mental inventory of who is wired in this manner, but I do life to music. Even if I'm not making, or listening to music, there's always a tune running through my head. During my competitive barefoot ski days I would always be humming a tune as I skied which would provide me a tempo and rhythm for the execution of my ski runs. My entire family shares a love for music too. My wife, Sherrie, listens to music while she works most of the time. We both enjoy attending live concerts and supporting emerging local musical talent. Our daughter, Kayla, is rarely seen without headphones, or driving with that deep thumping bass resonating from her vehicle. She has also recently opened Pandora's Box as she received a record player from Santa. Now vinyl is the trend as she discovers the pleasures of actually playing an entire album while enjoying the experience that the artist actually intended.
Our son, Garrett, is a professional musician and is making his mark in the music industry writing, recording and performing in two outstanding and emerging bands. Sherrie and I had the pleasure of spending the day at Tree Sound Studios in Duluth, Georgia as Cam and His Dam Jam Band recorded their first "big time" album at a "big time" studio. Garrett has also been in the studio and on tour with Wim Tapley and The Cannons throughout 2023 as this band continues to gain serious momentum and a large growing fan base. Oh yeah, then there's Peach Ice Cream, a bluegrass band with good friends that was put together just for fun and to unwind, and yet, they continue to find themselves being booked to entertain Athens, Georgia on a a regular basis.
Much of my time is spent playing music with the band Out Of The Blue which is an absolute blast and tremendous blessing to me. Ryan, Dean and Kevin are so talented, and also so much fun to be around, which is important when you're not in it for the money. Playing in this band is therapeutic for me and has definitely played a major role in my overall healing process. As I mentioned, Sherrie and I enjoy live concerts, and we began 2023 enjoying The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band in Atlanta. This was Sherrie's first time seeing the amazing guitar work provided by KWS, and an overall jaw dropping concert. We also discovered that Samantha Fish who was the opener is the real deal! We spent a lot of time watching Garrett play with all his bands in 2023 mostly when he was off the road and around Athens.
This past November we went on an excursion with some of our favorite people on this planet to see The Allman Betts Band who is fronted by the sons of guess who? Close your eyes and you'd swear you were listening to Gregg and Dickey. The concert was great, but the trip to Macon, Georgia with our wonderful friends was the real blessing. This crew never fails to have a great time and provide non-stop entertainment and laughter.
While I'm reflecting on friends, it was so wonderful to reconnect with so many from my professional water sports era. My good friend, Keith St. Onge, was inducted into the Waterski Hall of Fame which provided me the honor of being asked to give his introduction at the event. I was able to hug necks and laugh until my side hurt as I reconnected with so many friends from my glory days. (You can read more about it on my blog posted on May 1, 2023.) Sherrie and I were also able to squeeze in some needed beach time on that trip to Florida.
Later in the year we got a visit from one of my barefoot ski instructors and mentors, Mike Seipel and family. We were able to share the beauty of autumn in the North Georgia mountains and take in the Dahlonega Gold Rush Festival with our South Florida friends.
I got a spontaneous surprise when another dear friend from Florida called as he traveled north to visit his daughter. Don Mixon, Jr. met me for a long lunch to catch up and reminisce about the old ski days. I'm certainly grateful for the friends I've made and the times we've shared.
On the home front, Sherrie picked up a fun new hobby this past year as she dove into the herbal and homeopathic remedy world. With all of the radical treatments I've undergone over the last 5 years, Sherrie wanted to offset adverse symptoms using the healing properties that are provided by this planet rather than products manufactured in a lab. As a result, Sherrie is now spending a lot of time growing herbs and roots, and producing tinctures, teas and pastes that can boost immune systems, treat illnesses and simply provide the body a healthy boost. My blood work has never been better even with 5 years of horrendous treatments. Thank you Sherrie! I'm not gonna get into it here, but y'all... the food and beverages you're consuming daily in this nation is poisoning you... "and that's all I've got to say about that." And, while we are talking about my health, the first round of Plucivto seems to have worked on me as I saw my PSA drop over 4 points. Hot dang!
Kayla has found the artistic avenue to feed that art monster and she's killing it! She began her apprenticeship as a tattoo artist and has excelled at a rapid rate. Her fine-line art technique is already being sought out by customers looking for that specific style. She's learned to design, shade, provide color and is simply gifted in this art form that she enjoys so much. She even got to give her momma a beautiful tattoo of our birth flowers and a family crest that she designed. Kayla's also been sculpting her body as she prepares for a body building tournament sometime this summer. Her dedication to her diet and workout program is quite impressive. My free spirit girl is living her best life and it makes my heart warm each time I watch her follow, implement and execute her dreams. Another shameless pitch. Your dreams and aspirations are more important than money. If you can figure out how to balance both and make money doing what you love then that's a big win. To be doing something just for the money is a ticket to depression. Get out and live! Work on discovering your passions and gifts if you haven't already discovered them. You only get to do this one time! Please make the most of it!
Other short highlights I'd like to mention include taking plenty of exhilarating rides in the little TT, providing a testimony and song at the banquet for The Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic, going to a car museum with my childhood friend and his father, being Sherrie and Suzy's chauffeur in Greenville, SC for the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament, successfully completing six rounds of chemotherapy, visited the King Tut exhibit, hitting some great wineries and restaurants with many sweet friends and making some progress on our home renovations.
Chill Life has been a satisfying and rewarding endeavor that Sherrie and I enjoy working on together. We will continue to provide you with thought provoking content that feeds positivity and maybe make you smile. As I continue my journey in this life I desire to improve as a human being; to learn from mistakes, to love deeply, to forgive often, to try new things, to go to new places, to live in the present, to be an encourager, to turn off the screen, to eat healthy foods and to bear imperfections. I understand that this life can be very challenging at times, but there's also so much opportunity to experience joy. You have to try and work at life. Laziness never leads to joy. Anything worth doing takes some effort. And as the soap opera says, "like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives". Life is far too precious and short to waste time wishing. My hope for you in 2024 is that you find what brings you joy and that you act on it.