Back from overseas trip-2023

 Well, it has been a long time since my last entry -- sorry about that.  We just returned from a vacation in Ireland where I was able to meet with a genealogist at Enniskillen Castle.  I found my Great-great-great-great-great Grandfather lived from about 1775 to 1854; Frankie, the genealogist, found records of Francis on a work house list from 1845/47.  He was listed as Presbyterian, clean, and blind. (sad...)  He was a tenant farmer which meant that he had to pay taxes on land even as small as a garden.  But it was great to talk to the genealogist about family history!  Plus Enniskillen is a great town to visit in Northern Ireland.

We did start out in Dublin, of course, flying in via Reykyavik on IcelandAir.  We spent about 4 days in Dublin, took the bus to Enniskillen for 3 days, another bus trip to Galway for 5 days, a train trip back to Dublin for a day and then we flew back home.  Our daughter's family, Lauren, Kevin + granddaughter Roslyn invited us to come with them to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. (You see, they met in Ireland, just outside of Galway, on an archaeological dig.) His parents, Bill + Kit, also came along.

It was a fantastic trip, with excursions out to Newgrange (ancient tomb - older than the pyramids in Egypt!), the Hill of Tara (where Irish kings were crowned), the Burren in western Ireland (used to be the sea floor!) and the Cliffs of Moher!

So I hope to do this more frequently; more I could say about my creative endeavors since retirement and most likely will. 😊

Here's a spotlight about me, published by Inver Hills Community College in 2020-21, just before I retired from my library tech position.  https://news.inverhills.edu/blog/staff-spotlight-david-colwell/  It will give you a little insight into what I'm doing/ have done. 

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are preparing for Christmas.  Thanks,   

Hello, once again

I am so happy to greet you this evening.  I wanted to say a word about legacy tonight.  There was an opinion piece in yesterday's (Twin Cities) StarTribune {2020-01-29} that talked about what a legacy Kobe Bryant might have left.  The author said that almost all of us will be remembered for about 50 years, at best.  And that only a handful are remembered beyond that time.  It is a great piece, if you can find it.
     Legacy is some of what drives my creative endeavors; I think that if I can produce some work, perhaps it will live on after I pass away.  I don't know if that is true or not, but it does stay hidden in the back of my mind - in the deep recesses of my hidden shadows.  It won't stop my music composing, nor my poetry or photography.  There is much I think I need to share.  And if 50 years is all I really get, then perhaps my grandchildren (well, grandchild now: hopefully plural someday) will tell their children about what their great-grandfather or great-grandmother has done and what kind of an impact was made.  Again, I will never know for sure, but perhaps in the afterlife I may.
     Thanks for reading and now you can look forward to more posts.  I guess some browsers work better than others...  :-).

29 August, 2017...
Wanted to say that I'm still here - and have reset passwords etc so should be able to keep this up. 😀

I am a step closer to having "Naniboujou" sung and recorded...  I'll send the recording + sheet music to the owners of the Naniboujou restaurant and inn.  also am working on the piece for Vermillion, SD and my folks - hope to have that performed at USD in the spring of 2019. 

Am sad about the way people react to each other.  Charlottesville, VA was a travesty.  And our president's reaction hasn't helped. 

I keep coming back to the words from the prayer book, as it talks about "the common good."  What a great concept - always think about this in decision-making:  how will this help others?  how will this further the common good?  My life should be about making sure that others are doing okay; then others will make sure mine is okay, too. 

I heard that Garrison Keelor is performing his last Mn State Fair show this year.  I wish him a well-deserved rest and relaxation.  and urge him to:
"Be well; Do good work; and Keep in touch..."

Friday, 21 April 2017…
Today is "Prince Day" in MN, recognizing the musician who was found dead in his home a year ago today.  The more I read about what Prince did for MN, the causes he supported, the attitude he held toward the "regular" people with whom he came into contact, the more I am impressed by him.
Below is a poem I wrote last year upon hearing of his death and reading all the accolades; I send it out to his family and all his fans:

World’s Awash in Purple

The world’s awash in Purple
e’en though Purple’s passed away
and riding ‘long the rainbow
to another Purple day.

And at the end of rainbow
is a Purple pot of Gain
that we will play forever
as we dance in Purple rain.

                                                      …Webb

2016 slowly winding down

Dear Friends,

Lauren and Ben took us to an unknown location (turned out to be Cove Point Lodge on Lake Superior's north shore) over Thanksgiving this year.  We didn't know where we were going until we actually turned into the lodge's access road. We tried to get some clues but they were really tight-lipped.  :-)  Liz and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with our children doing all the cooking - including the turkey for Thanksgiving!  It was an incredible Thanksgiving-and-Anniversary!  Thanks so much to Lauren and Ben!

Ben was home for Christmas; Lauren and Kevin went to his folks' place in Michigan.  We opened gifts the evening of 26 Dec because it was the overlap of Lauren/Kevin coming back home and Ben readying to return to Madison.  It was a delightful evening!

Christmas was bittersweet because of the situation with our good friends Jeff and Kristen.  Their Christmas Eve fire made their house uninhabitable and so they are staying with us for the time being.  So many people have asked how they can help - it is wonderful to hear of that generosity.  They have been through a lot this fall and could use all our prayers and support.   (Let me know if you'd like to help and I'll tell you how to do that.)

Other news includes my entry of a composition (flute, clarinet, bassoon) into "Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame."  It is an ongoing project of premiering pieces for different instrumental ensembles - all pieces under 60 seconds long!  I should find out in January if mine was selected to be performed in May or June.  …in California…

I hope you had a truly blessed Christmas and that your New Year will be safe and very happy!

I voted today!  …the first time I've ever voted early.  I was surprised by the lines - on a Thursday morning.  But that's okay.

I watched the Cubs beat the Indians in the world series last night…  well, actually, was concerned about the length of the rain delay (in-between inning 9 and 10) and so went to bed just as it (the rain delay) was starting.   About 45 minutes later, I heard Kevin downstairs give a great "Hooray" shout, so was pretty confident that the Cubs had won!  We also got a nice text from my sister Cathy.  Chicago hadn't won a World Series since 1908 - only took them 108 years to get one…  :-)

I am hopeful that Hillary Clinton and the Democrats will win most seats in the Mn Legislature and US House/Senate.  I would hate to see all the good things that have happened these last 8 years get undone.

Well, now that I've remembered emails and passwords, I hope to write more often…  :-)

Please vote on or before next Tuesday.

Hello,
Just wanted to share some news:  I have 3 original piano pieces that are being considered by Dr. Stan Rothrock for his sabbatical project.  [Stan is the music department chair here at Inver Hills Community College where I work.]
One I began in high school (Chappellean Encore), one I transcribed from a recorder consort (Song for James) and one is brand new (Cool Stream).  The last one is in memory of my parents; the middle in memory of my high school friend (Jim Jorgenson) and the first is in honor of another high school friend - who is a year older (Eric Chappelle).
I will keep you posted as to the progress…

thanks.  :-)