I’m running behind on everything these days — or at least it seems so. And before anybody asks — “So, what’s changed?” — this is more than usual. I’m thinking of just renaming this “Through the Years” or something cheesy like that and not worrying about keeping up. But for now it remains as titled above.
Back to 1978, which is now more than 40 years ago.
Captain’s Log: Stardate 013.178 [Tuesday, January 31, 1978]
My last day of complete freedom is almost at a close. Tomorrow starts regular classes and for a Wednesday I’m really loaded down. I’ve got a lot of music to go through this semester but I’m gonna stick my nose to the old grindstone.
New Beginning Singers was good this evening. I really enjoy the music we’re doing.
Well, I better get some sleep ’cause I got a 9:00 class tomorrow. . . .
Captain’s Log: Stardate 020.178 [Wednesday, February 1, 1978]
Well, classes started today and I’m really tired. I played flute for 5 hours today. I think I’m gonna ask A——— to go to Charlotte with me to see Jean Pierre-Rampall [sic]. Keep your fingers crossed for me. . . .
As I was writing this, I looked up Jean-Pierre Rampal and learned that he died in 2000. I don’t know why this surprises me. I suppose I think of such influences as something akin to immortal. But before long — or the longer I live — these folks I’ve grown up with will start walking on from Earth.
Captain’s Log: Stardate 020.278 [Thursday, February 2, 1978]
Well, things are moving slow as classes are just getting underway. I think it’s gonna be a good semester once things get organized. My English and German seem to be okay, at least for the first day.
I can’t quite figure out why I’m so lonely all of the time. There seems to be no one in this world — that I’ve met yet — for me. I’ve prayed that the Lord give me someone to be with but I guess I haven’t stuck with it well enough. I know he can give me all I need if I’ll only trust him.
I told Anita about the tickets Dr Bryant has but I didn’t say anything about taking her. I think I’ll say I’ll buy it for her as payment for her help on piano. . . .
The late great Dr. Joyce Bryant was my flute teacher during my years as a flute major at Mars Hill College. She was a great teacher — firm but supportive and encouraging — with a truly quirky personality and style. She always wore those clip-on sunglasses flipped up most of the time. But when she’d get excited, she always made some move that caused them to fall down and put her suddenly in the dark.
I remember going to see Jean Pierre-Rampal in Charlotte, but I can’t remember now if A——— went with me or not.
Captain’s Log: Compiled Stardates 020.378-020.578 [Friday-Sunday, February 3-5, 1978]
Once again it is Saturday, or rather Sunday, night, and tomorrow kicks off another week. On my new schedule I have four classes, an hour of piano practice and three hours of flute practice.
There’s nothing really to say about these past 72 hours. Friday, 010.378 [sic] I went to see John in “Godspell” which was really good. Then I went to experience Cinema 180 which was good to. Yesterday was a day for lying around and practicing. I went to the ball game and spent most of the time talking to Nickie and Suzanne. Today I have spent studying mainly though the highlight was Mike’s sermon on faith which I thought was super. . . .
“Mike” was, again, Mike Tweed, pastor and friend. Nickie and Suzanne were friends from Madison High School. I don’t remember Nickie’s last name (maybe Sprague?), but Suzanne’s was Powell.
Captain’s Log: Stardate 020.678 [Monday, February 6, 1978]
The days of our lives here at MHC just move on by slowly, but when I think back each night it seems to have passed so swiftly. Today was alright. I had four classes and practiced for about 3 hours on flute. Wednesday I start my piano, so I’ll be glad to get into that. It snowed last night and it was really cold today but I reckon everyone made it through. I’m really enjoying my German class. It has spawned a new dream in my mind which is to see Germany, after I graduate here, and study music. That would be wild but I guess I’ll be patient and wait on the Lord to see what He’ll have me do. . . .
Although I would never have been a good enough flutist to do graduate study in Germany, I did get to see Germany — and even sooner than I thought. Less than a year and a half from the time I wrote this, I was in Germany and 16 other European countries with AESU. That adventure, I’m sure, gave me the confidence to leave home and go to school — however briefly — in Nashville, where I found myself just a few months after the trip to Europe, in the winter of 1980.
Captain’s Log: Stardate 013.180 [Thursday, January 31, 1980]
This week has been alot [sic] of work. I’ve been having many tests this week so I should know how I’m doing in each class soon. Other than study and music there’s not been a whole lot going on. I put music to “Once for Every Lonely Night” and I wrote my first descent [sic] religious song, “I Will Raise You Up”. I hope I can get my songs recorded as soon as possible cause I need to be hitting the publishers soon.
I’ve got my job interview with Opryland Feb. 6 @ 3:00. It’s with the operations department working with the rides. Right now I’m making plans for what to do with my money. Other than live on it, I hope to buy a cheap, used electric piano for my writing. I’d also like to have the 4-track portable studio cassette player that TEAC has come out with.
Well, tomorrow I hope to go home if the weather holds . . .
While I have a vague memory of “Once for Every Lonely Night” and might even be able to find a recording of it, I have no memory of “I Will Raise You Up.” I seem to recall a reel-to-reel recording that I made in the back room at Walnut. If the song is anywhere (recorded, that is), then it’s likely to be on that tape.
Although Opryland didn’t want me to entertain its visitors, it hired me to run them through the Flume Zoom (or the Log Ride). I don’t remember too much about it, as I didn’t stay with it long, only until March or April. I do remember once working the station at the top of the drop at the end (see below), when some girls who rode by in their log flattered me by saying I looked like Burt Reynolds.
Must’ve been the mustache.