Posted on 06.18.2018

Little World

I am a person who enjoys living in rural surroundings and although I spend a lot of time in big cities, when I head for home, I want some seclusion and elbow room.

Once when we visited some of Hazel’s relatives who lived in one of the most populous areas of the nation I asked the question, “How do you live in the middle of all these people” and I will paraphrase the answer I got.

“You don’t, you just take your part of it and make it your world” In other words, pay attention to your own business, pursue your own interests and let everybody else do the same, a kind of coexistence type of thing, which made perfect sense to me. Live and let live, carve out your niche, surround yourself with the things and the people you care for and let the rest of the world roll by.

Wittingly and sometimes unwittingly I have headed more and more in that direction in the last many years and have gotten to the point that if I don’t set foot off Twin Pines Ranch for several days it doesn’t bother me at all, it’s almost as if, with the obvious exception of my business and the welfare of my family, friends and nation, that I don’t really care what goes on outside the gate.

My interests are simple and I can pursue most of them right where I am. Slowly, over the years we have managed to acquire most of the things that represent an outside interest for me, a shooting range, a putting green, trails for riding horses and four wheelers, fishing ponds and just about any type of terrain you’d care to traverse, gentle hills, severe hills and flat ground, all depending on the degree of exercise you’re interested in on any given day.

I have reached the point that I sometimes surprise myself at how removed from the mainstream world I have become.

This past week there were two major music festivals going on in the area, one country and one pop, and while perusing the list of talent appearing at the events I realized that I only recognized maybe 20% of the artist's names.

There is very little on television that interests me, I do try to keep up with major domestic and international events and I enjoy the sports broadcasts, but, with the exception of a couple of shows, I’d just as soon watch snails crawl as the monotonic clabber that populates prime time.

And unless there is some industry related event I need to attend we seldom go into the city.

It’s ironic, sometimes people will ask me to recommend a good restaurant in Nashville and my knowledge is extremely limited. I usually say something like, “I can tell you a good restaurant in Fort Worth or De Moines or New York City or Sydney Australia for that matter, but I just don’t frequent our fair city’s culinary establishments enough to be of much help”.

I’m sure that my "at home" life would bore many people to death, but for me, plinking off a couple of hundred rounds of .22 ammunition or watching a sizable largemouth bass break the water or picking my way through the woods on a four-wheeler or a good horse is about as much excitement as I need on the domestic scene.

I have not been bored in so long, that I cannot even remember the last time, as I always have something to do that really interests me like writing another song or another book, practicing my instruments, or just sitting in our easy chairs carrying on a conversation with my wife.

I enjoy getting up early and if I’m not on the road there’s not very much going on after ten o’clock at night to keep me up.

Of course, the other half of my life is a lot different, schedules to keep, interviews to do, miles to travel and shows to play and I love every minute of it, but when I turn off the little two-lane blacktop that runs past the entrance to Twin Pines and go through the gate, I revert to the old guy who is thankful to God for letting me live on the exact square feet of ground I prefer above all others on the planet.

When I leave Twin Pines for good, I want to go to heaven.

That’s the only other place I’d rather live.

Ain’t it good to be alive and be in Tennessee!!!

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, our police and the peace of Jerusalem.

