Yesterday's experience in Iwaki, Fukushima (500 kilometers round trip) put all of those Television images into a personal perspective. Granted, it was but one of hundreds of evacuation centers, but the plight of those people is unimaginable. They are very strong folks, and being in the position to bring them some cheer with music is beyond explaining. Let's just say that I can't wait to return to meet our new friends and then go on to other locations. Everyone's prayers are starting to take affect... slowly but surely. One very sweet man told me of literally being chased by the tsunami to high ground with his family in tow... only to see his house completely destroyed. He was so cheerful, saying that he had lost everything, but admitted that it was just a few days ago that he was able to pull out of a very deep emotional pit and finally sleep at night. When the large aftershock took place 4 days ago, he said he found it hard to sleep again.
As he put it, "it warmed my heart to hear your songs, but I wanted to ask for an encore when you had to stop". We were all packed up to go and he said he loved the song by the Carpenters, "Top of the World", so we pulled out the guitars and had a mini second stage for him outside the High School auditorium where the 250 people are housed. I'll never forget his smile. We left, promising to return. And we will.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Relief Efforts Begun
3/11 of March saw a gargantuan change in Japan that is going to re-figure it's future. To some, including myself, I was wary of the direction that Japan was going in... in particular reference to the next generation. I no longer share those concerns & feelings that many of my generation did. I now believe that these events that are changing Japan day by day, are eventually going to impact this country's future in a wonderful way. The social values that I have respected for 36 years are coming to the foreground. The world is watching in amazement at the deportment of a society in ruins as we've seen in the hardest hit areas. This legacy unfolding will stand as a tribute to the efforts of the millions of givers and the thousands of volunteer workers that are involved. The process, though, has only begun, and it will indeed take considerable time.
Every aspect of Japan's industry has been hit. The financial tsunami to follow is going to take much more to overcome than the immediate tending to the physical needs. Like very dangerous icebergs popping up, there are soon to be troublesome waters to navigate ahead...one by one, but some of the most looming are the mental/spiritual needs of the country. These are going to be overwhelming.
Of the many voices that I have heard, all seem to believe that music is going to play a big role. For this, I am grateful to be a musician at this time. With what limited resources that I and my colleagues have, we want to do our part.
A great first step has opened up for us, as a dear friend is from an area in Fukushima called Iwaki-shi. In the high school that he attended, which was closed after the quake, 250 refugees from the tsunami and the power plant exodus are there.
We are going up on the 10Th of April to sing for them. Being thrilled to have to opportunity doesn't do my feelings justice, as we have been fervently praying for an open door to jump in.
I'll keep you posted as we go. Thank you for your prayers.
Every aspect of Japan's industry has been hit. The financial tsunami to follow is going to take much more to overcome than the immediate tending to the physical needs. Like very dangerous icebergs popping up, there are soon to be troublesome waters to navigate ahead...one by one, but some of the most looming are the mental/spiritual needs of the country. These are going to be overwhelming.
Of the many voices that I have heard, all seem to believe that music is going to play a big role. For this, I am grateful to be a musician at this time. With what limited resources that I and my colleagues have, we want to do our part.
A great first step has opened up for us, as a dear friend is from an area in Fukushima called Iwaki-shi. In the high school that he attended, which was closed after the quake, 250 refugees from the tsunami and the power plant exodus are there.
We are going up on the 10Th of April to sing for them. Being thrilled to have to opportunity doesn't do my feelings justice, as we have been fervently praying for an open door to jump in.
I'll keep you posted as we go. Thank you for your prayers.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
PS to last blog
I can't for the life of me, figure out to upload photos... not very user friendly, but then again, it is late. When I figure it out, I'll put the below mentioned piece of artwork and some photos up. Maybe next year!
One Year Later
Well, here is my yearly blog. I don't want to get "blogged down" in this sort of thing, so I have come to the conclusion that once a year is sufficient. Well, I guess that I could consider a bit more frequent entries, but considering that my first blog was in 2007, my second in 2009, and this is number three might possibly put me on the map for the laziest in Blogville.
