|
|
April 21, 2008
Thanks to all of
you who emailed me with words of understanding about the death of my
long-time friend, Junior. I truly appreciate it.
There are new pictures on the Photos page, which I've
finally gotten up and running. The pictures from Whitby, England,
were taken during a month-long tour I did in the U.K. in November of 1979.
My father passed away just days before the tour was to start and I flew to
Nebraska for the funeral. I remember literally leaving the graveside
service, being rushed by my brother, John, and cousin, Alf, to Columbus,
Nebraska, where I was picked up by a private plane (arranged by brother
John, a pilot who owns his own plane) and flown to Omaha, where, with
moments to spare, I caught a flight to Washington, D.C. Just as we
touched down in our nation's capitol, a blizzard closed in and my flight
to London was canceled. I finally got to London with barely enough
time to drive the five hours to my first venue, meet the band who was to
back me and rehearse for a few moments, then do my first concert.
I've always enjoyed traveling and performing in the
U.K., but this was a very difficult tour for me. My father's death
had been devastating and I missed being able to start the long grieving
process with siblings and other family members. My thanks to Kevin
Kilpatrick for sending pictures from that tour. (See
Photos page.)
Spring is truly here in middle Tennessee in all its
glory. Of course, with Spring comes the pollen and the allergies,
but it's still a beautiful experience.
Everyone here is well. Rehearsals are going well
(albeit boring) for Dollywood. I look forward to seeing those of you
who plan on being there.
Until then, take good care of yourselves and each
other. --Jim Glaser
April 14, 2008
Junior
--Found, September, 1990, died April 7th, 2008
On Monday, April
7th, 2008, Junior reached that point of overall decline when it was
obvious that his quality of life had declined to zero. He was totally
blind, could not eat, drink or move around without extreme pain. I had
spent many hours with him during those last days and and nights, stroking
him the way I knew he liked, letting him know that he wasn't alone. He'd
had low points several times over the past year, times when I told Jane I
was sure he wouldn't live much longer, only to see him bounce back and be
his old self again.
But this time he didn't bounce back, he'd obviously
spent the last of his nine-plus lives. I'd hoped that he would pass
quietly in his sleep but, as that failed to happen, I had to face the fact
that to force him to continue suffering was unacceptable cruelty on my
part, and so made the decision to end his suffering. Jane and I took
him to the vet's office and at 4:20 PM, she gave him one quick shot to
tranquilize him and a few minutes later, the shot that stopped his heart.
It felt as if my heart stopped for a moment as well.
We buried him in the backyard, beside Cleokatra’s grave.
Jane, my daughter, Connie, and her son, Cameron, attended.
I found this entry in the journal I keep for my
animals:
“September 28, 1990; Near the end of my run I found a rust-brown,
young, un-neutered male cat. He had on a red collar with bells. I
advertised in the lost and found and put notices in all nearby mailboxes,
but no one claimed him. I kept him and named him Junior."
I was fortunate to have known you, Junior, and the
special gifts you brought will be forever missing from my life.
"death, be not proud
though some have called thee mighty and dreadful
for thou art not so
..............
one short sleep past
we wake eternally
and death shall be no more,
death thou shalt die" --John Donne
February 10,
2008
I've heard from so
many of you asking if we survived the storms that swept across Tennessee
last week and Jane and I really appreciate your concern and for keeping us
in your thoughts and prayers. The worst of the storms went north of
us but my brother, Chuck, and his wife, Bev, live north of Nashville and
were very close to the line of tornados that did so much damage.
They're both fine, and there was no damage to their property, but the
winding road to their house was blocked by trees blown down by one of the
tornados and, as of this morning, they are still without phone service and
electricity. Their daughter, Denise, and her husband, live near to
them and are helping out with whatever Chuck and Bev may need. Jane
and I are very grateful for the health and safety of all of our families
and our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, their homes, and
their personal belongings.
