Ronda Matson: Blog

The bad things in life so often come out of left field, which is totally annoying.  When the good things do, it’s such a relief.  Last weekend, Bob and I went to see Tom Rush perform for the first time ever.  Needless to say, we were mesmerized all night.  We bought his new CD at the intermission and the guy said, “Tom will sign that for you.”  I envisioned him behind a table, protected and carefully managed.  Cool, I thought.
After the show, someone pointed and said, “Go get your CD signed.”  There had been no commotion, no sign that something special was happening.  I turned to see Tom Rush standing in the middle of the room chatting it up.  NEVER in all my concert-going years… We got in the short line and suddenly, it was our turn.  No hurry.  No forced conversation.  It was like seeing an old friend.  Maybe he’s a really good actor, but I’d bet money he just really loves [...]

Spring!  It’s my favorite time of the year.  Green comes from brown and gray.  Dark, cold, rainy days yield brilliance.  
Spring = Hope. 
It’s the season of optimism, of new beginnings, of starting over. 
Starting over isn’t always easy. When you lose the words you’ve written because the power suddenly goes out or forget the last number you entered in the calculator, it’s inconvenient and frustrating, but simple. Other times, it isn’t.  Sometimes it’s a fight for life.  
As many know, I’ve faced the fight for life more than once.  My family and friends have been forced to face it with me.  Last April, we were swallowed up more intensely than ever before.  Each day brought new uncertainty and many times, fear had the upper hand.  My brilliant surgeon found the answer and saved my life—again.  As I think back, it was a kind of gauntlet we ran.  By the time May [...]

For once, I’m glad it’s raining.  The day is a mirror of my sadness as I consider the world without Georgia in it. 
“I met her on my lonesome day.”  It’s so true. 
A week after yet another brain surgery operation, in the Fall of 2006, I met Georgia Allen.  I was missing half of my hair & had covered my baldness & stitches with Erin’s wide knit American flag headband.  Somehow, I felt stronger with it on.  I was determined that the guitar-picking nails of my right hand would not be lost like my hair, like so many dreams I once had, in a blink.  I knew that I didn’t have the fine motor ability at that point to save them, so I braved potential embarrassment & went to the salon.  I didn’t talk to anyone or look at anyone.  It was a perfect misery.  Suddenly, there was Georgia—and she was talking to me!  Her energy and (eventually) her love of music came at me full force.  [...]

I wonder. We’re on the phone while we drive, on the computer while we’re on the phone, texting while we’re on the computer while we’re watching television. We’re Techno-Jugglers. Most agree that this is just the beginning.
“Multi-tasking” is a trendy word now. We’ve taken it to a new level. With everything at our fingertips, does the good outweigh the bad?  One study suggests we’re becoming dumber, not smarter. 
I find it hard to resist the temptation to reach into my pocket when I feel the hum of my muted phone during a movie, a dinner, a meeting—or anything. Can I be undistracted? Am I capable of having an undistracted conversation?  I can’t say that I’ve had one lately.  So, I wonder.  Is singular focus impossible?  (I might miss something!) There’s a bit of sadness in that thought.  What do you think?   
"The Juggler" by Michael Parkes, [...]

I got my football "fix" yesterday, but I'm still trying to get over my disappointment for Brett Favre.  When a guy gets knocked down that many times & still manages to stay in the game, well... I think better things should have happened for him.  So it goes in the Game of Football, though.  Come to think of it, so it goes in the Game of Life.