Well, I attended one of the most unique memorials I've ever attended in my life today, and it happened to be my Moms! I've been to way more funerals and memorials then I care to count in my life. I would have to say this was the most honest one, I've ever been too. It was just our immediately family which allowed us the freedom to really say what was on our hearts. My mother had struggled with mental illness all her life and with that came many side struggles. All of that doesn't add up to too functional of an environment to grow up in. I won't share any personal stories but as a family we were able to get some things out yesterday and while painful it was needed. The context seemed weird to me but as I thought about it we didn't really have much of a choice. Because of Covid, which she passed from, the first time we got together in more than a year and a half was last week and this was the 2nd. So the processing kind of took place at the memorial. My sister Michelle planned the whole service and Michelle and her husband Mike were in essence my Mom's caretakers for the last 25 years or more. We all, despite a lot of hurt from the past, loved my Mom unconditionally. There was a revelatory moment however for me yesterday. One of my siblings revealed that it was because of my Mothers struggles that we actually came into our love for Jesus which I really never put together. Then leave it to my wife who I was talking with about this, and her always trying to put a positive spin on everything, she said, so the two most important things, giving you life itself and coming to know Jesus, were because of your Mom. Thank you Mom! Love you!

I was playing a gig in 2019 with my friend Fred Knapp. His wife Julie was there and the following conversation took place on one of our breaks. 
Julie: I saw you turned 50 in Japan. I just turned 50
Me: What day were you born?
Julie: May 21
Me: I was born on May 20
Julie: What hospital were you born in?
Me: Blodgett
Julie: Me too
We then came to the realization we were Nursery Mates for at least a day. I guess it's something I never really thought about but you ever wonder what happened to the few babies that were in the hospital nursery with you in your first days of life outside the womb?  I now know what happened to one of them. She married a drummer! LOL Happy Birthday Julie Versluys!
Anyone else out there ever meet someone that was in your hospital nursery with you when you were born?

Well here I am on my 52nd birthday writing my very first blog. It's been a long time in coming and I'm looking forward to this space. Facebook has been kind of my public diary but with all the censorship, I thought I'd just go to my own space. 

It's been a very interesting past couple of years for everyone I think. I've had loss, Talia and I have been dealing with an issue related to her health, the world seems out of control, so much of what I thought I knew is no longer, etc....

However, as I sit and reflect I'm left with the following words,
Thankfulness
Grateful
Determined 
Humbled
Mindsets

I also am left with:
God is good
I have amazing friends and family
My wife is strong
I love Jazz

So, I'm looking forward to digging into many things here!

I'm also thinking about jumping into the Podcast arena by the urging of some people. 

I look forward to what this 52nd year of life holds but for now, I'm going to respond to a billion greetings I have been receiving. That tells me one thing, I'm incredibly loved and blessed! 

Love, Blessings, and Swing!