August 5, 2020
I have always prided myself on being…or at least trying to be…a glass-half-full kind of guy.
I try to look for the best in people, in places, and in situations, I find myself in, regardless of how negative they might seem at the time. But I’ll admit…I’ve struggled just like many of you in trying to find something good inside this crazy Coronavirus pandemic and the stay-at-home, social distancing rules that we’ve been forced to follow for the past several months. It hasn’t been easy, but I was sitting around this past Sunday afternoon looking at life through my rose-colored glasses, and I’ve decided that something good is going to come out of all this by the time it’s finally over. Maybe it already has.
Don’t get me wrong…the illnesses and the deaths and the losses we’ve all suffered are not taken lightly. I’ve lost friends to the virus. I have others who have been extremely sick, including my own manager. Even more, are struggling financially. I’ve gone to bed at night fearful that the virus might strike me and my family. I’ve washed my hands more in the past five months than I did in the previous five years. I’ve worn the mask and the gloves on the rare occasions when I have dared to venture out, and I know we’re not out of the woods yet by any means. But maybe there are lessons to be learned from what we’ve had to endure. And maybe…just maybe…when this is all in our rearview mirrors, we will have become better, stronger, kinder people who will have learned some valuable life lessons along the way.
Take my house, for example. I have lived in the same place for a little over twenty years, longer than I’ve lived any one place in my life. But I have discovered during these past few months that as much as I love it, it’s probably really never been my “home.”
“Home” for most of my life has been the back of a tour bus, a seat on an airplane, a strange hotel in a strange town somewhere, backstage and onstage at a performance venue full of friendly but often unfamiliar faces. My house was the place I left from and the place I came back to, but was it ever really home? Not like it has been lately for sure.
I have three outdoor seating areas attached to my house…one facing east toward the morning sun, one facing south, and one facing west toward the sunset. I love those decks and patios…and I’ve loved times in the past when I’ve been able to entertain friends and family there, standing outside gazing at the lake in my back yard. But in my hectic, always-something-to-do lifestyle, I have never just sat out on one of the decks and watched the world go by….listening to the birds sing, watching the squirrels play, laughing at the ducks and geese who wander up to bathe in the pond beside my little waterfall.
Until now.
I was walking from my front deck out into my yard the other day when the postman drove by. He stopped, we waved, and suddenly he leaned out the door of his little truck. “I’m really lucky,” he said. “I get to deliver mail to the greatest singer/songwriter who’s ever lived.”
I started to ask him if Willie Nelson had moved to town, but I didn’t. I could tell he was sincere, so I just smiled and said, “Thank you very much. I really appreciate that.” And he drove away.
Late on Easter morning, I had gone out to retrieve the Sunday newspaper from my driveway when a neighbor drove by, stopped, rolled down his car window, and wished me a Happy Easter. I wished him the same, and keeping my distance, moved closer so we could talk. I picked up the smell of hot food coming from inside his car. “Wow, somebody has gotten some good-smelling take-out,” I offered, and he told me where he had purchased it.
“I bought more than we’ll ever eat,” he said. “If you’re gonna be home, I’ll bring you some.” Sure enough, a few minutes later he was at my door with ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, and all the trimmings. Plus, his small kids had asked him to also deliver to “Mr. Bill” a couple of their brightly-colored Easter eggs and some Easter candy. I was blown away.
And here’s the ironic part: Had we not been in our current stay-at-home situation, I would have not been home the day the mailman stopped, and I’d have been in the back of a tour bus returning from some shows in Texas on Easter Sunday.
A couple of mornings later, my next-door neighbor phoned and told me she was going to the grocery store. “Can I get anything for you?” she asked. And then, before I could give her my shortlist, she said, “I’ve finished reading a couple of books you might enjoy. I’ll leave them in your mailbox.” And she did.
So what am I trying to say here? Not much other than I have actually enjoyed some of the downtime that I’ve been forced into taking. I have enjoyed sitting out on my decks staring at the natural, God-given beauty all around me. I’ve enjoyed getting to know and experience my neighbors in a whole new way.
Oh sure, I’ve been inside the house strumming on a guitar trying to write some new songs. I’ve been answering fan mail and business mail just like I always do. I’ve had bills to pay just like everybody else. I’ve missed going into the recording studio, missed going out to see my friends, and performing at the Grand Ole Opry, and I’ve missed driving into town to eat lunch and hang out with my buddies. I’ve missed being out on tour and visiting with you. And, sadly, I’ve been unable to go and say goodbye to some very close friends who have, unfortunately, passed away during this time. That’s been especially tough.
But I’ve also had time to put some chicken into the slow cooker (Thanks, Gus Arrendale!), talk and text with my kids and grandkids without having to go take care of something “important.” I’ve even let my whiskers grow out a bit on days when I simply didn’t feel like shaving. And you know what? The world hasn’t ended because of it.
In fact, I may just be appreciating the beautiful things, the natural things, the simple things, and the special people this ol’ world has to offer more right now than ever before.
I guess it all depends on how you look at the glass.
August 9, 2020 @ 7:39 pm
I have always wanted to tell you this because it was funny. The first time we went the old opera house downtown your song Quits was popular and this couple from up north was behind us and when you sang Quits the child said IS THAT what we ate for breakfast. No grits up north then. Enjoy you and your music so much. Thank you for your contribution to country music.
