Margaret Lathrop and Thoughts About Music

In a novel I'm working on which has a working title of "A Conscientious Life," one of the characters is a nature writer who waxes philosophically about life and purpose. Margaret Lathrop is modeled after Wisconsin writer Margaret Jarek. In her latest column, she writes about "The Art of Living Can Be Very Simple" connecting biology with philosophy:

There have been too many examples of people who have done great things and lived worthwhile lives who came from the most challenging circumstance. The opposite is also true. Plenty of folks have had great opportunities given to them who fell far below expectations.
It seems to me the folks who have learned the art of living are the ones who, like the plants in my driveway, are not fussy. They thrive because they embrace the challenge and are ready to make the most of even the most insignificant opportunity.
In short, they're born optimists. They aren't' complainers. They waste no energy pining for what they do not have. They're too busy just being glad for what little they do have. Above all, self-pity is completely alien to their thoughts.


I plan to publish my book soon and Margaret is one of my favorite characters. She gives my main character much motivation in life. Stay tuned for more on my upcoming book.

My other main passion besides having a family and writing is playing guitar. Here is one of the songs I have great respect for. Richard Shindell did it on his latest studio CD but it was written by the great Jeffrey Foucault.


NORTHBOUND 35 . . . Jeffrey Foucault


(C)Northbound 3(G)5Through the (Am)iron hillsUnder (Fmaj7)infidel skiesIt's (C)two hundred miles to (G)driveYou won't be (Am)home (Fmaj7)
(C)I saw an elsebound (G)trainOn the (Am)overpass In the (Fmaj7)driving rainEvery (C)ticket costs the (G)sameFor where you can't (Am)go (Fmaj7)(C)
CHORUS: (G)Mustang (Fmaj7)horses, (C)champagne (G)glasses(Am)Anything (Fmaj7)frail anything (C)wild (G) It’s the price of living (Fmaj7)motionWhat's (C)beautiful is (G)brokenAnd (Am)grace is just the (Fmaj7)measure of a (C)fall (G)(Am)(Fmaj7)
(C)So I rolled into your (G)townI passed the (Am)smokestacks And the (Fmaj7)ore docks down off of (C)MainAnd the sky spun a(G)roundWith her diamonds on (Am)fire (Fmaj7)
We (C)fought all night and then we (G)dancedIn your (Am)kitchenYou were as (Fmaj7)much in my handsAs (C)water or darkness or (G)nothingCan ever be (Am)held (Fmaj7)
CHORUS
(C)It's just flashes that we (G)ownLittle (Am)snapshots Made from (Fmaj7)breath and from boneAnd (C)out on the darkling plain a(G)loneThey light up the (Am)sky (Fmaj7)
(C)It's 51 and driving (G)southAin't it (Am)funny How (Fmaj7)things'll turn outI (C)never even kissed you on the (G)mouthWhen we said good(Am)bye (Fmaj7)
CHORUS




As Dan Rather would say, "That's a part of my world tonight----goodnight."