Friday, December 02, 2016

Dec. 2.2016 Morning has broken!

Morning frost, on the grass and bushes and trees, oh my; a view of side yard; of the cherry tree and wind chimes; view from terrace toward the Jura mountains; and "the artist as an [old doug]"... [danke, james joyce]








und....the tools of the trade- lol

uber zurich- hotel restaurant UTO KULM

[c] 2009 doug duffey

December 2, 2016 Switzerland

I’m up at the cusp of the crack of dawn. Woke @ 5A.M.-ish today. Was so worn out from my first week back, which has been a VERY busy one, that despite sleeping till 4PM yesterday, I ended up hitting the sack at just before midnight. As much as I try to change ‘my’ body clock, it ain’t happening yet; it usually takes 2 weeks for me to adjust. maybe this is the beginning. I’d hoped to sleep until maybe 10am… but noooooooo. 
So… a new day dawns; Day 2 of December, the end of 2016 imminent. I am now looking forward to 2017.

I feel like I am having a time warp, delayed reaction, Thanksgiving moment [or is is just a ’senior’ one’?] - a spasm of gratitude... boomerang brain. [or 'monkey brain', as my therapist calls it]

It has been a great year +plus for me, and for the band. I am so grateful for all the wonderful musicians/artists in the group; their friendship, camaraderie, amazing talent and spirit, and the music we have been and are creating together. We are a family. It is truly a gift. Thanks to Dan for all he has done to bring this about, and to keep it going.


I am also eternally thankful for Jacqueline, my European agent and dear dear friend of 24 years for ‘takin' care of business’[and me] and being my partner and ally in this life.
As we discussed last night, after having some ‘memory lane’ moments, “we’ve had some great times together”- not just with all the music business success, but we have also traveled all over Europe, from the top- Denmark to Greece, and all points in between- from Czech Republic to Egypt- from New York to Mexico- and again all points in between.  Also much love to her children and grandchildren for all these many years.

And thanks for the International Soul band: Kelvin Bullen, Hani Ali, and Christian Sphani; which I have worked with, in various configurations, for around 14+ years. We've had a great run... and I expect even more.

I thank God for my precious sister, Sue, whose been with me all 66 years of my life. She is having some serious health issues, right now; I ask all people of faith to pray for her healing.

Speaking of faith, I thank my spiritual father, Fr. Eudokimous, my Godfather, Walt Garlington, and my church family @ St. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church [Monroe, Louisiana] , who along with my doctors Alley, Cavell, Kervin and therapist Ledford, have pulled me from the black hole, the deepest abyss, I spiraled into upon an avalanche of death: losing my beloved parents, precious family members, and very close and dear friends..
I am truly blessed to still have great life long AND long term friends, new true ones, and my remaining family members. I am grateful to God for ALL things.

A spirit or angel must have [as the protestants say] “laid that on my heart” this morning….

now I need coffee and lots of it. got a full day of work: a rehearsal this afternoon, with a new bassist, Roland Sumi-Mestre, for Silvester [New Year's Eve] show ; then tomorrow to Zurich, Sunday to Bern, and… oh hell, I can’t think past that. As Mose Allison would say [paraphrased] "[my] mind is on vacation and my [fingers] is workin' overtime"
[c]2016 doug duffey