• From: Amsterdam
  • Registered: 2007-10-06
  • Posts: 5,249

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Tica-NYC wrote:

Hi Amsterhammer
Will you please tell me specifically what songs helped you. I have a friend whose wife just tragically and unexpectedly died and I'd love to make him a CD...I agree Bridge is an amazing and heartening song...

thanks
M

Remember that we all suffer, grieve and respond to stimuli like music in our own way. Your friend will certainly have his own songs that remind him of his wife or that are meaningful in a personal way. Also bear in mind that 'Bridge' is only 'heartening' if you're ready for that. Given that your friend's loss is very recent, I would suggest that he won't be ready for 'Bridge' - until he's ready - that could be many weeks or months. (I heard 'Bridge' for the first time seven weeks after my wife died.) What he needs now is to grieve, not to be uplifted. I wish your friend strength and fortitude in his darkest hour. Having said all that, I'm happy to share.

Before Sloe Gin, I was constantly listening to Mountain Time, The River, Had to cry today and Miss You, Hate You.

Other songs that I listened to a lot were 'Missing' by Springsteen, 'Just one look', 'Love is a rose' and 'Carmelita' by Linda Ronstadt, 'Tonight' by Tina and Bowie and just about everything by Bonnie Raitt, who was my wife's favourite above all others.

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith
  • Registered: 2007-02-17
  • Posts: 37

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Hi
thank you, yes, you're right, it's a little tricky knowing what one can do (nothing I guess) to help him feel beter. I'll hold off on the cd. thanks for sharing.
best

21 Reply by Amsterhammer (edited by Amsterhammer 2009-10-06 22:29:47)

  • From: Amsterdam
  • Registered: 2007-10-06
  • Posts: 5,249

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

No postzilla, no biggie, but I couldn’t let the day pass without some comment. I also felt it right to post here rather than start a separate topic.

I was just about as miserable as a body can be when I wrote my introduction here. I was depressed, angry, sad and hurting, with no idea how to deal with any of it. It took me till Valentine’s Day last year (coincidentally, the very day a certain mysterious woman joined up here) to face up to the fact that I wasn’t ever going to get any better unless I accepted some sort of help, preferably from a complete stranger with no agenda accept wanting to help ‘heal’ another human being.

By one of the greatest strokes of luck in my life (that, and the Universe having laid out the path for me,) the only ‘help-offerer’ available to me turned out to be the very one best qualified to take on the job. The rest, as they say, has become history.

An integral part of my personal healing process was the ever present backdrop of Joe’s music, and my interaction with this forum. My life today could not be more different than it was two years ago. The help, patience, and above all, the kindness and wisdom of a truly remarkable human being (and witch) started my healing process. Eventually, she and this forum, and lots of music, all combined to turn me back into a mensch.

Joe, thanks for the music, which started it all for me, and for maintaining this truly exceptional forum. Marianne, thanks for sending me here……all my closest forum buddies, even the absent ones…you know who you are…..thanks for the laughs and the affection and all the great music I’ve discovered through you, and for the wonderful times we’ve had when we met up…..I love you all. Far above anything else though, my greatest thanks and love go to my dear Cathy, the greatest and wisest granny-witch-nurse ever.

It was a long bridge to cross, I had a lot of headwind too, but yes indeed, I crossed that bridge and found my own 'better days'!

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith
  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Dear George,

We all love you!

You´re the best friend a man could ask for!

Andre Wittebroek

23 Reply by Ges

  • Ges
  • Ges
  • Titanium
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  • From: NW England
  • Registered: 2006-09-25
  • Posts: 845

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

George.

Thank you for sharing this with us.
So glad you are much better.

Lifes a hard one sometimes. But we have to bounce back.
My love of music makes me feel your feelings here as well. I think I know what you mean. Such a comfort and such a help in the healing process.

This Joe guy and this forum and it's folk sure are a powerful force !!

Best wishes (and I'm a Blades fan !! Music transcends all).
Ges.

