“Jolly Jamming Holiday Despite the Blues”

The Ghost in the Café

"As an independent journalist and poet, I’ve always believed that the most honest art lives in the space between the polished and the real. 'Jolly in My Own Way' was not born from a holiday card; it was born in my living room with a 12-bar blues riff, a white electric guitar, and the literal 'tweets' of my parakeet, Sweetie.

This piece is a multimedia exploration of finding warmth when the 'blues are riding shotgun.' Using AI as a digital brush from the ghostly pianist at the Outstages Café to the surreal forest encroaching on my studio, I wanted to capture that transition from the quiet, indoor reflections of Christmas to the wild, stomping energy of a New Year. It is a mix of rockabilly hearts, independent spirit, and the belief that we all find our 'jolly' in our own unique way."

“Jolly in My Own Way”

“Jolly Jamming Holiday Despite the Blues”

“You know… the season does not always come wrapped in sparkle. Some days it is a little heavy, a little quiet, a little blue around the edges. But we are still here, tapping out a rhythm, finding a little joy in the middle of it all. So, this one is a jolly jamming holiday even with the blues riding shotgun.”

Candles on the counter, coffee in my hand,

Sweetie is doing backup like a tiny, feathered band.

Rosa dropped off goodies, now the whole place smells sweet,

And I am tapping’ out a rhythm with a rockabilly beat.

It is a jolly Christmas, the real-life kind,

A little blues, little twang, little peace of mind.

No perfect picture, just a warm little sway

Yeah, I am feeling’ kind of jolly in my own way.

Bath & Body magic sitting’ pretty by the tree,

Chachi’s strutting’ round like he is security.

I am mixing’ up the genres like I mix up the day

A little soul, little swing, little rockabilly play.

It is a jolly Christmas, the real-life kind,

A little blues, little twang, little peace of mind.

No perfect picture, just a warm little sway

Yeah, I am feeling’ kind of jolly in my own way.

Sometimes the tinsel gets tangled in the wire,

And “Silent Night" feels like a choir on fire.

But I will take the cracks, and I will take the dust,

Because a little bit of rhythm is a whole lot of trust.

Yes, we are dancing through the shadows today!

It is a jolly Christmas, the real-life kind,

A little blues, little twang, little peace of mind.

No perfect picture, just a warm little sway

Yeah, I am feeling’ kind of jolly in my own way.

Yes, blues riding shotgun...

But I am the one behind the wheel.

(Chachi, watch the door...)

(Sweetie, hit that high note...)

Just jolly... in my own... sweet... way.