Boxing Day

So hello world, here goes my blog.

Life has been full of change and upheaval since last I posted any news on brentroberts.net. I recently went to the funeral for an old friend, Dave Summers, and have been feeling pensive and sad since. Dave died from a rare cancer. He and Joe Winston Rowe and I had been friends, roomates and the "Charlie's Angels" of gay DC in the late 80s and early 90s. The good news is Joe called me when Dave died and he came into DC for the funeral. We were able to support each other and cried a lot on each other's shoulder. Dave was famous for offering his Janet Jackson inspired critiques of Joe and my work when we were known as Shivering Blondes - always saying "it needs more high hat". After a beautiful solo vocal at the gravesite I turned to Joe and we both knew ... it needed more high hat.

I have been thinking a lot of this phrase today. "Since you're going to die you might as well live." I think I will put it into a song when I have the chance. Being a parent and partner has given me a lot of joy and also I think I take it all too seriously. I am noticing that I need to make space for lighter energy in my life.

Meanwhile on the music front Marco and I completed mixing "Strange Parade (in Brent's House)" and "Light in August". The later blows me away - I am so in awe that it came through me. I also am excited that I have had the extraordinary talent of Amikaeyla Gaston contributing to the work. We are mixing "Twinkle" now and that is a lot of fun.

The tsunami 1 year anniversary is today. I have not seen much of it on the tele since I have been with Gabriel who is sick and wanting to watch his shows. I sometimes feel like all my little ambitions and complaints are so meaningless - because they are. I think inherent in that is a desire for meaning of course. I find that only in the love of others and want to let that in more. Perhaps I am working on a resolution? Is it true that change begins within - tend my own garden to make the world more fruitful? I hope so and yet I am reminded of a story someone told me recently about the Dalai Lama on Larry King. Apparently a buddhist nun called in upset about Katrina. She had been meditating for the people there but wanted to know what else she could do for the victims. The Dalai Lama apparently said something like... "Hmmm. Meditation is goood. But sometimes the world calls for action. What you need now is action." I hope I am not that nun meditating to help hurricane victims.

Action....
Brent