24 Reply by eva

  • eva
  • eva
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: germany
  • Registered: 2007-03-15
  • Posts: 1,885

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Two years can go by so fast - and yet so much has happened ... sometimes I still shake my head about how "cowinkydink" got us all gathered here and how the love for music has connected so many people on so many different levels. As we know, there ARE no cowinkydinks ... right, George?! So we´re all here for a reason ... wink

Like Andre said: we all love you and I´m very glad to call you and the bewitching witch my friends. Thanks for all the great moments and all the laughter and music shared ... counting days until November. wink

Eva

  • From: Wisconsin
  • Registered: 2008-08-15
  • Posts: 7,284

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Welcome George!

Music? Yes, it is the great healer in people's lives. Whether it be Country, Soul, Jazz, Blues/Rock or whatever, many people find a way of dealing with things in their lives through music. Actually, our own "hero" here has talked about certain songs that he wrote while going through some difficulty in his own life.

I'm very happy you are here George. You bring a wealth of life's experiences with you and are always eloquent in expressing your thoughts. I for one, am glad you're here. smile

Roy

Joe is the Best!

26 Reply by cathysiler (edited by cathysiler 2009-10-09 08:21:26)

  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Geez G...you know how I feel about PDOA..***blushing***...but there is magic here and you are a fine example of rising from the pits by holding onto Joe's music and his community here and in the "real" world. You know I think you have the best command of the English language and am glad to have you as my editor. We both spell..just in different ways.  Now, no more mush..it upsets the children. Here's wishing you another 2 years!!   HHC

(Love the line about us 'spelling' in different ways! I couldn't possibly resist a PDOA on this particular milestone occasion, but I'm still trying to figure out the HHC - home health care? - hip-hop Cathy?) tongue

  • From: Cliftonville Kent England
  • Registered: 2006-07-30
  • Posts: 2,150

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

George ..... So glad that you fella came here and dropped by (look where that got ya big_smile )
You are one major integral part of this forum , wisdom and wit from The Amsterhammer
and a friend too ...... Be Safe
See ya soon

..................... Michael

Joe Bonamassa .......  His Greatest 3 Videos ... IMMHO   After Much Deliberation
3rd ...... Mountain Time / Rockpalast       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01xa6NMsJo
2nd ...... Sloe Gin       /  Vienna            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRASS8O8ZnE           
1st ....... Blues Deluxe / The Borderline    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnl3E_KLxYg
  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Dear George,
Music is definitely the medicine and I'm so glad you found the magic of Joe and the love of a good nurse wink

We all love you buddy......Tripsy smile

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Who are you and what have you done with the irascible curmudgeon I know and love?

MuchSwearing and other r or worse rated remarks lol  "Punctuation is your friend"

Her Holiness Cate?  Mush upsets the children?  Oh you just have no idea how much I love that...

"Ooooh, dayuddy...yucky"  heh heh

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

The forum would be all the poorer without you George. I send you my heartfelt thanks for helping me tread a sane path through my own difficult times recently.

I'll thank you in person when I meet up with you and Cathy for the Mule show in Amsterdam next month.

David smile

  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

George, as you well know, we share together an illicit love (no, not the one that dare not speak its name.......). The Hammers, as you mentioned in your original post. The fates have for us mapped out an inexplicable path of loyalty to that most enigmatic of football (soccer) clubs.

Perhaps you, as I, find it also a gratifying constant in your life that whilst good and great friends, as you have found here with Joe, never let you down - West Ham United always will. That is OUR constant. Our path as fans of this rabble is enshrined and entwined together in endless claret 'n blue optimism and misery. 'Twas ever thus. Bubbles George....Bubbles. May they be forever blowing for you, but never fading.

PS.. if Cathy should have some spell that could possibly avoid relegation this season I am prepared to offer my 15 year old daughter as some kind of collateral, down payment whatever, aaah, you know how it is.

CYI

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • From: near Nürnberg Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-19
  • Posts: 1,204

Re: A Bridge to Better Days - Two years later

Good to read the "old" posts, even when I knew about the story from you personally. How fascinating to experience the healing powers of music. And of love. It´s a kind of healing you can never have enough.

I am glad to know you and Cathy(a bit)
Günter

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Guenter's Website