my careless contagion

January 28, 2018, I started this blog. I was alone and the divorce was nearly final (February 8). With no one to talk to about what I was feeling, I wrote here, originally transcribing from a notebook. What began as a form of therapy evolved into a journey of faith. What started in a very bad place ended in a much better place, though I am still alone. This blog garnered 34,000 hits over six years, which is a big surprise. (Also surprised attempts to create a new blog failed, but the love letters written to a certain woman were likely the reason anyone read here anyway.) Thank you to everyone who read here at some point. I prayed you got something out of it. Learned a lot about myself and am a lot humbler at its closing than at its beginning. Honesty, facing problems, and working toward solutions paid off, but it was God who did a work.  I cut my teeth on gospel songs. Win Worley's song sermons were my favorite and listened to them on cassette over and over. Such joy in that man...

  Clint Black's 1989 debut album featured the debut single — A Better Man (for which I found perhaps the original video!). I've heard this song countless times. It's safe to say it's a classic, especially because it continues to get airplay 30 years after its release. And it echoes the sentiment I carry in my heart for Cindy, the girl who gave me the greatest love story of my life.   What do I like about this song? It's simple and accessible. It's not overwrought. And it's an honest assessment of a relationship that is no more. It's an all-around good song, and it clearly defines how I feel about the woman I continue to love.  I could not have found a purer soul to fall in love with. I could not have found a woman more perfect for me. Though I'm no longer upset and distressed because our relationship ended, it goes without saying I wish it hadn't. I miss her. I always have. And always will. She felt like the missing piece. Without her, I ...

We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth is a nice pop song. It's a well-done (even the video, which shows both sides), somewhat understated song. Puth's voice is a rarity in the pop realm. It's smooth, not grating, and embraces the notes instead of smacking them upside the head. It's an endearing approach to singing and a little bit of a breath of fresh air. I've admired his voice since the first time I heard him on the radio. Selena Gomez appears on this track. I have to admit, their voices work really well together. That's a rare thing with duet-type songs. Usually, there's a power play with duets, with one voice trying to rise above the other. I don't hear that here.  I don't listen to the radio much anymore because I don't drive that much anymore. So, I have to admit, today is the first day I've heard this song. I like it. It's not over-sexualized or gross. It's just a nice song.  So, clearly, I was attracted to this son...