On occasion when I'm alone, driving, waiting or otherwise alone with my thoughts, I find myself thinking about when my children were young and those memories conjure up a multitude of feelings and emotions. All of the sentimental (some more melodramatic than others) graduation ceremonies marking their progress through various stages of their young education, the birthday celebrations and the special occasions like the Sesame Street stage presentation or the circus. Some are thoroughly joyous - like those little faces on a Christmas morning when that day held such faithful anticipation. Some are just satisfyingly pleasant - like the daily drive to the daycare center when one rapscallion in the back seat munched his dry Cheerios from a plastic sandwich bag bathing the entire interior of the car in an oaty, fresh-baked goods aroma. Or even a helplessly alarming panic I experienced when all three of them (and one buddy) were in an automobile accident and called me at the office to inform me of the event. (No serious injuries fortunately.)
I remember equally well, when each of them reached the age of 'non-childhood' and no longer needed to relate the gory details of their schoolday, homework assignment or friend's attitude on a particular day and, although still willing to offer a hug, no longer required one from me on such a regular basis.
In fact, their rapidly maturing bodies no longer desired the intimate hug/cuddle/squeeze or whatever that was so meaningful (mutually) in the past. I missed that. But I understood and I got over it.
But that's okay. I loved every minute of it. Sometimes there were no other deep thoughts or enlightening perspectives but I was so totally absorbed in the moment that nothing else mattered. And you know, nothing else really did. But that, like all other things, passed and these fine young individuals matured and became wonderful young men.
And though I no longer need to drive anyone to daycare in a Cheerios-saturated automobile, I am still as committed as ever to the well-being of these guys, although my involvement now takes very different forms, because I truly and honestly believe that my job, my goal, my destiny, my highest and greatest purpose (NO EXCEPTIONS) is to ensure that these guys are happy, contented adult individuals. Any and everything else beyond that is just . . . gravy!
OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
This is the Day. . . April 2, 2013 My new, digital-download only, solo, instrumental piano music release BLACK & WHITE then BACK is now available at www.cdbaby.com. The first exclusively solo acoustic piano music release since 2008's critically acclaimed 'Put A Finger On It'.
BLACK & WHITE then BACK transports you to aural locales inhabited by emotions, sentiments, memories, hopes, joys and challenges- life events that we have all encountered. You may even hear a snippet of an old song you remember from childhood, have flashes from your first date with that special person, recall the evocative aromas from the kitchen while visiting your grandmother, remember your favorite summer vacation . . . or maybe even the first time you fell in love.
BLACK & WHITE then BACK is a digital download-only release brought to you by Boskey Dell & Sylvan Glade Records and www.cdbaby.com.
What
do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html
You can NOW download
your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE
You've seen the articles and email about the 'good ole days' like:
". . . I remember the simple days of growing up in the 50's and 60's.
Remember cars without seatbelts?
Remember riding a bike without helmets?
Getting excited to see the milk-man bringing fresh milk to the back porch?
Sitting on the front porch and knowing our neighbors!
Praying in school?
Being spanked by our parents! ( yeah it was ALLOWED! )
Getting "licks" in school. ( the great board of education! and it worked!)
Being a ONE car Family! you know the one dad used to go to work in!
The smell of sheets on the bed from being hung on a clothes line!
When we used empty food cans with string to talk to our friends ( before we even knew what cells phones were!)
Oh the simple days.....
And...with all our progress...
don't you wish...just once...
we could slip back in time and savor the innocence,
the respect, the slower pace...
and share it with the children of today? . . ."
I'm not one to get lost in the past and certainly believe MOST of what I have today is better that what I had in the past, especially technology and my own maturity.
But. . . "Budoir Photo Packages" and "Pole Dancing Lessons" give one pause regarding the progress we've made as a society.
What
do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html
You can NOW download
your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE
Creative Musician Ray Jozwiak's new, digital-download only, solo, instrumental piano music release BLACK & WHITE then BACK transports you to aural locales inhabited by emotions, sentiments, memories, hopes, joys and challenges we've all encountered. You may even hear a snippet of a song you remember from childhood, have flashes of your first date, recall aromas from the kitchen when you visited your grandmother, remember your favorite summer vacation or when you fell in love.
BLACK & WHITE then BACK will be available through digital distribution only (www.cdbaby. com).
"RAY JOZWIAK is back with his gonzo piano, boldly taking us to places no-one has gone before, not even him! (Rod Deacey, Board Member of the Frederick Acoustic Musicians Enterprise (FAME), Musician, Performer, Writer, Poet, Organizer, Emcee, Bluesman 11/20/11)
". . . Anywhere he dabbles along the piano keys, he produces sonic glitz forming impressionistic images. . . " (Susan Frances, cdreview.com)
". . . He’s got some terrific ideas there and an unusual approach to rhythm and song structure. These are fantastic assets and more than one of his songs could find tons of fans who appreciate music which isn’t the same ol’ same ol’ all the time. . . " (Paul Sedkowski, Fairplayformusic.com)
What
do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html
You can NOW download
your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE
My new, digital-download only, solo, instrumental piano music release BLACK & WHITE then BACK transports you to aural locales inhabited by emotions, sentiments, memories, hopes, joys and challenges we've all encountered. You may even hear a snippet of a song you remember from childhood, have flashes of your first date, recall aromas from the kitchen when you visited your grandmother, remember your favorite summer vacation or when you fell in love.
BLACK & WHITE then BACK will be available through digital distribution only (www.cdbaby.com) on Tuesday, April 2nd.
"RAY JOZWIAK is back with his gonzo piano, boldly taking us to places no-one has gone before, not even him! (Rod Deacey, Board Member of the Frederick Acoustic Musicians Enterprise (FAME), Musician, Performer, Writer, Poet, Organizer, Emcee, Bluesman 11/20/11)
". . . Anywhere he dabbles along the piano keys, he produces sonic glitz forming impressionistic images. . . " (Susan Frances, cdreview.com)
". . . He’s got some terrific ideas there and an unusual approach to rhythm and song structure. These are fantastic assets and more than one of his songs could find tons of fans who appreciate music which isn’t the same ol’ same ol’ all the time. . . " (Paul Sedkowski, Fairplayformusic.com)
This Monday, March 18, 2013 @7:00PM at Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery (take the elevator on the right to the 2nd floor) 124 North Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 Telephone: 301-631-0089 Fax: 301-631-1874 http://www.brewers-alley.com/
And watch out for Ray's new, digital download-only, solo, instrumental piano music release BLACK & WHITE then BACK available April 2, 2013 at http://www.cdbaby.com. BLACK & WHITE then BACK transports you to aural locales inhabited by emotions, sentiments, memories, hopes, joys and challenges we've all encountered. You may even hear a snippet of a song you remember from childhood, have flashes of your first date, recall aromas from the kitchen when you visited your grandmother, remember your favorite summer vacation or when you fell in love.
BLACK & WHITE then BACK will be available through digital distribution only April 2, 2013 at http://www.cdbaby.com
What
do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html
You can NOW download
your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE
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