Sunday, October 21, 2007

ain't it true what they say about a squeaky wheel...

here we are. five days in. rolling all over the country, making the loudest noise we know how to make. nine people from varied backgrounds...one heart, one mind, one mission. it's been a magnificent adventure so far...from the kick off concert at the coach house in orange county, to the warmth of unity church in denver, in the midst of the first snowfall of the season, we have all begun to realize just what the squeaky wheel is all about. stepping outside yourself. leaving your comfort zones behind.
staying open and willing. i don't think any of us was sure exactly what to expect on this journey. i know i wasn't. but when i met the family of "thatcher" in ashland, oregon, it became a little clearer. thatcher's mom told me the story of her son... a keyboard player, songwriter, and musician, just like me, who had disappeared seventeen months ago on mother's day. he left shady acres rv park, where he lived, on may 14 around 5pm on his bicycle, and never returned. her pain and grief were undeniable, and all i could do was hug her and let her know that we were doing everything we knew how to do to help bring awareness and attention to people like her son. vanished without a trace...no leads...no sensational story...just missing. one day here...the next gone.
that's why i'm here. to use whatever gifts i have been given to bring a little hope to people like thatcher's mom. and i belive music is a great healer in our world.
so come along on the tour with us. make some noise wherever you are. we're all in this together. and remember, the squeaky wheel always gets the grease.