I just accomplished something I’ve never done before. And I’m feeling really good about it. I never thought I’d be a runner. And really, I’m probably not. But I did just complete my very first, without ever stopping, 5K up and down Hillsboro Rd.
See, just a couple of weeks ago, I decided to sign up for an adventure. It’s called a Half Marathon, and I’ll be flying up to Chicago in the middle of September to do it. But until then, I’ll be training here in the heat of Nashville. Training for something I most likely vowed to never do sometime in the past.
It’s easy to get to a certain time in life and say, “Oh, I surely CAN’T do that…” or “I NEVER will do that…” or how about, I’ll “NEVER be able to do that!” I want to remove some of the CAN’TS and NEVERS from my life.
I’m in an interesting season in my life when I’m faced with several very huge challenges in front of me, and I’m not exactly sure I’m going to be able to pull them off. One of them is this 1/2 marathon. Another is working to complete the Pilgrim Man CD project. The third thing is a movie role I was just invited to tackle. It’s going to challenge me to act at a level I’ve never had the opportunity to approach before now. And right now, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do it. I think maybe I can…but I’m not sure. The half marathon? I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it without taking half a day. Or without passing out. Or wimping out. And the CD project is forcing me to take my creativity and my passion to a whole other level. My goal: create a CD that only Mark Smeby could create. Anybody can make a CD, but nobody else could ever make a Mark Smeby CD. I think I can do this…but I’m not sure.
From the luxurious Tenbury Wells Studio on Penbrook Drive in swanky Franklin, TN. HA! I’m so excited about this – my first real recorded piano solo! I’m doing this as a tribute to my friend Tom Howard who died earlier this year – it’s his amazing arrangement. I’m so proud to have known him.
Man, I’m so excited about the response that “Pilgrim Man” man is getting at radio. It’s so difficult for a new artist to get airplay…so to have 79 stations take a chance on an unknown like me is really extraordinary.
I hope people are being encouraged by the song. I usually write things that I need to hear myself, and so what happens is that I’ll pop the tune in my car and something will hit me in the lyrics that I really needed to hear. That’s amazing to me, and makes me feel like God is involved in this process…that it’s not just about me being clever or talented. It’s about God using a semi-normal guy to create a tool that He will use to encourage His children…including me! What an honor to be a part of this!
I’ll be getting my Pilgrim Man preview CDs from the duplicators this coming week. It has four songs on it, plus me talking about where the songs came from, why I wrote them, etc. I call it a preview CD because I’m working on the full CD project right now. I’ll be taking the preview CD to concerts or selling it online to promote the full project. If you want to buy just the preview CD for $5 you can do that…or you can buy the full CD for $15 and I’ll send you the preview CD now, and the full CD when that’s completed. Shoot me an email if you’re interested: mark@marksmeby.com
I’m blown away by how the new songs are sounding. I’m working with people who are soooo talented. I can’t wait for you to hear songs like “Here’s Your Life” that I wrote with Scott Sheriff — it sounds a little like Lionel Richie meets Phil Collins’ “Sussudio.” Also, “This Is A Time For Hope” that I’m writing with Chris Davis is a powerful dramatic song, and helps to fulfill my desire to pour buckets of hope all over people, regardless of their circumstance. Tim Brown has taken the song I wrote with Scott Krippayne, “Don’t Forget Me When I Fall,” and turned it into something magical.
We’re going to have to have a big party when this thing is all done. You’re invited!
My Grandma Mildred was a poet, a writer, a teacher, a musician. She focused on being creative and then taught others to do so, as well. She demonstrated how to live an unconventional life, showing me that I could as well. She was rootsy and advantgarde before I knew what that meant, or even more, how to appreciate it. She taught me that life isn’t always lived between the lines.
I love that whenever we’d visit her Eau Claire, WI house as kids, the house was full of mystery and intrigue. She always let me explore. She always let me put my hands on new musical instruments I’d never seen before, or to play her big organ with all the fun sounds. She always let me be adventurous. I’m grateful for that lesson and hope to continue to be adventurous, and encourage others to do likewise.
I love that she did an acting stint in the Grande Olde Players in Omaha. She taught me that you’re never too old to put on makeup and get up in front of people and act silly.
I love that she took such good care of our dog Scamp in her final dog days. She showed me that even though you live alone, you never have to be lonely.
Grandma Mildred was never fake or artificial. She never wanted to convince anyone that she was anything other than just herself. Sometimes that meant putting on makeup and big jewelry to go play the piano for all the “old people”. Sometimes it meant just lounging in her nightgown. I’m grateful for her teaching me that there’s a time and place to be fancy, even if other people don’t agree.
I don’t claim to understand a lot about how she lived her life, or how she managed to live as long as she did on her regular diet of crossword puzzles and romance novels. But I admire her contentment with simplicity. As I grow older, I hope to eliminate clutter and excess.
Her love for me appeared to grow with her age. Oddly enough, the less she was able to walk, the more she was able to say “I love you” to me. I hope to say “I love you” more, the older I grow, as well.
I'd love for us to keep in touch. I'll let you know about my journey--you know, stuff going on with my music - and probably even writing & acting projects, too. I look forward to hearing about your journey, as well!
I just accomplished something I’ve never done before. And I’m feeling really good about it. I never thought I’d be a runner. And really, I’m probably not. But I did just complete my very first, without ever stopping, 5K up and down Hillsboro Rd.