Diane W. sent me a
web site where you can get CD versions of old vinyl albums, including my
2nd and 3rd MCA albums, "Past the Point of No Return," and, "Everybody
Knows I'm Yours." (However, they have the first listed as, "Past the
Pint of No Return." Hmm...sounds like someone knew me
back in my tippling days) If you check the box agreeing that you
already own the vinyl album, they charge $24.95 + S&H. If you don't
agree that you already own the vinyl, you have to buy both the CD and the
vinyl for $49.95. However, I don't think they come out to your house
and check to make sure you have the vinyl. The web site is:
http://www.vinylrevolution.com/
I ran across this
old poem the other day, for some reason it's always been a favorite of
mine (and I don't think I've ever been kissed by a little girl named
Jenny):
Jenny Kissed Me
- Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)
Jenny kissed me when we met,
Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Time, you thief! who love to get
Sweets into your list, put that in.
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad;
Say that health and wealth have miss'd me;
Say I'm growing old, but add-
Jenny kiss'd me.
Until next time, take good care of
yourselves and each other. --Jim Glaser
February 1,
2008
Remember my
dispute with Startlogic (November 22 on the 2007 archive) in which that
server refused to refund Ray Pillow's money? Well, they have now
made the correct refund and Ray and I are both satisfied. As you
often hear, it wasn't the amount of money, it was the principle of the
thing.
Check out the Tour Dates page and you'll see that the
Dollywood contract is in for my appearances there in May. There may
also be another week later in the year, but at this time, nothing is
definite.
Also a tentative performance here in Nashville in
April.
Jane and I and the kids are all well. I'm still
jogging, as a matter of fact I did 1102 miles, the most miles I've ever
done in a year, including those years when I still had cartilage in my
knees and could actually run, not the jogging shuffle I do
now. But still, miles are miles after all is said and done. My
knees are acting up a bit again so I've cut my jogs down to 3 or 4 miles,
not the 4, 5, or 6 miles I did last year. If they start to feel
better again I may up the distance again, but only very carefully.
After all, I'm 70 years old now and I'd rather do a bit less distance and
be able to it for a few more years.
I did an interview today with a student from Vanderbilt
University who was writing an in depth piece on song writer's and what
goes on in their minds as he/she writes a song. I asked him why he
had chosen me when there were so many writers in Nashville who've had many
songs in the charts over the past few years. He answered by showing
me his impressive research into my songs over the span of my career,
comparing them or specific lines from them to other songs from that time
period and asking me very insightful questions about why I'd chosen
specific metaphors, song themes, etc., the kind of questions usually only
another writer would thin to ask. I enjoyed it tremendously, it's
been a long time since I've talked at length to anyone about my song
writing philosophy.
Other than those things, life has been wonderfully
normal. I hope the New Year is going great for all of you out there.
Until next time, take good care of yourselves and each
other. --Jim Glaser
January 5, 2008
And off we go into
2008!
I've had quite a few emails reminding me that I haven't
updated this page in a long time. I'm sorry about that, time gets
away so quickly, especially around the Holiday Season.
I did 4 more concerts in Michigan at the end of
November. Jane went with me, and Kentucky Strait -- the same band
that backed me earlier in the month in Port Huron -- worked with me on
those shows. The band was great, the crowds were warm and
responsive, and Jane and I caught a plane back to Nashville just hours
before a snow storm.
Christmas was great, warm and fuzzy feelings all
'round. Jeff came in from Gatlinburg, and Connie and her son,
Cameron, Jane's sister, Sarah, and her husband, Elon, plus other friends
were here for the opening of the gifts and a great Christmas dinner.
Lynn, our oldest daughter, is in Los Angeles, so opted
to fly up to Seattle and spend Christmas with Jim II, his children Kayla,
Alex and Dylan, his wife Patty and her 3 children, and their
granddaughter, Eleana. Lynn works in television production and is in
L.A. doing the Red Carpet part of the Critic's Choice Awards show, and
will be out there for a few more weeks.
Dollywood is talking about a week next year (see Tour
Dates Page) and we're talking with the people who did the Michigan dates
about some more dates in that area sometime this year.
Both Jane and I are in good health. I hope all of
you out there are doing well, too.
Until next time, take good care of yourselves and each
other. --Jim Glaser |
|