A Gig to Remember

Subject: A Gig to Remember
From: lloyd61
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 01:19 AM

A Gig to Remember

While I have had many positive experiences, sharing my music and stories, one stands out as a rear jewel.

I was booked at a local summer camp to share my music and tell a few stories to a group of children. At that time I had a local booking agent who set up the Gig. I almost turned it down because it did not seam to fit the profile of the Gigs I have an interest in filling, but something told me to except the invitation. When I arrived at the camp I found it filled with over 50 kids, ages ranging from 8 to 12, and there parents. This was a outing for children who were on life support systems. What a heart rending picture, over 50 children all connected to some form of portable life support systems. The cables and hoses were all twisted on the floor as children played together. The parents spend the day trying to keep the cables to tubes untangled. I wondered what I could give to this group children. After supper everyone gather around and I began to sing a few songs, then I took out my Native American flute and an old Pawnee wedding drum. I search for a story to tell as I played the flute but none of my stories seam to fit. I prayed "lord give me a story". The words began to come. The story that flowed was about a young Panwee lad who was given his first eagle feather at a naming ceremony Much to my surprise the children were frozen in place as I told them about the naming ceremony. When the young lad, in the story, was given his feather he found it to be broken. He was heart sunk, what a disappointment a broken Eagle feather. During the naming dance, while other young boys who had been given their Panwee names were dancing this young lad sat on the side line, alone, despondent. A very wise elder came and sat beside him. When the young lad showed him the broken feather the elder thought for a while then said, "You have been given a special gift to bear. It will make you strong. Now go out and dance the dance of the Eagle with the broken wing." With that the young brave started to dance. With one arm out stretched and the other bent at the elbow he danced the dance of the Eagle with a broken wing. He never danced so well, he whirled and spun, dipping low to the ground then jumping high in the air. The beat of the drum seam to lift his spirit and give him renewed strength. The crowd stood to their feet screaming and clapping, encouraging on the Brave who danced the dance of the Eagle with a broken wing.

When I ended the story I looked into the eyes of the "frozen" children and realized I had reach them. Then I looked up at the parents standing in the background and saw tears flowing. I never received so many hugs when I finished a Gig.

I drove away saying "Thank you Lord".

What is your story?

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: CarlZen
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 01:35 AM

That story should stand alone here. It sent chills down my back. Tahnks for the story within the story, also.

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: paddymac
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 02:20 AM

i can hardly see to type for the tears in my eyes. beautiful indeed.

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 11:39 AM

You people have to stop this. I am trying to get caught up, as I have just finished an organizing program and have been gone. First Liam and his advice to his sons, and now this. I am sitting here crying.

Lloyd, thanks for a marvellous remembrance. I know how this feels, am happy for you to have been able to experience it. And thank you for sharing it in our village.

Mick

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 11:46 AM

I'll add my thanks, Lloyd.

Sandy (through tears)

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: Barry Finn
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 01:01 PM

WELL DONE, Barry

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 01:15 PM

Well you got a real sobfest goin' here......I can barely type....truly wonderful!

Spaw - feeling the need to tell a joke take the edge off. Damn that's a beautiful story.........

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 02:25 PM

Thanks for warning me, 'Spaw, but I am still deluged with tears. Lloyd, thank you so much....I dance the dance with a broken wing, too.

Must be something going on in the Universe, today, which is releasing all these emotions and tears...we seem to be a on roll of them.

katnotlaughing

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 02:27 PM

Thanks for the heads up, 'Spaw, but I am still deluged with tears. Lloyd, thank you so much....I dance the dance with a broken wing, too.

Must be something going on in the Universe, today, which is releasing all these emotions and tears...we seem to be a on roll of them.

katnotlaughing

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: Banjer
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 07:26 PM

Wonderful story Lloyd, thanks for sharing it with us. Just goes to show how we ALL have something to share with someone, if we just let ourselves go and let it flow.

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: lloyd61
Date: 04 Sep 99 - 10:16 PM

We all, in some way have a broken wing, we must keep dancing and help others to dance, as we share our Music, stories, Dreams and our Life.

Keep Dancing Gang!

Lloyd

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 99 - 01:01 AM

Well said, Lloyd.

I have a little story of what I consider a best gig, although I don't perform much in public, don't get much of a chance to sing with anyone else, and it involves only me, with no audience.

I had been in New England, living far away from my mother, for over 7 years. I'd seen her once in that time. we talked a lot on the phone, but still missed one another terribly.

One day I decided I would send her a tape of me talking about our daily life, my plans, and sing a few songs. For some reason, I did this using a microcassette player. When it felt right to start singing, the only one that came to mind, that I could remember was Rock Me In Your Arms by Holly Near.

I felt a stillness, an onrush of strength and rightness, as I drew in the first breath and began to sing in a soft voice. Knowing this was for mom, feeling it in my heart, that this was a moment of magic and blessing, I sang on, my voice rising in crescendo, then ending in an almost whisper.

I ended the recording with that and sent it on to mom. She had tears in her voice when she called me to tell me what a beautiful voice I had and how wonderfully I sang to her. My heart was full and beaming with an overflow of mother's love, love that is so unconditional you think you can do anything, be anyone, strive, in fact, to achieve and capture the essence of that feeling once more, when you became one with your mother.

Every once in awhile, I sing that song, softly to myself, sending it on the wings of prayer to mom, hoping that she hears me where she is now, but it never clicks quite as well as it did that time when I made the tape for her.

kat

Subject: RE: A Gig to Remember
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 99 - 01:02 AM

Well said, Lloyd.

I have a little story of what I consider a best gig, although I don't perform much in public, don't get much of a chance to sing with anyone else, and it involves only me, with no audience.

I had been in New England, living far away from my mother, for over 7 years. I'd seen her once in that time. we talked a lot on the phone, but still missed one another terribly.

One day I decided I would send her a tape of me talking about our daily life, my plans, and sing a few songs. For some reason, I did this using a microcassette player. When it felt right to start singing, the only one that came to mind, that I could remember was Rock Me In Your Arms by Holly Near.

I felt a stillness, an onrush of strength and rightness, as I drew in the first breath and began to sing in a soft voice. Knowing this was for mom, feeling it in my heart, that this was a moment of magic and blessing, I sang on, my voice rising in crescendo, then ending in an almost whisper.

I ended the recording with that and sent it on to mom. She had tears in her voice when she called me to tell me what a beautiful voice I had and how wonderfully I sang to her. My heart was full and beaming with an overflow of mother's love, love that is so unconditional you think you can do anything, be anyone, strive, in fact, to achieve and capture the essence of that feeling once more, when you became one with your mother.

Every once in awhile, I sing that song, softly to myself, sending it on the wings of prayer to mom, hoping that she hears me where she is now, but it never clicks quite as well as it did that time when I made the tape for her.

kat