Notes from the Spring Creek Arts Guild

Shifting Perspectives

Of course I am going to complain about the changing of the clocks! It makes no sense for me to do so, really, since I have very few appointments, have no children at home to get to school, and work from my home office where our hours are basically 24/7, as they are for many small business operators. But somehow it is still a problem— like this morning when my new “smart” speaker started playing Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans” at 5:45, which was 4:45 last week. As it turns out, these smart speakers can experience “ghost touch” where it thinks someone wants to listen to Johnny Horton in the predawn hours. I was able to change the settings to prevent this from happening again, but by that time I was awake and my brain was working.

I think about all sorts of things in the early morning before the world butts in and directs my thoughts and actions. This morning I was thinking about what a rare privilege it is to live here in San Saba County. I think most or all of us get busy with everyday life and become oblivious to our surroundings. Thanks to the great technology we have available here, the outside world can push right on in and make us feel as if we are sitting in a cubicle in a high-rise office! That was where I could have been yesterday, working on my computer and my phone at the same time, getting more and more stressed trying to sort out a path through state agency rules and paperwork, and getting a throbbing headache in the process. Then something caught the very corner of my vision and I looked out to see the birds splashing in the tub of water I put right outside my office window. I wised up and turned my chair around so I was looking out at the woods and the birds while still listening to the bureaucrat in my ear, making no sense whatsoever, but my attitude improved.

Later I went to town and was able to take care of every one of my errands without standing in line one time and without waiting in traffic at all. Everywhere I went, I encountered friendly, familiar faces. Yes, there are inconveniences to living in a rural area or small town, like not being able to run to store and pick up a pack of nori sheets so I can have those sushi hand rolls I have been craving for supper tonight, but most of them are minor. I did encounter a couple of huge inconveniences yesterday in my wading through of state bureaucracy, but still, they are a small price to pay for the privilege of living where I do.

I could go on and on, but of course the newspaper would have to cut it off at some point. Instead, I hope you will start on your own list of reasons to love living here. It really helped my early-morning Johnny Horton inspired grumpy mood and, along with a cup of strong coffee, has set me on a much sunnier path for my day. Hope it does the same for you. <SpringCreekArtsGuild@gmail.com>