Hi Friends and Music Lovers –
Yes, I have always loved roller coasters. All kinds of State Fair rides – and especially roller coasters. The bigger, the better. Once, when I was recovering from breast cancer almost 20 years ago, I took Jack to Legoland and we were in line for the roller coaster. I had just finished chemo. I was bald. I was wearing a wig. As we got to the front of a long line, the attendant told everyone to remove their hats. Well…my hat was holding my wig on. I panicked – and pulled both the hat and the wig off and heard a kid behind me ask his mother, Why is that lady taking off her hair?
Lately, I’ve been on a different, less enjoyable roller coaster navigating my mother’s health. Over the holidays, on a trip home to Toronto, we unexpectedly were faced with the fact that we would probably have to say goodbye to her. It was sudden. A mysterious illness that she wished not to diagnose or receive testing for. She acknowledged she had had a long life and was ready to go. I said I would stay with her. And I stayed for almost 6 weeks. And she’s still here.
At this point, her health has since stabilized, and her future remains uncertain as we respect her wishes to forgo diagnostic testing. She no longer believes she’s dying. Wow.
Coming so soon after the loss of my brother just over a year ago, seeing my mother—who has always been so active—decline so suddenly has been a shock. I spent January by her side assembling a palliative care team and had to cancel gigs, students and my life here at home.
I am now back in Seattle, having promised my mother I will return to Toronto every few months to be with her. She has promised to alert me immediately if her condition changes.
So…here’s what coming up for me musically for the remainder of this month:
Wednesday, February 25
Erin Jorgensen, Clouds of the West, Raven Quartet
I’ll be playing mid show with Clouds of the West (9 of us on stage!) and it’s our record release show. Would love to see you there for some rich, luscious sounds (horns, keys, strings…).
Sunset Tavern, Ballard.
https://dice.fm/event/92dk39-erin-jorgensen-clouds-of-the-west-raven-quartet-25th-feb-the-sunset-tavern-seattle-tickets?pid=f8b95fbd&_branch_match_id=989404647576355286&utm_medium=partners_api&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1S9PTTM0SDEyTk40TbMvyEyxTbNIsjRNS0pRqytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAFkQiVkgAAAA%3D
Thursday, February 26
Hillman Sway, Black & Tan Hall, Hillman City
We play swing dancing blues at this beautiful cooperatively owned club in Hillman City. Great music along with a FREE Blues Dance lesson 8-9pm, sponsored by Blues Underground.
https://www.blackandtanhall.com/events
Friday, February 27
Jelly Rollers (Darren Loucas, Sean Divine, Eric Eagle, Ron Weinstein)
Owl ‘n Thistle Pub, Post Alley, Pioneer Square
9pm-Midnight. FREE
Ridiculously fun and blistering blues with a lot of twists and turns.
https://owlnthistle.com/ (this doesn’t tell you much, but I promise some crazy good music)
Rebecca Young Music 