19/02/2023
Continuing with the topic of music--mostly rock 'n roll: My son, (once known predominantly perhaps, for his autism), has risen above the diagnosis to a huge degree . . . much due to Rock 'n Roll! And I'll take the credit for being the main great influencer on that count!
He's been a D.J. at a local station here in the CA Central Coast area at 97.3fm The Rock, Estero Bay Community Radio (streaming live and with Archives on their website!), for over 8 years now! He's Captain Retro and knows all things R 'n R!
Plus he's got a heart of gold and we have good reason to be each other's best friends (consider reading the book ...in around a yr(?) when we publish!) Life has not been easy but in "Retro"-spect(!), it almost seems effortless because we respect each other endlessly and love each other unconditionally so even the hard times were carried by great joy. Case in point, my bragging rights--that he often dedicates songs to his ol' ma on his radio show! Special shout-out to Cher & Peter Cetera's "After All That We've Been Through"...wow. (I've had more than one fellow "Ma" out there, lament how they would love if their (also "grown") sons would show their affection in such a sweet way (...and i wish that for them too...it's Heaven!)
What I'm leading up to is that we've been working (not enough) on our collaborative memoir and we feel it's going to be awesome. But I've been . . . (maybe it is also about "writer's block")--but mostly, we arrived at a conclusion that really did contribute to the delayed writing. It was deep in the muddy of Covid when we decided to pay for our Neptune cremation services so if one of us died, the other wouldn't have to handle worldly crap when we are in our grieving process . . . which led us to the bucket-list conversation and Jason laughed, "Yeah! now we have the beginning and end handled--all we have to do is fill in the middle!" and i got to thinking, "I really don't have a bucket list! And in fact, I'm happy. I realize my life is exactly as I have created it and I actually don't long for anything to change." But they must--and they will--so it's best to get clear on goals. So we asked ourselves what do we love to do? -- #1: listen to great rock 'n roll! go to concerts! (and add to the list: comedy, plays, spiritually enlightening seminars and webinars. And enough cannot be said for receiving "body work" like massage and Ancient Tibetan Cranial Sacral treatments!
Well as soon as the proclamation was made, covid was lightening up and our R 'n R heroes started touring immediately! and we knew we couldn't say no to them. It started with Jackson Browne (o.m.g.--read the book!) ...then Jefferson Starship and the next day(!), even ALICE COOPER!!! WHO WAS AMAAAZING! and Dave Mason (so good!)
Enough cannot be said for how we were affected by Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles' LOVE musical, to which we followed up with Australian Pink Floyd (wonderful songs and video, etc. mimicking the awesome Pink Floyd band.)
OK, how's this for a little name-dropping here?!--all I gotta say is SANTANA! (he was touring and then got COVID and had to cancel some of the dates but we lucked out and were the very first concert he picked back up with! and of course, the vibes will forever remain with us! That was July and in August, it was WEIRD AL YANKOVICH! --An absolute fav of both Jason and I! I treated Jason for his BD with VIP tix , (2nd row, center) and a meet-and greet with signed souvenirs and a hilarious special W.A. Jeopardy show before the concert...and getting our photos taken with Al as well!!
We had planned to top it off with RINGO!...but he got COVID too and had to cancel. We were so bummed...because Jason and I are really all about The Beatles! So we had to accept that . . . which wasn't impossible, only because we knew we would be culminating our long period of bliss with one of Elton John's last American concerts at Dodger Stadium! Of course it was wonderful beyond description .
And then . . . in the blink of an eye . . . .it was 2023 and the concert plans had sadly come to a stop. T hough we knew we would have a great way to end our book, the wind was out of our sails a bit, lamenting about Ringo . . . and then we got notice that he was going to try again! We got tix the first day they were on pre-sale and so we are officially floating around in 7th Heaven eagerly awaiting for June to arrive!
We know we have been so fortunate, so we really aren't searching for new concerts but what can we say when Michael Franti is flying in on Angel Wings in August?! His concerts are like a giant love-fest and I've always said to Jason I hope he'll go with me if Michael ever comes around again and so Jason was saying "yes!" before I finished telling him!
So now you know why our book isn't done already! We've been too busy living the life that the book is about.! So it IS all in Divine Order. Of course! We are indeed, living the lives we were meant to and what a great way to end with peace-love-dove Ringo and a good ol' Michael Franti Love-In back-to-back! ...Welcoming in 8th Heaven., knowing surely more is on the way!
And even though some guilt nags at me for not getting on the book and other very important things I must tend to... I forgive myself but am getting back in the writer's saddle with finally starting this page to promote the book we are birthing. It's been a wonderful life and Jason is so incredibly special . . . we are certain it will be a great book!
LONG LIVE ROCK 'N ROLL AND LONG LIVE OUR SWEET LOVE!
