Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now

Stuff gets done here

recent posts

  • Joyful noise

    I’ve been to a few concerts over the decades, big names, medium names, small wonderful names.

    But seeing Jon Batiste last night at the incomparable Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, was the first time I ever saw a performer get a standing ovation for just walking on the stage at the opening of the concert.

    What a joy to get to see his talent shining in real time and space. The image above came at the end of the concert, right before Batiste and his troop moved off the stage in a New-Orleans-style dancing march through the audience.

    He started the concert alone at the piano. For me, his artistry and his deep love of people and of music, will continue to resonate.

  • Right mind

    In anticipation of attending a Jon Batiste concert, I watched the documentary of Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad, an author whose memoirs are inspiring. American Symphony touched me deeply. There are many many things to recommend this intimate look at the two: She is undergoing cancer treatment, while he is pushing his limits, writing a full symphony the year his album “We Are” received 9 Grammy nominations and 5 wins.

    I will just share the deep wisdom Batiste offers anyone who works in any of the creative arts. It’s a mind set that is so hard to achieve, much less sustain. I watched the film and heard the words when I needed to hear them: You have to confront the brutal … reality that you might not pull it off but at the same time have faith, completely unwavering faith, and you have to do both at the same time.

    Thanks Mr. Batiste. Looking forward to seeing you on stage in Eugene, Oregon.

  • An act of hope

    Sometime last March, a few Eugene Oregon folks decided to reconnect with their fellow citizens by walking across the country. Thousands of miles, one step at a time, they figured it would be a way to bridge the us-and-them divide. They called their effort Liberty Walks. They made a web site. They invited support via GoFundMe. And they started walking on July 4th. They’ve reached Nebraska. They’re headed to Washington D.C.

    Here’s their mission statement: We walk to affirm a shared belief in kindness, courage, respect, and curiosity, values that transcend division and foster the common good. Rooted in the spirit of “e pluribus unum,” we walk not to take sides, but to walk with others, building connection and hope along the way.

    Think of that. Building connection and hope. I can’t help but believe those are values that serve us all.

    For a flavor of the connections they are building, check out their blogs. This recent one so enriched me.

    https://www.libertywalks.org/post/days-68-69-hay-springs-rushville-ne-1308-miles-from-home

    Maybe it will enrich you, too.