Marcella Rudick: Live to Dance

My daughter Marcie seems to have inherited and improved upon the kindness gene. She is exceptionally considerate as a daughter and as a friend. I’ve never heard her speak disparagingly of one friend to another.

Raising my daughter was easy. I never once wanted, needed, or tried to push her anywhere — except perhaps to preschool, but we won’t go there now. I simply followed her lead and reveled in the joy she provided me along the way.

When my daughter was a teenager, the dance studio she and her friends loved was in danger of closing due to the owner’s retirement. My wife and I decided to buy it to keep it open. We created a “center for the arts” that showcased dance, but also hosted a monthly artists’ gallery and occasional concerts.

Shortly after we purchased the studio but before opening, we were on vacation in Taos, New Mexico, where we heard a couple called “Acoustic Eidolon” play a guitjo, which is a 14-string, double-necked cross between a guitar and banjo, paired with the cello. The splendor of the night sky was only exceeded by the sound of their music. We moved inside to watch them in awe as Joe went from neck to neck playing his guitjo, while Hanna complemented perfectly with her cello playing.

Amazingly, they were coming east in the fall, when we were planning to open our space. They played at our first showcase. They were so good, in fact, that they became our “house band,” coming to perform whenever they traveled east. When their album Live to Dance came out, our artistic director Jamie Kinney choreographed a dance to that tune. What joy to hear them perform and watch my daughter and her friends dance to “Live to Dance.”

Like Marcie, I wish to embrace life. Unlike me, my daughter has her whole life ahead of her to dance through and embrace. Thank you, Marcie, for bringing me such joy and teaching me such exuberance.

Behind this good writer is a great editor; Mark Bloom. Learn more about Mark's talents at 

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Live to Dance is an instrumental written by Joe Scott and performed by Acoustic Eidolon. I humbly recommend this music to everyone. You can see them play the song here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuMUGHrqLc

Jacob Rudick: Suffer No Fools

My son Jacob has become a sensitive man. He has depth of understanding and little patience for incongruity. Although these are admirable qualities, they did make his time in public school — and his transition to the working world — at times problematic.

Jacob is an exceptional writer. So I remember being surprised one year when he received a low grade in high school English; it was a subject he typically excelled in. When we went to speak with his teacher, I learned that the teacher required students to copy the notes off the blackboard. The teacher considered it a gift to help students raise their grades. Since my son didn’t perceive this requirement as a gift and therefore refused to copy the notes, his grade suffered.

When he started working, Jacob would initially enjoy a job until he came to understand the inconsistency between what the business professed to be and what it actually was. This process took about two months. As a result, he bounced around a lot. Thankfully, he’s now found a job for an organization that has a congruent model. I never worried about him because I knew he was grounded in his ethics.

Like my son, I’ve often experienced the disparity between vision and reality. I hope, for all our sakes, that we can live our lives where vision is reality, both personally and professionally. So I thank you, Jacob, for being true to yourself and for suffering no fools… I love you for your courage in this frightened atmosphere, as the following song explores:

Behind this good writer is a great editor; Mark Bloom. Learn more about Mark's talents at 

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You Have Lived by Don McClean

You have lived such a gentle life upon this earth
That I am stunned by your sight
If I could give but a token of the love you have
Then I might not be this lonely tonight

Let them have their smug and their cool
Confined by fashion and peer
I love you for your courage in this frightened atmosphere
I love you for your courage in this frightened atmosphere

Oh, there are so few brave ones like you, need I explain?
Never wondering what to do, what to venture, what to gain

And, you have loved in a total way, from flesh to soul
You speak, without coy without pose
Your eyes can see that the emperor has lost his clothes
And what’s more, you’ll tell the whole world what he stole

Let them have their fad and their fix
Confined by fashion and peer
I love you for your courage in this frightened atmosphere
I love you for your courage in this frightened atmosphere

You Have Lived by Don McClean

Beth Weegar: Yogi for Everybody

I fell in love with my wife Beth in the late 1970s when I first observed her patient, gentle manner as a “teacher/counselor” who worked with people with developmental disabilities. Many people admired her and assumed she must have great patience to do the work she did. I know now that being married to me was a much greater test of her patience. And I’m happy to report that she’s passed that test with flying colors.

After more than three decades of marriage, we’re still together, sorting out how best to love one another. My wife often knows what’s best for me before I do, and of course, I believe I know what’s best for my wife. Often, she’ll suggest something, and I’ll follow — initially as a courtesy to her, but ultimately for my own benefit.

For example, I agreed to help her lose weight by walking with her every day. She understood I’d be more motivated to help her lose weight, which she barely needed, rather than try to lose weight for myself, which I greatly needed. Many years later and 60 pounds lighter, I’ve now (mostly) embraced the habit of walking daily. Whenever I don’t maintain my daily habit, Beth knows my life is out of balance.

She has the balance gene. I still find joy in imbalance. After the joyride is over, though, I reluctantly acknowledge the benefit of finding balance and peace. In keeping with her balanced life, Beth now is trained as a yoga teacher. She wants to help others find comfort with their minds and bodies through yoga. More power to her.

So thank you, Beth. I love you, and I accept you as my personal savior. (I’d like to offer an apology to my brother-in-law Brent, who created the concept of the Weegar women as personal saviors. I stole it, but acknowledge it.)

Behind this good writer is a great editor; Mark Bloom. Learn more about Mark's talents at 

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Rose in the Garden by Karla Bonoff

There’s a rose in the garden
It will bloom if you’re sure
That you pay close attention
But leave it room

I know your heart can be opened
And like the rose, it will bloom
If I pay close attention
But leave you room

Chorus
I'm not telling any lies now
I need you
To know how
I think I can see how to let you grow
I've got to let you go

That's my face in the mirror
It's sometimes you that I see
We've been here for so long now
I see your soul in me

Chorus

Cause there’s a rose in the garden
It will bloom if you’re sure
That you pay close attention
But leave it room

Rose in the Garden by Karla Bonoff