Addendum

Yes, in our music history discussion yesterday, we did talk about Michael Jackson.

It is an overstatement, even a cliche' to call him an icon, influencing American culture through music spanning 4 decades. I owned copies of his music, watched his videos, and watched his slow fade into something that many of us could not relate to or recognize.

The term "troubled genius" was tossed around today along with the question, "Which came first, the trouble or the genius?" I would say that the genius definitely came first, breathed into his spirit when he was fearfully and wonderfully made, like us all.

Trouble can either destroy the genius or refine it. In his case, it did both.

I read a posting today from the ElijahList site (elijahlist.com) in which believers were encouraged to pray for the protection and redemption of these "stars." People who indeed have been gifted by their Creator with remarkable abilities. We set them up on pedestals and wait for them to fall. Not me or you personally, but a collective, American culture "we."

Lest I be misunderstood - I don't feel responsible for what happens to celebrities. Sometimes they make really bad choices and reap worse consequences. What I'm feeling is a responsibility to lift up my fellow man.

Is this a sign that I'm becoming an old lady? Maybe, but I don't care. I just don't take any pleasure in watching anybody's life fall apart.

Several weeks ago, we had singer/songwriter/worship leader David Baroni at our church. He sang a song about "Humpty Dumpty." He said the religious people would say to Humpty, "Well, you shouldn't have been up on that wall in the first place!"

Oh, God. Don't let me be one of those people.

soothing the savage beasties

I gave my oldest son a lesson in pop music history yesterday. He was a captive audience. We were in the car on the way to Franklin for his drum lesson. His ipod battery was dead, so we had to use my mp3 player and my ecclectic collection; exposing him to classic songs that have stood the test of time. Music History then shifts into a discussion of music's impact on American culture.

Carole King and the album "Tapestry",

Crosby, Stills, & Nash vs. Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. (Along with the discussion that Neil Young most likely has Asperger's, :)

Woodstock vs. Bonnaroo . . .

Since we have to start 9th grade in just a few short weeks, I'm thinking of a music history course. A course that would include The Beatles, Elvis, Aretha, Diana, . . . .

Jerry Jeff Walker, The Band, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Little Feat, . . . .

. . . gosh, would the list ever end?

Jimmy Buffett, Linda Ronstadt, Heart, . . .

Then there's Journey, Foreigner, Styxx, Van Halen. . .

On the Christian music side, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Evie, Honeytree, Petra, Stryper, Daniel Amos, Amy & Sandi . .

Maybe it's just me, (most likely, it IS just me) but I think they need to know who these people are.

Music has always been a big part our lives. Hubby majored in music (undergrad), I majored in music business. We think of ourselves as singers and musicians, although, I'm not planning to quit my day job. {which is sad, since my day job right now doesn't pay anything}

I am so very thankful that I have musical children. They are singers and musicians, as well. Their tastes run the gamut of musical expression. Nobody has ever told them that they are NOT supposed to like a particular kind of music, so they like it all. I feel very blessed because some autie kids can't tolerate music or people singing.

They like Christian rock and pop, Broadway show tunes, orchestral movie scores; anything I throw at them. They also like country and southern gospel. {Gaither videos - blecch, although I have to admit they can be fun to watch even if they are cheesy 'cause those folks always seem so happy, and Vestal could sing her face off!}

And now, they shall be introduced to all they have missed in American music for the last hundred years . . .

Do you have any suggestions for my list?

Remembering "Kath"

I lost a good friend this weekend. She had battled lung cancer ferociously for two years. Saturday night, her body gave out.

Kathy was full of life. Fun, talented, thoughtful, caring - all adjectives I would use to describe her. I learned a lot about being a good friend from her.

I met her 20+ years ago when we were co-workers at a christian music record company. I was a copyright administrator, she was in marketing & advertising.

Along with another girl named Kathy (we often referred to them as "the Kathy's" as if they were one person), we were the 3 Amigos. We hung out together all the time and became fast friends. All 3 of us at the same stage in life - single, just out of college, early 20's, on our own. There wasn't a Nashville restaurant that we didn't try, a Christian artist concert we didn't attend, or a movie we didn't see. I still remember one of the funniest moments of my life, falling to my knees in the lobby of the movie theater at Hickory Hollow because I was laughing so hard. Yep, Kathy was there.

We shopped and had clothes and shoes and music, etc. We were young and only responsible for ourselves. Life was mostly good.

Kathy was also there to comfort me in the dark days just before a childhood friend committed suicide. The "Kathy's" apartment was a refuge.

I still have things around my house that were gifts from her. I'm not a person overly attached to things, but those objects have become more precious to me now. Symbols of love and thoughtfulness left behind.

My wedding anniversary is coming up. I pulled out the wedding album to find her face in the crowd. I remember as I started down the aisle that day, Kathy was at the end of a pew to my left and said in her best stage whisper, "Hey, Gorgeous!" I smiled all the way to the altar.

I'm feeling this loss deeply, like things won't ever be the same again. No more opportunities to "catch up."

Her children are the same age as mine. As tired as she was from fighting the disease, how much more did it hurt her to leave her kids behind? I can only imagine.

Or, as she left this world and looked into the eyes of her Savior, was she at peace knowing that the God with whom she had entrusted her own life, could be trusted to provide everything that her children and husband need?

I believe it must be so.

Autism Stinks

There are lots of organizations that promote autism awareness and groups that raise money for research and "cures." They often have cute acronymns.

I need to make one for my new group - Autism Stinks.

I love my children with autism. I love the people that have been brought into my life because of it. I can now appreciate the traits that have been sown deep into my character.

But the disorder itself stinks. It certainly is pervasive because it complicates everything. I cringe when my children suffer on a daily basis. You'd think after 15 years, I would have gotten over it by now. Nope. Not even close.

I'm not a negative person overall. I'm just tired of life with this stuff.

I can't speak for the Autism Community at large, but only for my family. What the people that live at my house need is acceptance. More than awareness, more than talk of a cure. Maybe even more than funding for therapies and programs (although this is desperately needed, we pay most things out of pocket.)

I just want my kids to enjoy life and not be feared, ignored, or kept somewhere out of sight so that other people won't be uncomfortable.

Is that too much to ask?