Expanding My Horizons

Whether I Want to Do it or Not

In mid-December, I attended an event I initially had no desire whatsoever to participate in when I first thought about escorting someone to it. Don’t you just hate it when those sorts of things happen in your own lives? Actually, when all was said and done and the event ended, I was pretty glad I made the effort to attend the concert.

For the past 4½ years I’ve been helping out a friend of mine who suffered a stroke and has lost the use of the right side of his body. Accompanied by an inability to drive an auto among other things. Thus, twice a day I’ve been giving the guy a ride to and from his place of residence to the building where his business happens to be. Besides appeasing my inner Boy-Scout, as well as my Catholic Choir-boy tendencies, it’s also taught me some much needed patience, as well as a better understanding and compassion for humanity. Enough with the sappy sentiments though. Kind of boring when you get right down to it.

A month ago, I learned about a Christmas Chamber music concert that was going to be performed at the First Congregational Church here in Silverton the third Sunday of the month. When I first saw the poster for the event while collecting my obligatory junk mail and regular petitions for various charities while at the P.O., the prevailing thought that went through my head was a strong desire to avoid the event. I’ve always been an Alternative Rock-n-Roll music-preference kind of guy, and the thought of sitting through a Baroque-Chamber music concert leaves me with visions of being subjected to finger-nails slowly scraping across a chalkboard. Why subject yourself to this form of auditory punishment unless you’ve got some sort of weird masochistic obsession?

Then I thought about the fact that the guy who suffered a stroke happens to like listening to chamber music in various forms. Plus, every member of the local ensemble participating in the event happens to be a good friend of mine, and I always want to support local events in their various incarnations. Right then and there I decided I’d offer to escort my friend to the concert if he so desired attending. Choosing to bite the bullet and decided I’d get through this. Besides, doing this seems like a great way to build up the good-type of “karma” points.

Overriding a lifelong Luddite streak, I’ve perfected the mechanical ability to use the DVR option on my satellite TV. This allowed me to record a World Cup Ski race happening at the exact same time as the upcoming concert. I also decided I’d somehow survive not being able to watch any of that Sunday’s NFL Football games. Ah, the sacrifices one is forced to undertake when confronted with situations such as this? Fortunately, I’ve endured. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t be reading this at the present moment, now would you?

I told my friend that I’d come and pick him up at 2:00. Why so early for a concert that started at 3:00? Basically, so we’d avoid any obstacles confronting us along the way. Couple that with a desire to see him visit with folks in attendance, and you’ve got a recipe for successful attendance. Life does indeed present one with all sorts of small victory scenarios?

Soon I found myself relaxing as the concert was about to start, and the voices inside my head started working overtime;

Are you calm yet Swanson? You’ll somehow manage to get through this. Not like you’re being forced to listen a type of music you don’t normally listen to on a regular basis. Oh wait, you are about to do just that. At least they’ve got free cookies. FREE is always a good thing in these situations, and who doesn’t like cookies? Unless you’re the Devil-Spawn, or maybe a Cyborg?

Then an amazing thing began to happen. Listening to the music, I started enjoying it; Hey, this stuff is pretty good. Quite a difference between this cello ensemble and our own Anvil Quartet. Both enjoyable in their own way. I don’t know much about this music since I’m not an expert at the use of their tools like they seem to be (not even a rank amateur in my case…), but the sounds issuing forth from their instruments is pretty good stuff. Different from what I normally listen to, but unique in its own way. I like this music. The tunes have me appreciating their unique sounds. What a surprise and on certain days the wonders just keep happening.

One of the things I love about living in this valley is the fact that because we’re so small, you’re forced on a regular basis to interact with people on the opposite end of the spectrum from you. Whether it’s politics, religion, lifestyle choices, social status, or especially the eccentric behavior of the other individual sitting across the table from you. Just Like people backed into s corner and having to interact with yours truly actually. All that really counts is you need to respect the other person, and they in turn should respect you. Don’t try to change the other person’s philosophy.

Along similar lines, interactions with other folks often forces you to expand your horizons in terms of the type of food you eat, the kind of hobbies you enjoy, or even your taste in music. Is this a classic example of that? Obviously.