HEY!

Do you guys remember when that presidential motorcade came through Central Park a few years ago? Right after the invasion of Iraq? Remember when the Bush/Cheney motorcade drove right by "The Hill" where I play in Central Park?

I was kinda reminded of that yesterday for some reason. (I'll explain a little further down the page.)

But... y'know?

I had another thought this past weekend.

It was the morning of "The Something'th Annual Year End Concert" that we just had this past Saturday night.

I call it a "Year-End" concert because while this time of year is like holiday central, I'd rather just use this event as a celebration of my gratitude for being "That Guitar Man from Central Park", to look back at the past year with genuine and honest evaluation, to look ahead at the next lap around the Sun with anticipation, hope, wonder and possibility... and just as another excuse to get together and share some music and laughs!

And, I call it the "Something'th Annual" because I honestly have NO idea how many we've done in that great venue!

TRADITION?

So, I guess it's become a tradition for me. I mean, so many of you have emailed me every year, asking me about it and telling me that we hafta do it again every year because it's become a tradition for you, too.

But, that morning it occurred to me that the word "TRADITION" might have a much different meaning than the one ascribed to it.

Just suppose the root of the word actually came from the ancient Sanskrit words:

TRA - meaning "out"

DE CHUN - "of ideas"

TRA-DE-CHUN: Tradition = Out of ideas

Y'know? Maybe we just do the same things year after year after year 'cause we had a good time once, and now we just can't think of anything else. I wonder if that very first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, the Pilgrims gathered together and had turkey for dinner. The next November rolled around and one of the male elders asked the women, "For this year's feast of thanks, what shall ye prepare?"

They might have looked at each other, shrugged and said, "What sayest thou... um... let's just do the turkey thing again."

See?

Out of ideas. Well, either way I'm really glad that concert has become a "tradition". Because honestly, last Saturday night I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else. What a great fucking time! If you were there with us.... Thanks again!

WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH DROVE BY "THE HILL"

Were you out there that weekend a few summers ago?

Yeah, we were all completely surprised as the motorcade of the president drove through Central Park one Saturday while I was sharing music and laughs with so many beautiful people. But, I reacted in the only truly appropriate way I could!

(Okay... so I missed like that Iraqi journalist did!)

But, I'd love, love, love a chance to try again.

.

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** And, if you are thinking, "Okay David, let it go! He's almost out of office." I must tell you... I am still horrified, outraged and saddened by the collective yawn that comes from our citizenry when things like 4,209 American deaths, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilian men women and children, war crimes and torture which are authorized by our elected leaders in our name... when these things go unexamined and unpunished, I get cranky.

Call me crazy. That's just me.

STILL... I am looking forward with a renewed sense of optimism, hope and purpose.

Hope you guys'll all come along for the ride in 2009!

See you guys back here tomorrow.

Thanks again!!!!