What goes up, must come down! Christmas decor, your outta here!
This is so me today. I am procrastinating in a big way. I have a lot that I should be doing but I, am sitting here drinking my coffee and watching YouTube snippets about George Michael. I watched the documentary about the band Chicago last night. I was surprised to hear from them that drugs had been such a big part of their lives. It’s amazing that they were able to be so creative and produce great music while using all kinds of drugs. I was of the illusion that this band was pretty clean/sober. They have had an amazing run. 50 years they have been giving us their all! I shed tears over this documentary. I learned a lot about the band and the inner struggles within. Wow, just wow. The passing of Terry Kath is still fresh in the hearts of all of them. They each spoke about the genius musical talent that Terry was.
This band has always been bigger than life to me. The music they have given us speaks to my core. Every time I have seen them live in concert is like going home. That feeling of true allegiance and affiliation. I have never understood this feeling. I have never met these men. I believe the reason I feel this way is due to my less than optimal childhood experience. My parents were both alcoholics. They were horrible drunks together when they would drink. Anger, fighting, crying and scary outburst would happen. When I was about 11, I was given a stereo. I had listened to the radio a lot and I liked the song, 25 Or 6 to 4. I bought my first Chicago album. I would delve into the music. Listening to every instrument and every nuance. I believe quite strongly that my love for the music of Chicago helped me escape the crappy, scary childhood I had no control over. I bought all of Chicagos records and by the time I was 13, I attended every Chicago concert that I could. I threw myself into the music, playing my flute by ear to all of Chicago II . My escape from everything insecure was music. What better way to drown out fighting parents right?
This love for the music of Chicago has carried into adulthood. I still have that sense of going home when I am sitting at a concert venue watching a show. I have always wanted to meet them and thank them for the music they have given us. For me personally, the music helped me get through some pretty tough years! Of course there were others. The music of Supertramp helped me sort out a lot of feelings. By then I was older and beginning to feel some control over my life circumstances. The early years when I felt most vulnerable and insecure were tolerable due to my ability to escape into Chicago albums. As a childhood musical savant, the challenge to play along with my flute to albums was a perfect distraction.
Colour My World
To this day, I have only a handful of Chicago covers in my repitore…
Critics Choice
Till We Meet Again
Color My World
Alma Mater
Anyway, meeting this band is certainly on my bucket list dream of things to do… I suppose really that if I don’t get to do this it’s no big deal. It’s only important to me and a very personal, one sided desire. I know how much the music has meant to me, no one else would care or get it. I can’t impart back to them the feelings. Let me just say Thank You Chicago! Your music will always be cherished in my core. Thanks for helping this kid get through some pretty hard times…
By the way, I don’t blame my parents! They when sober, were very caring and supportive! They totally supported the music savant in me. My Mom was my biggest and only fan lol. She wanted me to do something with it! I have fond memories of my parents. They had their own struggles and axes to grind. I loved them very much! Once I got over being a little kid and feeling helpless, I came to understand them better. I learned that alcohol and impaired behavior would never be a choice I would make. I never have to this day chosen drugs or alcohol for an escape or for pleasure. Music, is still my escape of choice…
tynajoymetzner 