I’m a corny guy. A softie. A gushy person.

I tend to look at people, most people that is, through rose colored glasses. I always try to see the good in most people.

I like people who smile a lot. I think I smile a lot.

I wanted to remember someone who was often mocked or had a lot of eye rolls with his music and his nature.

John Denver came into my head today in this dark, sad, and frightening time in the world.

I never met John, but I was a fan. A fan not only of his extremely popular, but critically underrated music…but by something else. His public demeanor.

I’m music aware that John battled depression and alcoholism and some drug use, but his SPIRIT, as well as his music, moved me.

Today I felt a deep melancholy about what is happening on this planet and suddenly one of John’s classic songs came on the radio.

The song was “Sunshine on My Shoulders”.

Listening to it now, with what’s going on, I was struck by its sweet, simplicity, maybe even an innocence. And it touched me.

I wanted to post some of the lyrics of this sweet , kind song…

“If I had a day that I could give you

I’d give to you a day just like today

If I had a song that I could sing for you

I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you

I’d tell a tale sure to make you smile

If I had a wish that I could wish for you

I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while”

You can call it naive, or something more caustic. But those words and the spirit of that song is something that’s missing from our lives.

Simple happiness and appreciation of all we have.

The 70’s were a mixed bag of things. We had those corny “Have A Nice Day” bumper stickers. Smile buttons. But we also had “Son of Sam” and Vietnam, and all kinds of troubling news.

But just now, I longed for the 70’s…and I really, really miss a man like John Denver. For all his personal struggles, I choose to remember him as a man who insisted on joy, love, and kindness.

I miss the “Sunshine,” too.

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