This is a post unlike anyone I’ve done before, for an adventure I’ve never had before.
Over the last two weeks, I nearly died.I started feeling awful while in Ohio, during an appearance on a radio show in Columbus. After being in and out of a hospital for three days, they found the issue. One of my kidneys was going bad, despite having no family history with this. They patched me up so I could go home, and I mapped out what I thought the next few weeks would look like, even shooting a couple of events after I returned to Charlotte.
On Monday morning, things got worse quickly, and I was back in the hospital. I did a podcast on Monday from my hospital bed, promoting the new Harpo Marx record I co-produced. I tried to stay stoic, but the reality of the moment literally surrounded me.
After three difficult days, they performed emergency surgery on me. By Friday afternoon, I was home. For now, all clear. Exhausted, physically and mentally, but how much better I already feel is a very good sign. On Saturday, I interviewed a musician that I've been wanting to talk to for twenty-six years. For a couple of hours, I felt like me again.
How did this happen? Why am I still here? I don’t know. I looked for my mom’s parents all week, waiting for them to tell me that it was time to come home. Somehow, some way, I’m still here.
Yesterday morning, I listened to the Casey Kasem countdown from April of 1971. You don’t know how much emotion you have welled up inside you, until it all comes out. “What Is Life”, “For All We Know”, and Bread’s “If” played, and something inside of me let go. The number one song? “Joy To The World”. Oh well, why not? Much like life, it doesn’t make sense, but hopefully it keeps you going.
The last two weeks have been an adventure. Hopefully, that part of the ride is done with me, at least for now. I still have things I want to do.
Let me pause here to say thank you to all of you, here and on the Great Highway, for being part of the journey to this moment. From the kids at St. Patrick’s School, to the days at Independence High School, Tangents Magazine, and all the photos, musicians and journeys in-between, I loved the adventure. You made me want to write about it, photograph it, archive it, produce it. My heart is in what I do, and usually hiding slightly behind the camera.
That said, there is apparently more to do, and I still have things I want to do. So, let's go there.
On to the next adventure.
Where are you going, boy? Let’s find out.
See you on the road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
