Mompocalypse-Alzheimer's is a bitch, and Death ain't much better

It's been building up to this for some time, but yesterday's attempted visit with mom quickly turned violent. We are setting up a new care plan meeting but our visits only agitate her and she hit both Blythe and I and went of on an obscenity laden tirade. She had to be restrained by staff.

Later that day, 9 Below Zero played at an interesting event for a guy named Bill Niswander. This is a guy who was a fixture around town for many years on the blues and jam scene primarily. I don't really know him or know if we ever played together at a jam or even really met. Recently he received a sudden terminal cancer diagnosis.

Sunday's event at the Player's Pub was both a benefit and an awareness event, but it also served as something of a living wake.

I did not want to go after the scene at the nursing home. But Mom, when she was still REALLY Mom, the person she no longer is, was a firm believer in nothing so much as "the show must go on," and so I put my depression on a back burner and dragged my ass in to Player's. It was pretty full. Bill is obviously a man loved by many people, and if there is any mark of of the worthiness any human being that is it. I got there in time to see quite a bit of Bill playing with David Baas, Cathy Spiaggia, and 9 Below Zero's own Paul "Wine" Karrafa.  As they ran through a set of songs by Dylan and the Band, Pure Prairie and others, I was extremely impressed by Mr. Niswander.

Here was a man getting up to play music with his friends for quite possibly the last time. And there were tears in the audience, as any such event combined with booze will do, and who's to say those tears weren't fitting or appropriate? But from the man himself, I felt nothing but calm and dignity, and when he sang happy birthday to his son, who turned thirteen yesterday, a sense of real joy and gratitude tha he'd brought this young man into the word.

Love, dignity, and sharing music. No ego, no self pity, no anger. A mighty lesson; the end comes for all of us one way or another, quickly or prolonged.  Love your people while you can, and face the darkness with your head held high.

Amazing color pics from the Depression from Denver Post Photo Blog

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/

My gong fu

My gong fu is strong, but unmotivated.

Learning the Hard Way

To do list:



Get a new car. A VW of some kind, you sick fuck.

Build a Gypsy caravan.

March on Washington to demand a Public Option for health care reform.

Get certified as an EMT. Join the Red Cross.

Start a radio blog. Isn't that just an endless stream of verbal bullshit on the Internet? Sounds good.

Remind C___ I won't be there for my volunteer shift on Friday as I will be out of town. Call I____ or S___ about that outdoor gig.

Apply for income based repayment.

File taxes.

Change the order of the last two things.

Pick up prescription.

Drink more water.

Drink less beer.

Work on tiny house.