Greetings friends,
Spring is springing. If you have been driving around lately you are seeing signs of life, a new spring, buds in your garden, blossoms on trees and a new cycle and some new growth. No matter what happens with us humans, the cycle of nature keeps moving. Coming off of a wet winter, there are signs of new life everywhere. Let’s hope we can keep it going as so much depends on it.
Here we are in February already and it feels like we are in a race. 2022 is off to a fast start, and here we are still talking about if we are going to turn the corner on COVID. Every time we seem to get ahead, the wheels come off and we fall back. One thing we do know, that this is the way it is going to be for a while and we have to do our best. Our local performance venues are taking many precautions, and fortunately the weather is allowing us to maintain a level of outdoor activity and that keeps our head straight. We are making adjustments, but we are travelling again and enjoying what our world and communities have to offer. I am vaxxed, boosted and I still contracted COVID a second time, but I am confident that I will not be seriously ill and didn’t have many symptoms and I focus on how I can protect others. That’s really our job isn’t it. It’s not about us, or our needs, it is really about keeping each other safe.
Feeling safe and needed is really what love is all about. February is the month of love and when you get down to it, it is what you for someone else that really makes love work, whether for a person, a family member or our community. Because at the end of the day, you get what you give and that is really what our message is. Get involved and make something better, volunteer and help others, give your time and resources to improve the lives of those in need and that is how we get the love we need. Sometime is it simply that base attraction that lights the fire, but you have to give of each other to get that love in return. Pretty simple huh? We are compiling a list of service clubs that need your participation. It is always better to help someone or something when you do it as a group. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, sign up for a Love Modesto project, volunteer in a needy part of our community, or join a service club and you will truly feel fulfilled.
This month it is about the beauty of nature as the almond blossoms start popping. If you haven’t seen this or are from out of town, it is amazing. Almonds are tasty, many of the local restaurants have special almond enhanced items, milk shakes, and so much more. It is truly unique and as we do in Modesto USA, we cruise, so check out Visit Modesto’s Almond Blossom Cruise. Having done this a few times, we have some helpful tips on page 16.
No matter what you do, you have to wrap up the day somewhere, and music is the best therapy. Making music is so enriching for me and playing for people is a blast. Modesto has so many talented musicians and my and ModestoView’s 2022 goal is to make sure that everyone knows we are a live music city, and encourage more venues, and work with the City of Modesto for music friendly rules so we can truly shine. One thing we know for sure is that live music makes a more creative city and creative cities win. That should be us. We need to do it. Check out our calendar and look at all of the places that host music and you should be able to find something 7-days a week with a couple of options wherever you are.
ModestoView is all about keeping our history alive and we have a very special Black History month recognizing some of our groundbreaking citizens that broke barriers. Harrison Power also takes you on a historic romantic date night. We will have a better future if we recognize and celebrate our history. It’s a solid foundation to build on.
Thank you to the local businesses that advertise in ModestoView. I get so many people that love what ModestoView means to the community and how we can help promote positive living in our community, but we need our advertisers to help us make it happen. We are the largest and most effective magazine in the central valley region and ModestoView works and reaches the people you want to reach. Please consider adding us to your marketing mix and it will work for you.
I hope to see you out and about and let’s catch some music together.
With gratitude,
Chris Murphy
Founder and Publisher, ModestoView – Since 1997
chrism@modestoview.com<mailto:chrism@modestoview.com>
