If you give your life to music...

This week, Just a few thoughts and feelings!

The Cleveland Guardians clinched their playoffs spot in the A.L. Central division this past Sunday and I couldn’t be more excited. I tend to think it’s related to the fact they finally changed their name to a non-racist one. We have scored tickets - I’ve never been to a playoff game - so we will be there to cheer them on in Cleveland next weekend!
I learned fellow former-Clevelander & friend of mine, Anton Fier, died this past week at 66. An amazing drummer who sounded like himself, I saw him play most with my wonderful friend Tony Scherr on Mondays at The Living Room when I lived in Brooklyn. There is a video of one of those times linked at the bottom of this newsletter. Anton gave his life to music and mastering the pocket. He was unique in his own way. I’ve known no other like him.
My oophorectomy (BSO) took place Wednesday and I am laying low for the next few days but am feeling well enough to read and write, which is a huge blessing when downtime is concerned! Is it funny to say I actually enjoyed being a patient this time around? First and foremost, I had my most powerful healing sisters and brothers continuously sending me energy and the calmness that I felt from that really made a difference, especially since I had to wait until the end of the day for my case. Secondly, I felt a deep sense of trust in my healthcare team. Everyone I dealt with made me feel comfortable and relaxed and I had really really good nurses before, during and after. I am so thankful for this. I had a heart to heart talk with my post-op nurse Bille about burnout, and how much it can affect you as a person who cares for others. When I am able, I want to write more about this specifically because it is so important to recognize. If we want to heal this health care system, the issue of burnout in the health care worker needs to be addressed.
In a similar vein, I am taking a class right now at the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development, about (yep, you guessed it!) Forming Cooperatives! I am taking this class with two LMT’s who are also great friends and we are in the process of looking at what it would take to form a Wellness Co-op here in Nashville. Still investigating what my role could be, but I have so many ideas! And I’m jazzed to be taking a class on something!
My sister Amanda sent me this song this week and the first few times I heard it, I could not stop crying. Mia Doi Todd ‘Music Life’.
I just love it because it states how I’ve been feeling about music and the expectations we accidentally develop after having some initial success in finding ways to express ourselves. This song makes me think of so many music friends, both near and far.

‘Chances are you got a few friends
spread out all over the continent,
You think of them but don’t hear from them
till they’re just voices inside your head’

And then she just goes on to tell me more truths about how I feel. I won’t type out the lyrics, because it’s better if it hits you how you need to be with this song, but I will say, as I drifted off into la-la land before surgery, I heard Mia Doi Todd singing,

No regret, don’t forget
I love you, I love you
No regret, don’t forget
I love you, I love you
If you give your life to music
No regret, don’t forget
I love you, I love you.

Tony Scherr trio with Anton Fier, drums, Rob Jost, bass, Tony Scherr guitar/vocals