Thank you to all who have sent cards

Sundanceh said:

I Totally Agree with Donna
Hi Kathryn

Donna is right - I can't add anymore there.

I remember seeing some of your posts to me while I was doing lung surgery - and you told me to rest, that was more important than the board, and in this case, cards. Now, you've got to
follow your own advice, LOL

It's what is in your heart that matters! And we know you care and your intentions are of the
best nature - but in the throes of chemo treatment, things can be made more difficult.

Now, I saw your comments on Phil's guitar post the other day, where you said that "music"
makes you feel so good - don't know if you got my card yet, but there is something in there
that is sure to "light you up" in a BIG WAY. I hope you have it or getting it today or something - Patti has opened a post about it - we just could not keep it under wraps any
longer.

No worries about this - we love you - do what you need to do - there's always next year, LOL.

-Craig

Thank you Craig!
Your card came today. I "cheated" and read the board this morning, so I knew what it was, but had no idea one was coming my way. Thank you so much! In our household music is central to our lives. Music, more than anything else, holds my lifetime memories. Hearing different songs brings me back to many wonderful moments in time.

I've had a very rough two days. I don't normally cry much. But I had a major meltdown yesterday, and another today. I NEVER do that. I feel like I'm going a little crazy. Little things are setting me off - things I can normally handle. Like this morning when I went to get my keys for my appt, they were not where they belong. I haven't driven for over a week - been too sick. I looked everywhere and called my husband and looked everywhere he said they might be. No keys. Followed by major meltdown. He had to come home and find them, after showering and going up and down the stairs several times I was physically too exhausted to do more. I don't do well having to rely on so much help. It is hard for me - along with not having control. But I very rarely fall apart like I have the last two days. You had me pegged in your note - Type A. LOL!

Today I was opening my mail when I returned from my oncologist's office. Bills, bills, and more bills. Depressing. Then I got a beautifully written card from my aunt. It was so hard to read her words - especially about understanding what I am going through. We lost my uncle to prostate cancer a couple years ago. He fought long and hard - into remission several times through the years - living 20 years longer than they gave him at first dx. But I still remember my last visit with him at the start of the end of his life. I remember the pain he was in. I remember how sad it was to see him finally have to give up. I cried and cried - second time today. Sad to remember his bad days. Happy to remember what a fighter he was, and how many extra years he had, and the lesson he gave us, to live every day, as you don't know how many you have. He lived life to the fullest always - and even moreso after his cancer dx. And I also cried out of fear - remembering his pain and suffering at the end. Thinking that I could be next. I don't have those thoughts often, but the last two days they have crept in.

And then - I opened your card! And the tears started pouring again. I'm a leaky faucet. I am so touched that you have gone through the time and effort to do something this special for me - someone you've never even met. You can't imagine the difference it made in my day. And the fact that it is MUSIC makes it that much more special to me. I have it in my CD player right now, and am really enjoying it. I have lots of Christmas music, but much of it is on cassette, so I don't really listen to those anymore. And the CD's are mostly of one artist (and I get a little tired of listening to the same one do all the songs). So your compilation is wonderful - lots of different artists. Lots of classics. Beautiful! And you started with our family favorite. We have a dancing Santa that plays it which the kids always have to turn on Christmas Eve - they have not outgrown it.

There is a reason music is so important to us here - it is a big part of our lives. I'll bore you with a little background (and some shameless bragging).

My 97-yr-old grandmother is giving her annual Christmas violin concert at the Nursing Home next week. (She still lives on her own and has outlived everyone she plays for - been doing this since her 50's.)

My uncle was a professsional trumpet player till retirement - starting out military band when drafted for Nam, on to be lead trumpet in Harrah's house band for many years (back when the big names came through w/o their own bands to back them up). Then he went on to be lead trumpet for Wayne Newton, followed by playing in Branson for Shoji Tabuchi.

