Todd Mathis

I just found out my neighbor died last week. Mr. Cliff was in his 80s and had lived on our block pretty much since he was born. He worked for the state Health and Environmental Control agency for 30 years and retired and was an avid supporter of the railroad. He lived alone and his back yard and house was like a time capsule of the 1950s. An old tractor, wood stove that he still used, an old car he drove probably from the late 70’s or 80’s, his clean laundry draped across the bushes in front of his house to dry. He also rode his bicycle up and down the street a lot. A couple of weeks ago he fell off and broke his hip. While recovering in the hospital he contracted pneumonia and died. I learned all of this just today and have been wandering around the house with my guitar deeply saddened.

A Christmas or two before Covid I went to his house and bought some firewood for a firepit in the backyard. We were walking around talking back there and he told me he liked to play Christmas carols on his autoharp and we should play together sometime. Today I deeply regret not taking him up on that.

On a happier note, today is my friend/collaborator Carl Burnitz’s birthday. If you don’t know already, Carl is the man. He’s a tech guru and keeps my studio up and running and is a creative force in his own right. He’s currently helping me with an album I hope we’ll finish up by the Summer.

On another positive, I’m rehearsing with a full band for the first time since Covid tonight. I’m pretty excited about it and can’t wait to play a show with folks again. Mike Scarboro, Chris Compton and Chad Phillips will be joining me on stage April 28 across the street from the house at Foxfield here in Columbia.

Stay well out there and go tell a neighbor/friend/relative you love them or just that you’re thinking about them.

I recently had the opportunity to record and mix some songs with Corey Harris and producer/harmonica player Red Love for the movie Hero.  It was a great experience and truly a joy to share the studio with them. Corey is a fantastic finger picking blues style guitarist you should definitely check out if you haven’t heard of him. I’ll be sure to let you know when this new recording comes out, but in the meantime check out his 2021 release “The Insurrection Blues.”

 

My mom turned 72 this year.  We celebrated her with a small cookout and cake.  While we were eating dessert, I asked her, “So, what have you learned in your 72 years on this planet that you’d like to share with us?” She chuckled then said, “Well, just be kind. You never know what others are going through.” Folks, that pretty much sums it up. If we all did that, this world would be a better place to live. Thanks to my mom for being a shining example of what it means to be a kind human being.