Yesterday I got a call while standing in my kitchen drinking my morning OJ, that Mark,  (the co-owner of our practice space Astrovision sound) passed away.  This is always a sad thing, in the sense that we will not see them again, but we pray that they got home to a better place.  

In meeting all of his close friends and family. I realized that a tragedy has hit us once again. 

Mark was in his 30s, a quiet guy, little over weight, soft disposition. Mark loved music, he would listen to some good and some crap bands every night for 2 years and when the quiet of after practice hit, he would put on live shows from Yes and Zeppelin and everything else one can find on ebay these days. Followd by some great words of encouragement on the practice session he just observed.

He loved live music.  But never went to see it….this is odd.  I come to find out that Mark had Cancer at age 12 thus the meds gave him a weight gain. 

The kids were ruthless, teasing constantly, as if cancer is not bad enough the effects of a cure seem to be worse.  From this teasing. he developed a phobia of eating in public which morphed into a phobia of public places. Thus this TRUE MUSIC lover would never see another live show again. 

He wouls spend allowances on live videos and surf the net day in and day out for any new material from his favorite bands but he could not get out to see them. As a musician, this is a tragedy.

He is the people we write songs for. He is the Fan, The Friend that keep our music going. Not to mention a great guy who would feel moved if a band came by on an off day just to say hi.  He was a great guy who had his Love robbed from him my mean hearted kids looking for a laugh. 

Here is a thought for all the kids heading to school tomorow. ” Not everyone that is hurt grabs a gun” some just dont go outside again.   I dont want to make light of past events but I feel like the tragedy here hapened back when the scars made were given by heartless words. 

How easy would it have been to say some kinder words instead.  KIDS THINK, YOU DONT NEED A BULLET PROOF VEST. WHEN YOUR AT HOME what would it take to make everyone at your school feel socially safe.  To EXCILE THE BULLIES insead of the soft spoken, loyal, and giving. 

JUST A THOUGHT!