August 7, 2020 @ 11:26 pm
I love reading your posts Bill. Such a wonderful man that has great words of hope & wisdom! Love you Bill ♥️
August 7, 2020 @ 2:39 pm
Beautifully said. We all need to take time to smell the roses and watch the sunrises and sunsets and greet our neighbors. We need to slow down and appreciate the little things in life.
August 7, 2020 @ 7:15 am
I think this virus has opened alot of people’s eyes Bill they have slowed down & smelled the roses life has been moving to fast so there’s always some good in pretty much everything my heart is very heavy for all the families that lost family members .My deepest sympathy to you for the loss of so many of your Opry friends these past few months it just seems unreal that Jan is gone loved hearing the two of you sing .Was planning on attending your show at the Wheeling jamboree in Dec. was so disappointed when it was cancelled .Take care Bill & stay safe I’ll be watching your reruns on RFD
August 7, 2020 @ 6:41 am
Bill, I just love how God made you and the wonderful use you’ve made of it. When you’re sitting out there on that back deck, think a bit on how pleased your Father is with you. I believe He puts us here to connect and to leave footprints. You have left footprints across all our hearts.
Every time I see you, read you or listen to you, your talent lifts me and your warmth and gratitude inspire me.
I’ve been a radio DJ for 51 years. I’ve never been on a country station, so I haven’t played a Bill Anderson song, but I just know I have better echoed that warmth and that gratitude, thanks to your footprints.
Well done!
August 7, 2020 @ 1:42 am
I loved this you wrote and may copy it to remind me of friends. My neighbors I do not know but 2. They stay to themselves snf won’t even wave to you. That is young people and they move in and out and gone leave an empty house. You are lucky. It did not use to be this way until a few years ago. Maybe I had better
August 6, 2020 @ 8:11 pm
How great it was to read your comments. We love you Bill Anderson — we have been married for 56 years, but on our 50th anniversary, we spent it in Nashville at all the shows that we could get in to. I remember texting you in about February that year to see if you would be at the Opry in June around the 7th. You wrote back to tell us we might think about another time because of all the visitors in town on that weekend — JUne Jam or whatever it’s called. Well, we had made a lot arrangements already and got tickets to see you and the Opry so we went ahead to Nashville that weekend of our anniversary, JUNE 7. . we went to the Ryman for shows — Charlie Pride, Jim Ed Brown and YOU! also, another favorite, Ray Price was in town and we saw him twice. The highlight was when we were at the Opry and YOU mentioned on air that Bob & Martha were there celebrating their 50th Anniversary and at the how that night — what happened after that, when we returned home, we had friends here at in Jefferson City tell us that they heard you announce our Anniversary on the air. They only time we told you about our anniversary was when we asked whether you would be at the Opry that weekend and you said to choose another time and we said we would be there anyway. THAT”S HOW GREAT YOU ARE BILL ANDERSON. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH> WE have seen you every time you come through Central Missouri. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Please take care and enjoy your quiet time through all this crazy time. HUGS to you and yours. BOB & MARTHA BRENNER, Jefferson City, Missouri.
August 6, 2020 @ 6:19 pm
Enjoyed reading this journal. Thanks for sharing.
August 6, 2020 @ 5:52 pm
I love your perspective on the good that has come from this. Is there a song about your experience during the virus coming in the near future? Love your music!
August 6, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
Always loved your songs and hope one day to get to one of your concerts. God bless.
August 6, 2020 @ 4:52 pm
So happy you are doing well in this Pandemic. It will surely pass one day. I expect to hear a song you have written on the blessings that came from Stay At Home issues. We had to search for blessings at times, but we found them. Sometimes in small packages and other times they came in larger packages. But they were ours and are appreciated.
Take care. PrY all goes well with you and your family and friends. God bless.
August 6, 2020 @ 4:46 pm
I have been a fan of yours for 54 years and I love you God Bless
August 6, 2020 @ 4:07 pm
We love watching you on RFD TV Friday night. We love to hear you sing. Just wish you would sing more. God bless you.
August 6, 2020 @ 5:03 am
I love you Bill, you are a beautiful soul. I’ve known this since I was 9 years old and went to see you with my Mom. We ended up having dinner with you and you invited us back for your second show! 50 years later I can still remember what I ate that night! It was the first time I had been to a nice restaurant, so I ordered what you ordered, to this day I don’t like blue cheese dressing Thank you for being a special part of my life, even though you have never known how special you were and are to me, and my Mom. My Mom was my best friend, I lost her eight years ago, we shared so much, but remembering that night was one of our favorite conversations!
Thank you for being so kind, every time I’ve had the chance to see you.
Bless you Bill, stay safe!
August 5, 2020 @ 5:52 pm
Wow!! I really needed that. Thank you.
August 5, 2020 @ 5:37 pm
But the Mets are “still” the same ole Mets, only winning when Degrom pitches.lol
August 5, 2020 @ 4:10 pm
Thank you, Bill, for those words. I, too, have been sitting on my porch for the first time and watching the vehicles go by, looking across the bean field across from my house and looking at the beautiful clouds. You will always have a special place in my family’s heart. Mom loved you. You winked at her once when we were on the front seat at the Opry. I wrote you about it prior to her 100th birthday and you sent her a signed 8×10 with a personal message on it. She treasured it until her death one year later, the day after she celebrated her 101st birthday. I was lucky to have her at home with a good mind (better than mine) .. just weak body. Thanks again for all the good memories. Looking for more to come. I have been getting your posts and passing them on to my cousin’s widow who lives near Scottsburg, Indiana, and has gone to see you in recent times.