“And soul really matters to me.” – Darryl Hall & John Oates

Too much.

Some people, some words just tap into your inner soul like a long lost relative grabbing hold and refusing to let go. Somewhere, maybe a place you’ve long forgotten about, screams “thank you” as an inspiring voice triggers happy endorphins within your brain that rise through your veins at the very prospect of releasing words hidden out of sight perhaps in a barricaded box under lock and key.

Geez, I don’t know where that paragraph came from. Perhaps it came from the reading I’ve been doing lately – interesting books, news sites, sports and entertainment blogs, and Americana travel pieces (check out A.M. Hickman’s “Falling Back in Love With America” project if you like well-written Americana travel pieces). Maybe it’s a cocktail of the former with a splash of the nonsensical lyrics of my favorite 80’s duo, Darryl Hall and John Oates. Or it could also be that it’s just the holiday season with the lights and the decorations and the sounds that open up wormholes of creativity that have been closed since January.

Whatever the case…

Manic moves and drowsy dreams
Or living in the middle between the two extremes

As my wife and I meandered through downtown Springdale, Arkansas, I thought about the extremes of the city we’ve called home for over 20 years now. Springdale is now a city on the verge of 90,000 and the signs of progress and commercialization were everywhere. Literally. “Pictures with Santa,” “Christmas on the Creek,” “Free Pony Rides,” “Hot Cocoa,” “Train Rides,” “25% Off Sales!” Commercialization for holidays continues to grow like that potato vine you planted to occupy a few square feet in a bed but has now grown over the bed and threatens to take way more space than you originally planned. I may or may not have experience in this particular department.

Originally called Shiloh, around 1838, Springdale became Springdale in 1878 once it was incorporated by Washington County. Soon after progress followed with roads and a railway following the Civil War. The roads paved the way for numerous trucking companies including Springdale-based Harvey Jones’ Jones Truck Lines. Willis Shaw, Joe Robinson, and JB Hunt followed suit in the NW Arkansas region in the years after. Agriculture with apple and peach orchards were an important part of growth in the area as well as poultry when CL George and his sons began transporting live chickens to Kansas City and St. Louis around 1929 before expanding into the chicken feed business 10 years later. Missouri native John Tyson saw the potential in NW Arkansas and moved his family to Springdale in 1931 where he started delivering chickens to larger markets in Missouri. Tyson Foods is now one of the largest processor and marketers of chicken, beef, and pork in the world.

Classic Christmas music was ringing and children were singing… or maybe they were just playing in the creek in their matching pajamas after getting their photo taken with St. Nick, because it doesn’t get much better than playing in water when you’re a kid.

The holidays can be difficult for many, but I’d surely encourage you to get out to your local establishments, your favorite park, or maybe just drive around and look at the lights in the warmth of your vehicle. Soak in that Christmas spirit even if you do it begrudgingly. You’ll be better for it. Appreciate the decorations, the lights, the music… let it exist in and around you and take some time to reflect on where you are, where you want to go, what your community is about, and how you can make this season better for someone else, because I guarantee you someone you know is having it worse than you are right now. Make it better for someone else like I’m making this post better for you by ending it and giving you another classic 80’s tune below.

A very Merry Christmas season to you all.

Broken ice still melts in the sun
And times that are broken can often be one again

From the “Big Bam Boom” album, here is the number one song on this week 40 years ago, which was also the duo’s last #1 hit. I’ve always been a big fan of John Oates and his vocals on the word “time” throughout the song. Just something about seeing him chime in with “time” on this song always makes me smile. Here is the Philly duo, Hall & Oates with another 80’s classic, “Out of Touch.”

Thanks for reading.

sincerely,

the80s

Luke 2:11