I am the very proud grandfather of 7 grand, and I do repeat, GRAND grandkiddos.... Not to mention the best batch of 2nd generation DNA strands in the universe! Whew... with the Rudow genome first expanding to 10 and then 3rd generation to umpteens... mixing with Larriva's and Doss's and manymoretocomes, I can see us virtually ruling the world in less than 100 years. This is, of course, the narcissists side of the ribonucleic acid punching through as a dominant allele (ask Chris about this, he is the expert according to recent posts). Then again, maybe "King Freddie" is prophetic?
Oh that's right, I'm blogging. Sorry, got distracted thinking about how wonderful my family is.
I am reaching for something fascinating, enlightening, and hilariously delightful to pontificate on in direct challenge to my children's fascinating, enlightening, and hilariously delightful blogs, but.... it just ain't there. NO biggie.
But that's OK... I only do this once a year, and that puts me out of the contest.
I found a delightful picture that I will end this year's blog with.... Love to all!
I am the very proud grandfather of 7 grand, and I do repeat, GRAND grandkiddos.... Not to mention the best batch of 2nd generation DNA strands in the universe! Whew... with the Rudow genome first expanding to 10 and then 3rd generation to umpteens... mixing with Larriva's and Doss's and manymoretocomes, I can see us virtually ruling the world in less than 100 years. This is, of course, the narcissists side of the ribonucleic acid punching through as a dominant allele (ask Chris about this, he is the expert according to recent posts). Then again, maybe "King Freddie" is prophetic?
Oh that's right, I'm blogging. Sorry, got distracted thinking about how wonderful my family is.
I am reaching for something fascinating, enlightening, and hilariously delightful to pontificate on in direct challenge to my children's fascinating, enlightening, and hilariously delightful blogs, but.... it just ain't there. NO biggie.
But that's OK... I only do this once a year, and that puts me out of the contest.
I found a delightful picture that I will end this year's blog with.... Love to all!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
OMG ....forced into slave labour blogging by ...
... well meaning loved ones. Am I really doing this. What better a world will there be when my fingers have exhausted themselves...????
As for waxing blog intelligent, let me stand on the 5th and say I cannot incriminate myself. Therefore to those that wrote in encouraging me to ramble....
ramble, to be defined as "continue talking or writing in a desultory manner"... OK, I can live with that.... but lets get down here, and
define desultory:
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another;
well, if nothing else, consider yourself, dear blogger, educated one step higher in the delights of verbal tennis with desultory as one of your aces. Bye for another year (lol) {or whatever that means}... and take care of yourselves.
Loving all of you, as always,
Blog Bless... I mean.....
Daddiya
As for waxing blog intelligent, let me stand on the 5th and say I cannot incriminate myself. Therefore to those that wrote in encouraging me to ramble....
ramble, to be defined as "continue talking or writing in a desultory manner"... OK, I can live with that.... but lets get down here, and
define desultory:
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another;
well, if nothing else, consider yourself, dear blogger, educated one step higher in the delights of verbal tennis with desultory as one of your aces. Bye for another year (lol) {or whatever that means}... and take care of yourselves.
Loving all of you, as always,
Blog Bless... I mean.....
Daddiya
Friday, September 21, 2007
New Beginnings....
Amazing...
Blogging, for which I have absolutely no time. Being a virtual slave to the late night scenario of... mind empty and cannot resist computer demands; Therefore I succumbed to Blogging... will God ever forgive me. If anyone should read this and respond, well, we'll take that as a sure sign that it is His Highest Will that I start rambling.....
Good night
Blogging, for which I have absolutely no time. Being a virtual slave to the late night scenario of... mind empty and cannot resist computer demands; Therefore I succumbed to Blogging... will God ever forgive me. If anyone should read this and respond, well, we'll take that as a sure sign that it is His Highest Will that I start rambling.....
Good night
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