I played keyboards for a bit for a band (young, wild, crazy days - often we played private parties and were paid by beer...), and my brother played drums with a band for a few years (they had real gigs - decent pay). I've sung with our chancel choir and played in our bell choir at church for the last 24 years (but not right now - and I am really missing it). Both of my boys have subbed when we are missing ringers. They are the only children so far allowed to touch the bells before confirmation age, as they are serious about music. My oldest son sang with the chancel choir too when I was still singing.

I taught all my kids piano starting at an early age. But they all quit lessons as they took up other instruments later. I also started two of them on guitar (I'm not very good, but play a little). Both boys play piano by ear (the younger one really just starting back into this), and the older one has gotten much better at reading piano music. (When he was young I struggled with his lessons - he would look up at the ceiling while he played, not at the music - I called him Stevie Wonder. It took me a year to figure out he was playing by ear. He'd ask me or one of his sisters to play his assigned pieces so he could hear what it is supposed to be like. Then he'd play well. But if no one played it for him, he just couldn't do it.)

My oldest played clarinet, and their marching band is one of the few high school bands ever invited to perform in the Orange Bowl Parade. It was fun to see her on TV. She also has a beautiful voice. My other daughter played percussion till high school, but then dropped band to fit in more academics. She chose dance as her artistic outlet, and was on the competitive danceline. She is the only one not gifted in voice. Her siblings give her a hard time - she isn't awful, but just not talented like they are.

My oldest son is a senior in high school and very talented musically. As a baby he found music in everything. He would "dance" (bouncing before he could walk) to the dishwasher beat even. He was the first freshman allowed to split band/choir the same hour - attending each class just every other day. He has continued this every year. He sings with a fantastic mostly a capella group, and the concert chorale (both audition groups), plays tuba in Marching Band and Wind Ensemble (auditioned), and has had parts in school and community musicals for many years. He has perfect pitch. He took AP music theory (college credit) last year and got a perfect 5 on his exam. He sings the National Anthem for all home swim meets (he is on the team), and has also been asked to sing it several times at the big school rallies. (We have over 400 students per grade.) He was invited to sing with the Great Northern Union Men's choir at age 15 (the youngest as far as we know). But his schedule is too busy. Too bad, because he'd love to do it. The chorus took 3rd in Nationals this year. The director was his school director and a lot of Michael's success and obsession with music is due to him. If you want to check something really fun, here is a link to their family singing barbershop. Pete's kids got his talent!

http://www.youtube.com/user/bensonpd#p/u/0/PLwYcVop9JI

And keeping with the holiday spirit, from last year, their Christmas song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUDhOB157Rg

I think it would be great fun to do a family singing video - I'll have to see if I can convince the boys this year.

My youngest plays percussion. It was the perfect fit for him and his energy. No way could a band teacher put up with him when he was younger if he hadn't been able to move around. He used to be somewhat tone-deaf. He could sing along with us in a different key and not even realize it. Then two years ago - I don't know what happened - he developed an ear and a beautiful voice. They begged him to join choir and to be in the select group. It took a lot to get him to do it. He had the lead in the middle school musical last year, which also took a lot of convincing. But now he has decided singing is lots of fun. I am so happy about that. He was asked to accompany his choir on drumset for their finale last year, and to accompany the younger choirs too. And he got got the singing solo - Journey's Don't Stop Believing. And to think that for several years I wanted to ask him to please not sing! This year as a freshman he made the jazz choir audition group, and the men's choir audition group (which my other son is in also).

Next Monday is the holiday band concert. Thursday (chemo day for me) is the holiday choir concert. I am pretty sure my blood counts are good enough that I'll be allowed to attend (with my pump). I am so excited to have my boys singing together at this concert. Both have solos, and between them are singing in 5 different choirs. And the highlight is the a capella group. 16 totally incredible high school students - as good or better than even most college groups. They have quite a following and blow everyone away who sees them perform for the first time. I missed their Holiday on Main perfomance last Saturday because I was in the hospital. I was really bummed. But at least I get to hear Encore next week!

Music makes me smile. Music returns me to great times. Music calms me, and improves my mood. I really thank you for the gift of music in the Christmas CD. I will listen to it a lot, and think of you every time!