Humans can learn and change, that is a fact, but what is the pace of our learning process? Do we change every hour? Daily? Weekly? Is the version of you today necessarily smarter than the version from 24 hours ago or a year ago? Is yester-me better or worse than today-me?

Exactly five years ago I started a blog, without knowing for what purpose. Well, I knew the golden age of blogs had passed, and that video (though not yet those produced by AI) already attracted all the attention. But then, what did I want, after all? The title of the first post answered: “Clueless“.

As much as it may sound a cliché, all I wanted was to express myself. In a world that was beginning to reorganize itself after the Covid-19 pandemic, there was not much happening in the field of live shows and I was hungry for the written word, having just finished a forty-eisodes interview podcast, made during quarantine.

The blog seemed to me a possible way to take the first steps towards trying to understand what was happening, and to situate myself in the world that was then called a “new normal,” which now, looking back, seems extremely similar to the old normal, if you think about it.

As is usually the case with my projects, I always look for a name first and, starting from the title, i develop the idea. I remembered the episode “Fraudcast News,” the twenty-second episode of the 15th season of the TV series The Simpsons, of which I am a big fan. The plot shows character Lisa Simpson creates an independent newspaper called “The Red Dress Press”. I love that name!

From Lisa´s signature little red dress to my signature red flower in the hair, so characteristic of jazz singers, it worked in so mny levels.That’s it!, I thought and The Red Flower Press was created.

Throughout these years, I believe the blog has served exactly what that version of me longed for, acting as a sanctuary for my thoughts and emotions. The texts on a wide variety of subjects, from the perspective of an independent singer-songwriter, have not only provided good moments for reflection but also allowed me to connect with my audience on a deeper level, and I am very grateful to the Red Flower for that, too. But… (yes, there is a “but”)

Those who have been kind enough to follow me over the years have noticed that I have been quite erratic with my posts in the last year. The reasons are all great, for example, my current production of short videos about Jazz stories and fun facts, in addition to musical projects, but the fact is that my Red Flower has become quite inconsistent.

And my Red Flower does not deserve to be treated like this. Our journey was too beautiful to end in ghosting, and that is why I would like to thank you, Red Flower.

To each and everyone who stood by my side: thank you! Thank you all so much for every like, every share, every comment. From the bottom of my heart: thank you thank you, thank you, thank you.

But… (yes, there is another ‘but”) does this mean goodbye forever?

Well, who knows, right? All I can say is that this five-year pahse ends here. I have learned to trust my choices. So, once again inspired by Lisa, this time in her words to Nelson at the end of “Lisa’s Date with Density,” the seventh episode of season 8, I prefer to seeit as a “Smell you later, Red Flower.”

What a ride, I say. What a ride!

Be seeing you!

G.F.