LIFE THEN DEATH

When someone dies, we don't always pause. Death has its messages that are not always noticed. We are mortal. And yet, it doesn't always feel like we are. But death has a way, when it comes to someone in our experience, of giving us a chance to stop and take inventory of what is important in life. Today, when I was "thought complaining" a little about having to shovel my long drive way for the second time ~ and it's the heavy wet snow ~ the thought quickly came about priorities and how the people of Darfur don't even have a home, a bed, a pillow, a shower. And they are traumatized. Then the shoveling of snow got put in perspective.

The life expectancy in Sudan is 56. Unless you live in Darfur. Then it is until the Sudanese-supported genocide happens to you.
geography


Dan Fogelberg died this morning at 6:00 a.m.

An only child ~ alone and wild
A cabinet makers son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none ~
He left his home and went his lone
and solitary way
And he gave to me
a gift I know I never can repay

A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once but his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
took me years to understand.
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youtube

The leader of the band is tired
and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul ~
My life has been a poor attempt
to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
to the leader of the band.

My brothers lives were different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago
And the other to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I chose
And come to know so well.

I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go ~
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, pap, I don't think I
said I love you near enough ~

The leader of the band is tired
and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul ~
My life has been a poor attempt
to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
to the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
to the leader of the band.

Lyrics of Leader of the Band

Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg died three years after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He was 56. His website: danfogelberg
And here is the page on his website, that gives the news of his passing this morning.danfogelberg

Biography
from his website

By Paul Zollo
From "Portrait - The Music of Dan Fogelberg from 1972-1997" (4 CD box set)

It's one of his earliest memories: He's four years old, standing up on a box in front of his father's big band, baton in hand, conducting. Though his dad stood behind him, doing the real work, for Dan it was a foreshadowing of what his life would be -- following in his father's footsteps to become the leader of the band. "It was an amazing feeling," he declared decades later during a series of discussions for these notes. "To be immersed in music. It felt both very magical and powerful. And I was fearless."

.... In church, he loved the music but grew restless during the sermons. To keep him occupied, his folks provided pen and paper, thus fueling his love for drawing and painting that has extended throughout his life. For more: biography

I remember those times in church. The music was the best part of church for me, too.