Northern California

Here is another peek at what's to come this Monday, October 1;

Poetry accompanied by images made with Photosensualis on the West Coast during my last tour.

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Things at home have been turbulent. Today, I attended a third funeral in three months. Not a favorable average.

My friend died of a heroin overdose. The unfortunate part is that nobody suspected he was using. He was an uplifting, jovial man, with a contagious smile. No one knew him to exhibit any signs other than hard work, and pure benevolence. He was fighting a battle silently.

The service was how he would want it; Grateful Dead played, and the Dead's lyricism even made its way into the sermon. 

However, it was quite a sobering experience for me. I realized today that with the exception of a few, the majority of those in attendance were either in recovery, (thankfully,) or otherwise high. 

While I am so sad for friends lost or gone astray, I am so grateful for my path in life, and the people on it, who encouraged me towards my ambitions; or whose mistakes I learned from, in addition to my own.

I have been reading the 'Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.' Eva Luna's father suggested it as a guide in helping my grandfather transition, as he has not accepted his looming mortality. I have not yet reached the section which addresses death. However, I have found so much insight into addiction and its connection with ego. I did not expect to revisit these lessons during this read, so it is a pleasant, and timely, surprise.

In the mean time, I have spent every single day with my grandfather. It has been exhausting at times, but I am so glad for every second, and it means the world to him, too.

As I am on a hiatus from touring, I have been taking all of the weekly, local drawing and painting gigs.

Trying to find balance and work a schedule around time with my grandfather, whose condition continues to rapidly progress, is tricky. However, I am working towards establishing a groove that will allow me to post here more often, and on a more determinable schedule. Obviously, in the coming months, as things intensify, I will be in communication with you all.

Truly, I can't say how much your continued patience, support, and positivity means to me, especially during this time. GRATITUDE to you all.

❤