Except this guy isn’t dead; he’s retiring (and I am envious).

Our good fiend and fellow RtB poster RD is retiring after almost 40 years as a full time pastor. His last sermon is this morning, and the Fink and the Thriller are going to be there.

RD and I have been friends since 1983, when Lars was the bun in the oven. We’ve shared many funny experiences over the years, but one that I like to retell involves him coming to the hospital to visit me after I had surgery, years ago. Before leaving my room, he wanted to pray for me, so we both closed our eyes. When he was done, he found that the Fink had fallen fast asleep. HA — how many times did I say, “It was the Demerol, I swear!”

He has a wonderful wife and family, and eleventy-six grandchildren, ranging from elementary school age to out of college and married. What a great fam. And what a great friend.

So, raise your coffee mug and give a shout to RD today. He’s earned that vacation home in Florida.

FO

These guys have got to come to my school.

InPulse are the artists-in-residence at the camp I’m doing this week. They have a great education outreach program. Matt told me that their tour schedule is basically upper midwest this year, so they might be able to fit in an appearance out in the boondocks of north central Ohio.

Must ask the powers that be about this. I think they would amaze everyone. (Elliot’s voice is so low, you can count the vibration cycles. Boy makes the floor hum.) Why didn’t I think of this before?

Back to rehearsal with me…

FO

Wednesday update:

The more time I spend with these people, the more I like them. Yesterday, we sat around for a few minutes and told something interesting about ourselves. They are interesting indeed: from Rachel, who owns a microscopic Yorkshire Terrier, to John, who is one of seven children, to Brooke, who spelunks in rural West Virginia — every one of them had something cool to say.

And everybody’s boppin’.

Fink out.

That’s the name the singers chose for the small ensemble I direct at the jazz camp.

Juju Apocalypse Xenon…get it?

I’m really enjoying the kids at the camp. Some good blues being sung; also good scat and even some better-than-average bebop. Most of my nine singers are pop a cappella performers…blues and bop are very new to many of them. But the cool thing is, they like the change — something teenagers (and just about everyone else, I suppose) are customarily against.

So what’s everyone up to? I noticed Ross posted his contribution. Is he not the coolest? He is my role model. Someday, I want to sleep in till 8, get up, write all day, sleep, repeat. I know he does more than that, but I don’t want to do more than that.  Oh, and there’s the “get paid” part that I want, too. I want to sleep, write, get paid, rinse, repeat. Yeah.

Anyway — back to my grind. Thought I’d check in with everyone since I said I’d keep you posted.

Yo homey, smell ya layta.

Jazzfink

…thank God Almighty, I’m free at last. And I don’t mean free from my students. Rather, I mean free from being one, at least for a while.

After months of introspection and weeks of careful thought, last night I decided to withdraw from my doctoral program. I have spoken to family (although not all of them yet) and a few close friends (not all yet), and so far, none have labeled me a quitter or a failure. So far, so good.

Thing is, I will be 50 years old in August. In the hopefully 20-some years I have left, I want to live a good part of my life away from this box. Sure, there’s a downside:

• I’ve spent a lot of money on coursework.
• I failed to achieve a goal I set out to accomplish. That does bother me.
• I’m afraid I have disappointed people who thought better of me.

But fiends, I gotta tell ya. The upside wins.

• First, and most importantly: I will not have to spend the next 3-6 months studying every day and every night, followed by up to 2 more years of grinding out research for the dissertation, during which time my grandsons will be growing up without me.
• I have learned gobs in the classes I’ve taken, and much of it is stuff I actually use.
• My masters degree is not in music. But the one I will earn from BU upon successful completion of a curriculum project will be. Therefore, I’ll end up with two masters: one in curriculum & instruction, and the other in music. Not sucky by any stretch.
• If I want to continue the DMA, I will drive to Cleveland in the summers. If I want to.
• I am happy teaching high school. And since my district does not give a pay raise for a PhD, I’m at the top of the food chain on the salary schedule for my experience. In other words, I can’t make any more money on grad school work.
• And speaking of money: I’d likely take at least a $10,000 annual pay cut in the event I would be hired full time in this economy at a nearby university.
• With the exception of rehearsals for our shows every year, my evenings and weekends will be free. What will THAT be like? Lawd. I’ve no clue. But I will enjoy finding out.
• I can spend lots of time with family and friends. I can also actually do some gardening in the summers, and travel a little if I want to.

So, I’m thinking, is there a downside? Probably. And admittedly, I do worry about people being disappointed in me. But like some friends and family have told me, the people who matter will understand. Those who don’t…well, you can’t stop what people think and say. As a textbook insecure artist, I need to wrap my reptilian brain around that fact; embrace it. I’m trying, believe it.

At any rate, the most important thing is that a) I feel really good about this decision, and b) my family and friends are very supportive so far.

I’m off to Columbus today with Mavis, Hannah and little Justin. Is that great or what?

Fink out (of the woods).