Gratitude
On the 27th of March, 2006; I underwent surgery on my cervical spine to repair a nerve blockage that surely would have meant the end of my musical career. My surgeon removed 10 separate pieces of bone that had once been part of my C-7 disc, in what he proudly referred to as “…the worse disc herniation” he had seen in all of his years of surgery. I’m glad I could make him proud.
It was a long and painful process getting to that stage, and the recovery has been nothing if not frustrating. In general, however, it seems to have been wildly successful.
It would not have been possible for me to have this much-needed surgery without the kindness of my friends and the good musicians of the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. I can never repay them for all of the financial, physical, and emotional support rendered:
...The members of the BWJO freely donated their proceeds from their Tuesday night gigs at the Jazz Kitchen….
…Brent Wallarab and Rich Dole conspired to convince me to turn my life and schedule upside down…
…and Rich Dole, despite his already hectic schedule, took on my teaching load at the University of Indianapolis…
…and of course…the bass playing “Kramer” of my own personal sit-com; John Huber…got me back and forth to various hospitals and procedures, and tried to mother me to death.
I assume if I tried to list everyone, I’d leave off a lot of people…but I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least take a shot…
Claude Sifferlen
Joel Kelsey
Mina Keohane
Kevin Johnson
Bryson Kern
Sam Withrow
Jeff DeHerdt
Adam White
Lennie Foy
Frank Glover
…and all of the musicians of the BWJO
Thank you all;
for phone calls, food, videos, money…and just for being good friends.
One could never adequately repay such generosity,
nor wish for better friends.