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August 28, 2007
Aunt Sylvia and my friend Candy
Sad news of my Aunt Sylvia and for my friend since childhood, Candy. My aunt is 92 and recently diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma - due to diabetes and heart condition she can’t tolerate chemo, and has been told 6 months to one year. She has had a great life, and we all hope her pain can be managed to the end. My friend Candy was diagnosed one year ago with anal and cervical cancer followed by surgery and chemo - now metastisized and she is dying. I talked to her today, and she is going to try another round of chemo knowing that it won’t cure, but perhaps buy some time. On top of this, her daughter just lost her house in the southern Minnesota floods. And with a final note of sadness, her daughter’s uncle was one of the 35W bridge collapse victims.
I hope to visit my aunt and friend one last time when I go up to Minnesota in October.
Posted by Carol at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2007
A Sublime Evening
It seems a dream now, but Tuesday night was absolutely real! A full house of about 150 people listened to Eddi sing her heart out for over 2 hours. I would expect most of us were “first timers”. Before the show I was able to talk to her, and thank her in person for recording the Burns poems for my poetry group 2 years ago. It was not surprising to me that she knew who I was and we chatted for a bit. This show was a benefit for the Illinois Saint Andrew Society who claim that they will be bringing her back to Chicago “soon”!! The pub was a perfect setting - we sat not more than 15 feet from her and the boys. She sang so many songs that I lost track - some old, some new, some Burns, some I didn’t know. Including an a capella “Clare” and other songs that brought out the hanky. Eddi Reader is such a lovely, talented and gracious lady and we Americans are so fortunate to have her visiting. I’m thrilled to join the ranks of all the other concert-going braggers in her usual touring spots in the UK, Australia, Japan, Spain etc etc:)
I can die happy now.
Posted by Carol at 10:34 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2007
Off to see Eddi
Tuesday morning will see Steve and I driving north to Chi-town to go that evening to Martyr's Pub where Eddi Reader will be singing. She is the Scottish singer with the unbelievably beautiful voice. She is also the lady who is common enough to read some Robert Burns poems onto a CD for our poetry group, and send it across the sea to us! Craig sent me some of her CD's about 3 years ago, and from the moment I heard her sing I was hooked. Since then I have kept up with where she is singing - most often somewhere in the British Isles, but also in Japan and Australia. But FINALLY for the first time in years, she is on a mini-tour here in the states. New York, Boston, Milwaukee and Chicago! I can't wait, but I am a bit worried that when she begins her first song, my emotions will all spill out and I shall be weeping the rest of the night!! Adding to the enjoyment of the evening will be Craig and Nereida driving over from Minnesota to join us! What a grand way to put a bright spot in the dog days of summer!
Posted by Carol at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)