February 1^st, 2013                                                                           Milestone--- 6 mos outta treatment

 

Wow, where do I begin? When last I typed, I was bellyaching about a bad back….well, it is still with me, but I have seen major improvement, through the help of acupuncture…..I haven’t had acupuncture performed on me since the mid-‘80’s. Back then, I was experimenting with it for many of the same reasons, but stopped when I got a little paranoid about the Castro St office and the news that this new AIDS virus was transmitted by needles, and where I was receiving treatment was literally in the heart of the new epidemic zone. I thought best to be cautious and so I ventured over to chiropractic.

This time, my healer has encouraged me to stay patient (arrgghhh) and stick with her program, eschewing chiro for the time being and letting her calm the nerve as opposed to work it….so I am, and it is getting better.

I will tell you that with the advent of the new calendar year, I was eager to put 2012 behind me and get going in a positive fashion……that didn’t happen, and frankly, it got a bit depressing. Weird that I got a bit more bummed about a physical ailment than about dealing with the daily rigors of cancer treatment. But anyone who has warriored through a sciatica issue knows…..anyway, I am lightly stretching and sticking with a regimen of flexirol and Aleve……sleeping just fine, just tightens after too much sitting.

Lots to crow about, though. Kiki and I got our rock and roll party started this year with a weekend trip to Vegas to see Santana at House of Blues. I have been itching to get down to see this show for a couple of years now. Carlos sold his home in San Rafael a couple of years back, used my old buddy Brian Byers to list the home, and packed up for Vegas. Go figure. So, he plays extended runs at HOB and lets the country come see him as opposed to incessant national touring. Makes sense on paper. Called the Santana office, cashed in a chip and had a pair waiting for us at Will Call. I must remind everyone that doesn’t happen if you screwed up in Rock and Roll, and I am proud to say that I came out of 20 years in that business in good stead with everyone, and will take it a step further when Kiki and I go to NYC in March to see the Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon Theatre on Broadway……their office will work out front row balcony one night and 3^rd row center the next. They are, arguably, the hottest American rock and roll band on the planet right now. They don’t come west of the Mississippi, so the NYC shows are much like what Carlos is now doing….we’re here, you’re there, you come here to see us and have a good time while you’re here.

Our flight to Vegas lifted off at the same time as the Niners kicked off to Atlanta, so when we landed we made a beeline for the sports bar at McCarron airport……folks from all around the country, and lots of Niner fans. We got two bar stools front and center to one of the TV’s and watched the second half in a celebratory fashion. That was gut wrenching AND fun! Put $100 on SF giving 4 at the Paris sports book. Wish me luck.

Came home Tuesday, and wasted no time in turning the car southbound on 680 to San Jose to see Jackson Browne at the SJ Civic which has been re-habbed and holds about 3,000 folks. Intimate, acoustically sound, lotsa bars, just splendid. He was tremendous. He played 6 or 7 requests from the crowd, varying from his set list. Voice was strong, had a nice 4 pc band with a 6’ 8” guitarist who sat on a stool most of the time. His music took me on a 35 year journey, and I’ve got a mind to see him again this week up in SF at the Nob Hill Masonic. Gotta tell ya, I give him a 10….and I’m tough, and my back hurt, but I’m holding to the 10.

From a merchandise perspective, he sold something I’ve never seen done before. He cut his hotel room “keys” (the plastic credit card kind) into guitar picks and sold them for $5.00 each. You could clearly tell it was the Fairmont, so my friend Kelly and I walked over and had a final final just in case he had to come back. Next time we know! A genius idea, wish I had thought of it.

The week of music continued with a sold out show at our local Town Hall Theatre, where so many of you came to support our Music Festival last year. We had Petty Theft, a Heatbreakers cover band, pack the place, and the night was perfect. We auctioned off a couple of my personal Petty vault trinkets along with some donations from Wolfgang’s Vault, and the guys tore the place up. So much fun. Our next one is March 30^th with the Unauthorized Rolling Stones, and I expect the same results!

We will culminate this musical run with tonight’s show at Yoshi’s with THE tightest band in America, Tower of Power. It is an annual trek for the SI guys and our gals. Jerome Williams gets us the tix and dinner ressy’s so after dinner we have 8 tables reserved in front of the stage and the band is 5 feet away. Two of the band members, David Garibaldi, the greatest trap drummer in the world, and Mic Gillete, sax/trombonist both played in our wedding band 16 plus years ago, so it will be good to see them. After the first show, they clear the house and then we go back for the second show, this time in the second row. It is a great night with my basketball teammates and ’75 classmates, my true brothers, part of my heartbeat……Juan Mitchell, Tony Passanisi, Mike Malekos, Danny B., Dan Kelleher, Jerome…..these are guys I can’t live without. Tonight is going to be great, and we know ALL the words…..just hope Juan doesn’t sing along to “You’re Still a Young Man,” it is very embarrassing.

And the cancer stuff…..well, it is a long recovery…..my doctor said I will have “gains” and then plateau, then rise up, then plateau…..I get that, that has been happening. I’m simply anxious to begin to put a bit more weight back on and tighten up the core….that will come after the back settles, so I think swimming is going to be the first step on that journey…..and, sadly, I got an email from a dear friend last week who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery and maybe chemo is on the slate, and for the first time since I was diagnosed I am able to reach out my hand and help. She read this blog religiously, her family encouraged me, and now it has turned inwards. She reached out to me before her family, looking for the words to use to convey what was happening, because it is hard to do if you haven’t done it before. I have a gift now, the navigational chart necessary to help others. Yes, a gift. I think of her daily and she knows we’re here to help……when you don’t know what to do, just remember Jackson Browne’s words, “sometimes the touch of a friend is enough.”

February 2^nd marks the one year anniversary of my diagnosis. I’ll take a long walk, call a couple of you out there, and then go sign a new listing in Lafayette on a $1M dollar house……”the wheel keeps turning and you can’t slow it down……”

To those of you still out there, thanks for following.  You are my south wind……go Niners!

What Is Hip?

TS