Kelly Buchanan

This young lady is my friend. She's an independent artist that I've had the privilge of watching grow the last eight years. The first time I saw her perform, it was just her and her guitar. She was traveling with some other young musicians from Boston. They came to Connecticut to perform. On stage she was relaxed, smiling and joking as she introduced each song as "something I'm working on." I remember she had on sneakers, jeans and a t-shirt on to match her casual attitude. None of the songs were completed works, but that didn't matter to her. Nor did it matter to me. She did a nice job and I liked her music.

Kelly sang this one song she wrote called "Breathe You In." It was beautiful. I got on her email list and told her to let me know when the cd was done because I wanted to buy it.

She would send emails to let people know what she was doing and of her progress. It took 2 years, but the cd was finally done. I bought it and was pleased with the work and with the song that she wrote that I loved so much. This was about six years ago.

Her emails told of her travels, her self-created tour of the eastern coast of the US where she talked about how her car would break down in the middle of nowhere, she hit a deer on the road and it smashed her windshield, she was starving because she made very little money on the road, etc. But, it was an adventure for her, she was having fun, making friends and singing, and I appreciated being with her via her bi-weekly and monthly email reports. I cheered her on at every opportunity.

She released four cds and was working on the 5th one which was about healing. During this process her vocals improved, her musicianship improved and she grew up.

Realizing today that I hadn't gotten an email from my singing friend in quite sometime, I went to her website and was so saddened to hear that she suffered traumatic brain injury during an accident in March of this year. Ascap is hosting a fundraiser for her at The Knitting Factory in September. I will be there to again be her cheerleader and to support this young lady who was a catalyst for me in my own life.

Kelly Buchanan, thank you for being you and inspiring me. I love you and cheer for you.

A Dog's Purpose

One of many viral emails:

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy-ride.

- Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

- Take naps.

- Stretch before rising.

- Run, romp, and play daily.

- Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

- Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

- On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

- On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

- When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

- Be loyal.

- Never pretend to be something you're not.

- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Traveling

I enjoy traveling. It gives a view of another side of life. Colorful cultures and creative people.

Wherever I go, I make sure that I venture out of the tourist areas so I can see how the real people of that region live. The worldwide poverty is astounding. We have allowed people to go into all countries and rape and destroy them. The elite take posts in the most beautiful areas and force everyone else into areas of desolation. Natural environments are destroyed as are the people's culture. Everything is catered toward money and the creation and accumulation of money. We've got to change. We've got to stand for something and make a difference.

Indifference and fear are mind killers. Lack of action supports what is. There is no separation between us and the next person. If we allow things to happen in one place, then it happens in every place. I am determined to continue to try to make a difference with my life however possible.

Miss You

I miss you Rod.

Rod's my brother. He died January 31, 2007. His dog, Ram, died in April 2008. Guess he decided to hang around a year and change longer....

I was always angry at my brother because he didn't behave and live his life in a manner that I saw to be appropriate. It wasn't until he started to get sick when this powerful man who could knock out any other man with just one punch, began to allow me to see the beauty that was inside of him. He slowly shed his strong warrior facade. Behind that veil, I came to know a beautiful human being who was full of compassion for others, for animals and for anyone unable to fend for themself. He allowed homeless people to stay a night or two or three, helped them to find a more permanent residence; rescued small, helpless animals, bringing them home to nurse them to health. Once, I was terrified when I walked into the house and saw a huge pitbull milling around with his other dogs. It turned out that a neighbor was sent over to Iraq and Rod agreed to take care of the dog for as long as it took for his owner to come back home.

He had a way with animals. They were always obedient and calm when he was around. I guess they could sense his strength and submitted to him. I am sure they also sensed his compassion underneath. What I couldn't see or chose not to see for so many years.

Like my father, and a lot of us in my family, he could fix anything. He would pick up discarded bikes from the street, fix them and give them away to kids who didn't have one. This was known throughout an extended part of the neighborhood and kids would come to the house asking if he had a bike to give away. Even after he left us, kids still came by looking for the bike man.

He painted. I never knew that. During the "death watch," meaning I went by the house just about every day to check on him because he was so weak and we all knew the time was coming, he brought me into his room to look at his collection of things. He showed me a picture that he painted, wrote a little note to his big sister on the back of it and gave it to me. It hangs in my music room, always a reminder of a brother I didn't get to know until it was almost time for him to leave.

I was only a year older. My birthday was in May and his was in November. Even though I was ignorate enough not to acknowledge his birthday, he would always call me just after it had passed and say, "Well sis, we turned another year older." This always touched me and we would have a nice conversation at least once a year.

He always showed me compassion, forgiveness and strength. Always reaching out with love. And, I always knew that I was protected from "thugs" and such because of my brother's reputation on the streets. I know the things he's done to make sure I would never be in harm's way of violence on the streets. In fact, he did that for everyone in my family.

I thank God that I was able to finally be a part of his life, even in this small way, before it was too late for me to know the internal beauty of my sibling.

A month before he passed away, I was able to take him to see a movie. He hadn't been in a movie theater in years. For the first time in our lives we went out together and alone to experience ourselves as brother and sister. The only thing playing that we could catch that night was "Night at the Museum." It wasn't a great film, but it is etched in my heart forever. It's now one of my most favorite movies of all time and anytime it comes on, I watch it and talk to Rod and we sit together and laugh.

Sonny Chiba

He's one of my favorite martial artists. I happened to catch "The Executioner" tonight. The speed, the precision -- it's poetry in motion.

I took martial arts for a short while a long time ago. I became pregnant and had to stop. I never went back to it, but it's always been in my heart to do.

Life offers so many beautiful opportunities to learn new things and to grow and expand who we are and what we can do. Though we have all the time there is, there's never enough time... I'd like to have more of my own time to do me.

Slowing Down

There a million things that need to be done during the day - lists of things to be done at the job, in the house, for yourself or whatever. I try very hard not to allow my mind to start running through my lists of things to do in the mornings. I allow myself to enjoy the scenery on the way to work and even started keeping my camera in the car because it forces me to take my time to enjoy the scenery duing the ride more. I look and try to absorb the peace in the nature that I am privileged to enjoy on my way. If something captures my attention, I will pull over and take a picture.

Once I'm at work though, the race is on - phones are ringing, projects are beckoning, and all "the things to do" come alive and the race is on in my head to accomplish them - to conquer them. A check mark on my list is my reward. This mental race does't stop until I get home at night and turn my mind off.

I'm going to slow down and be more thoughtful about what I'm doing and what the effects are. Be more reflective and look in the mental mirror that is my mind. I'm going to make a new way for myself and get off the treadmill.