“At my age, on the other hand, you start to spend a lot of time missing people: some living, some dead, some just gone.” – “Innocent Monster” by Reed Farrel Coleman

Just finished enjoying a few wonderful moments in time.

With this birth of a new year, I’m reminiscing about an era and a time when music was so good it was timeless.

The 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s. Man, could those artists and performers grip our hearts and take control of our emotions. Even shape our lives.

Stars like Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Patty Page, Teresa Brewer, Ray Charles, Elvis, The Everly Brothers, and so many more too numerous to name.

And the lyrics. Wow. Pure poetry. September of My Years. Stardust. Tennessee Waltz. The music of Hank Williams.

American music. Imagine the world without it.

One of my magical moments is watching and listening to Nat King Cole sing Stardust. Hoagy Carmichael wrote the music in 1927 and Mitchell Parish added those beautiful lyrics in 1929.

Our country and indeed the world could really use some Stardust. Right now. This year. 2016.

“God ain’t social. If he speaks to you, it’s like it hurts his mouth.” – “A purple place for dying” – by John D. MacDonald