Open Mic Night in Walla Walla

1/14/11
Walla Walla, WA

Last night between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM.... I smiled a lot, my mind felt calm and expanded, my body was relaxed, my soul was incredibly content, and great waves of GRATITUDE were flowing through my heart....

By 8:00, I had finished eating a delicious and healthy dinner with a friend.*

Just after 8:00, I walked into the Walla Walla Village Winery, a small room with brightly painted walls and decorated with framed old Grateful Dead posters. **

Quickly, I met Irish, the winery owner, who immediately started pouring tastes of red wine for me.***

For the next hour and a half, I sat with about 10 others and watched local talent play guitars and sing. ****

Mike was the final singer, songwriter I watched and listened to. He sat on a stool and seemingly encompassed his guitar. His eyes were dark, his short beard was grey and black, his head was covered with a dark, woolen hat. He sang words that he had written with a soulful voice, and those words, his voice spoke well to me.*****

* I am grateful that I have money and access to good food. I am grateful that I have good friends.

** I am grateful for small places and small communities.

*** I am grateful for red wine.

**** I am grateful for music.

***** I am grateful for stories that exist within the lives of people I meet. Just from listening to and watching Mike, I knew that his life has been full of wonderful stories. While I sat there listening to his music, and I also tried happily to create some of his stories in my mind.