| Random Thoughts Has everyone read the book: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In
Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum? If you haven’t, you should. If you have, read it
again, it’s better the second time around.
Why is it so hard to be nice to other people?
Don’t you hate when you’re expecting an answering machine, and the actual human
being picks up instead. I made a phone call the other night of a type I rarely make. It
was to my competition. It turned out to be a great call though, and it taught me a
valuable lesson.
It was, oh about 10:30 at night. One of the other publications here in Harrisburg recently
put out their latest edition. It was fantastic. Clean. Crisp. Excellent use of color and
imagery. I was impressed. I picked up the phone, (remember it’s 10:30pm) and called
the Publisher’s number. On the third ring (AAARRRGGG!!!) someone answered the phone.
I froze. It’s 10:30 at night, what kind of person is still at work at 10:30pm? I was
hoping to get the answering machine, and to leave a nice complimentary message... BUT
NOOOOOO, someone answered the phone instead.
And guess who answered the phone... at 10:30 at night? The Publisher, of course. Working
away. I laughed a little and thought "Birds of a feather."
So I said hello, introduced myself and went on to have a terrific conversation with a
person that is as in love with Harrisburg as I am. A person who is publishing for the
people; for the community.
I wanted to share this story with you becasue it’s a good example of getting more
than you planned for, and feeling great about doing it afterwards. I wanted to leave a
message on an answering machine, and now I have a new friend. To my new friend, thank you
for taking the time to talk to me the other night. If there is ever anything I can do for
you, please call... even as late as 10:30pm.
P.S. The lesson I learned that night: It’s not that hard to be nice.
Next topic.
Let’s talk for a moment about my astounding lack of knowledge in the area of Jazz. In
this issue you will find several articles about Jazz. I wrote them all. I should have
written NONE of them. I should have found a great Jazz lover and paid them handsomely to
write these articles. But alas, I wanted to learn something about Jazz, so off I went in
search of Jazz in Harrisburg.
Interestingly, I learned a great deal about Jazz, yet barely scratched the surface. A
contradiction? Not really. I am a novice and wrote these articles as I would want to share
my newly found knowledge at the cafeteria lunch table, with other people who are novices.
(If you know a lot about Jazz, especially in Harrisburg, try not to laugh TOO loud as you
browse the pages.) My true intention in presenting Jazz in this issue is one of an
introductory nature. I know very little about Jazz, but I do know that it’s here in
Harrisburg. I know that many people love and support it, and I know that Jazz is something
that needs to be shared.
So, in the interest of sharing, (remember: it’s nice to be nice) I tried to find out
the who, what, when, where and why of Jazz in Harrisburg. Once I had a good idea about it,
I would neatly write it up and present it to you the readers. Except for one thing. Every
person I talked to about Jazz referred me to three more people. When I tell you that I
barely scratched the surface, I mean it. So in fairness to all the people I did not get to
talk to, we at MODE are going to try to launch a monthly Jazz column. I‘ve got my
fingers and my toes crossed.
I know I’m gonna need help, so let’s hear from you Jazz types.
Thanks again for reading, and have a great month!
Scot Giambalvo, Publisher |