God Bless America

— Charlie Daniels

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Comments

You still go on tour?
Sounds like you have put together a little bit of heaven right here on earth.
Posted by Dana
Contentment
Amen, Amen & Amen Charlie, contentment is the word that comes to my mind while reading your post which is a good thing. As far as most of the world things going on we can't do much about anyways. If I was a betting man I would say you will make it to heaven, later than sooner I hope cause you still have a lot left. Just reading the list last week of CMT winners makes me wonder where country music went and reading Laura Bush latest comments about Trump makes and feel sorry for Texas and amazed that her and George never commented during 8 years of Obama, but you get a President who does the wishes of the people who elected him, upholds the US Constitution, stands with Israel, provides real answers to the drug and illegal immigration problems facing this country. When comparing him to Hitler fails, now you bring up Japanese American internment camps of World War II. I don't believe that this woman has a heart that could be broken.nuff said God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Simple life
Yes, simple works. And the question is "can it really be that simple?" Yes it can. But my question would be why would anyone over complicate things? I'd argue with some people who would say or suggest that you are intentionally avoiding outside influences. No, I would say I am making choices and have priorities. Though intentionally walling off the world from me I am not. My Best to you, Charlie.
Posted by Jeff
Little World
I am the same way, Charlie, and enjoy my home and country surroundings. I worked in a social environment for decades, and now I enjoy alone time...until the grand kids get here!
Posted by Tandy
No comment about immigrant children separated from their parents?
Not talking about it doesn't mean it's not happening. Don't blame you, as it goes against all you profess, Christianity.
Posted by Nick
book
Mr. Daniels, so refreshing to actually be aware of a 'celebrity' (sports, actors, musicians? pick one, any one...) that didn't get the memo about 'Christian Conservatives are Neanderthal morons!'. I get sooooooooooooo weary of the constant bombardment from the liberal media, entertainment figures, whoever that it's not permitted to be successful human if you're a conservative. (Recent controversy with Tim Allen?) Strikes me as very arrogant and condescending that all those 'entertainers' seem to think we peons need to follow their political preferences! I don't! Thanks for not being a wimp!
Posted by J.L.
Guarding Our Southern Border
Plowboy and Nick, because the thousands of illegal aliens who come across our southern border every day can be EASILY blockaded by the MOST POWERFUL NATION ON EARTH, we don't need to separate and detain families. -- Tru Cola
Posted by Tru
Nick & Christianity
Nick, I am sure that Charlie has more Christianity in his little toe than you have in your entire soul. Donald Trump is the most Christian President that we have had in recent memory, unlike his predecessor, Obama, a Muslim. The Bible tells us that borders and their protection are necessary to the survival of a nation. Jesus instructed us in Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Let it be known that you cannot be Christian and support abortion. Beware of the antichrist spirit of Mitt Romney and his church for we are told in Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV) 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. You can have main line churches ordain homosexual pastors but that don't mean they are Christian or going to heaven.....just saying.... God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Join the crowd!
Charlie - I am with you. I don't know many popular musicians, because most of the music on the radio does not appeal to me. I find myself with little time or interest to watch much TV and only go to an occasional movie. I'm sure I have become an out of it "old guy" but that suits me just fine!
Posted by Dan
100% In Agreement
I live in Madison, TN, gave up TV 5 years ago, and prefer DVDs / Blu rays / Netflix / Albums / CDs and reading. Ain't It Good To Be Alive And Be In Tennessee for sure !
Posted by Mike
Agree Guarding Our Southern Border
Agreed but until we get the wall built we have to deal the disaster at hand and put a stop to the insanity of letting the illegals flow unchecked into the Greatest Christian Nation on earth. It amazes me the liberals that suddenly have breaking hearts for these children who are being used as pawns by their parents and others while they still support wholesale murder of babies in our own country and have no sympathy for the 15 million or 1 in 5 American children living below the poverty line. We find in the Holy Bible 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. In other words, charity begins at home....nuff said God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Texas
Actually, the most beautiful state is Texas. You get yourself 8 cows and some acreage and learn to enjoy life. Laura Bush did better than me. I was not born in Texas. She was born in Midland. If you are an American, give her the respect you ought to. Though they were not born in Texas, the same goes for George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, and Barack Obama. If not, you are backing the wrong horse.
Posted by dana
Heaven on Earth and the simple life of Home...
Yes sir...I agree...after growing into what I have become gives me great comfort to know what truly is important in life...like sitting out on a old stump..listening to the birds chirp...listening to winds blow threw the leaves of the hard woods...watching Mother Nature at its finest....the hustle and bustle of earning a keep can drive one down right to the point of no return..and corralling feelings of what has and was done in as far as wrongs by others...one forgets..what it is truly like to feel the serene peace of the great blue yonder...and taking up horse back and or four wheeler..just getting lost in the woods and just idling of life trials or surely extraordinary ....and reflections on gods blessings and grace is truly also a deep soul tugging experience ...may gods grace surround you and your family for all the days that are left on planet earth..
Posted by robert
Texas
If I said anything against Texas I offer my sincerest apologies. I couldn't agree more that Texas is one of the best states, I wouldn't mind living there myself. As far as Respect, I have always thought it was earned, I don't see where any of these people have earned mine. As far as the wrong horse that is what I was told on November 8, 2016, I decided long ago to cowboy up and ride with the brand of Jesus. God Bless Plowboy
Posted by Plowboy
Little World
The simple way is the only way to live a good life. Less complicated is better. However, faith in our Lord Jesus is the way to enjoy our lives to the fullest. My wife and I live an enjoyable quiet life, but look forward to our lives ending and joining Jesus in Heaven for eternity. Thank you Charlie, as always , for your words of wisdom.
Posted by Owen
Personal life = politics?
Maybe some people don't understand. Charlie gets to write what he wants to write in his Soap Box. Freedom sort of works like that. If you have the blessings and box he has, you could do the same. But it's not stopping them from reading it.
Posted by Jeff
2018 GridIron
Attended the 2018 gridiron conference in Birmingham June 15 and 16th and Charlie was the second guest speaker on Friday the 15th. I really enjoyed listening to his testimony and I got a kick out of telling everybody that I got to sing how great thou art And amazing grace with Charlie Daniels! He is truly an inspiration to my life!
Posted by Randall
Gold Painted Fiddle
For Father's Day, I gave my dad an autographed copy of your memoir. He was delighted with the book and took me to his music room to show me a gold fiddle. He said it's the only one like it in the world and that it and three others--red, white, and blue--were designed for you. Is he pulling my leg? It wouldn't be the first time. 😃 *NOTE* Would be difficult to say. Over the years, there have been lots of fiddles that have passed through his hands. Gold ones are the rarest, and the only ones that have been sold on the website were laser engraved "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" 35th Anniversary fiddles, otherwise they have been primarily auction items. Charlie has no doubt signed red fiddles, white ones and blue ones, but I don't know that he ever had any designed specifically for him like that. - TeamCDB
Posted by Gayle