DUKES FANS
Walking By Myself….
As we move into our fifth month of response to the COVID pandemic,
my morning walks have come to mean more and more to me. Yes, I also walk in the
evening around dusk, but it is my morning rambles that I have come to rely on
and relish. Like many of us my nights’ sleeps are inconsistent. I can have a
truly restful night that helps me wake up feeling refreshed. And I can also
have nights where my sleep is full of worry, anxiety, plans, fears, and more.
My early morning walks are what helps me with that. Someone once said, “Move a
muscle, change a thought,” and I heartily agree with that.
My walks of late have taken me on
a variety of routes. I am ADD, so
changing routes works well for me, particularly when I wake up anxious or
unsettled . I see new things and am taken out of my head and into what is
around me. I have discovered some incredible gardens on side streets in West
Mt. Airy and some wonderful artwork and totem poles on gardens in East Mt Airy
and Chestnut Hill. It is a little louder in the morning these days, as the city
has opened up a bit; I do wish folks did not feel that they had to roll their
windows down so I get to hear whatever they are listening to at 6 AM in the
morning. But it is still quiet enough when I am on side streets and away from
traffic. And I can begin to feel soothed.
And there are constants: I am out
as the day is coming into being, and on most days the sky is unbelievably
beautiful and powerful. Pink and red streaks, wispy, widespread clouds or
various “puffs,” a variety of shades of blue stretching into the horizon: it
can be truly “awesome” in the original meaning of the word: ”inspiring
reverence.”
And as I walk up Mt Airy Ave at
the end of my walk and see the moon still visible in the NW sky, I am somehow
restored. I can enter the new day as my best self and ready to do all the
things that I have to do. Even, and especially, at times like these we need to show
up as our best selves, for there is much to do to help myself, this place, and
this world try to heal. So “move a muscle?” YES!
(The song
“Walking By Myself, has long been one of my favorite songs. Here is my favorite
version of it with Jimmy Rogers and Little Walter:
IMPORTANT
CITIZEN STUFF: please take note
CENSUS 2020 The census helps the
Federal government decide on things such as voting districts, grants for
Federal aid, transportation and highway funds, and a hell of a lot more. It
is one of the ways our tax dollars get to come back to us in our own areas, and
as COVID makes abundantly clear, we need our tax dollars to work for us. It
is essential that as accurate a count as possible is taken, particularly when
the the door to door census is on hold. Our online completions are even more
important now than ever before. Please go to the website: https://2020census.gov/en.html
SOME WAYS
TO HELP LOCAL AGENCIES DURING PANDEMIC
I know a lot of you are already
supporting some of the groups working to meet some of the challenges associated
with COVID-19. If you are looking for more or other ways to be involved
locally, here are some suggestions:
Food
Philabundance https://www.philabundance.org/
Links to local Food Banks:
INFO ON COVID-19 TESTS COVID-19 Symptoms and Testing
THE DUKES
ARE ON HIATUS!
The recent upticks
in local COVID infections means that the Dukes are going to lay low until
December at the earliest. Hopefully treatments and/or a COVID vaccine can be
developed, tested and distributed by then, but we are not doing any live gigs
for now. It is simply too risky. We want to thank all of our fans and
friends-playing for you is an absolute joy and the reason we do what we do. We
are looking forward to a time when we can safely do it live again. Stay safe,
be careful and be well.
Missing
Dukes Sounds?
Dukes Live Dukes of Destiny - Chain of Fool's
Change of
Address: Hideaway Records, owned by my high school buddy Brian Reisman and
one of my favorite record, CD and DVD stores, has moved down the Hill to 8230
Germantown Ave. Look for the top hat on the sign
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