A special Thanksgiving Edition of Lockdown Lemonade…

A special Thanksgiving Edition of Lockdown Lemonade…

After 9 years of being homefree, I am grateful to finally have my own roof over my head again surrounded by my things here in my apartment in Oakland, CA. By divine grace, this place became available right when I really needed it after the shelter-in-place order and all our gigs were cancelled. I’m grateful for my loved ones and community. I am grateful to be alive. Happy Thanksgiving!  ~ Aireene Espiritu

Gratefulness:   I am grateful for my family and friends. It sounds trite perhaps, but I can’t think of anything more precious and that I am more grateful for.   Lucky me!!! ~ John ‘Roy Zat’ Croizat

Grateful for community actions like these, that bring us all together
Grateful for John, Blanca and Sammie and that we are all basically healthy
Grateful for the election – way to go America!! ~ Hillorie McLarty

In this year of challenges and heartbreaks, my gratitude comes from the tight circle of friends that has helped me get through the fear and sadness.  I know I couldn’t have made it through with such good fortune without them.  God bless my friends!  ~ Susie Glaze, FAR-West Vice-President

So grateful for the human connection and Love, which transcends time & space. We’ll all make it through the holiday season with the love of friends & family! ~ Linda Miller

During these challenging times, there has been so much that has left me feeling sad and hopeless.  Then, I log onto a livestream concert, or I interact with any member of my FAR-West family via phone, zoom, email, whatever…and I remember that there is much for which I am grateful. Love and support and MUSIC can help even the darkest day seem brighter.  ~ Marlynn Block, FAR-West Co-Treasurer

Gratitude is my daily mindfulness practice, beginning with the gift of waking and the myriad of blessings and bounty bestowed. This Thanksgiving in particular, I’m grateful for robust health, active musical inspiration and the election results. ~ Brett Perkins

I am grateful for the Sun, Moon and Stars – for their reminder of a natural flow of time and steadfastness during a chaotic time.  I’m grateful for my family, my friends and my communities and the ability to communicate over great distances and keep in touch because of technology – in some instances even more so than before the pandemic!  Last but not least, I am grateful for the solace that music brings.  Happy Thanksgiving!! ~ Nancy K Dillon, FAR-West Board Member

I’m thankful for my health, my families’ health and my 18 year old cat’s health. I’m also thankful for this glimpse at early retirement that the pandemic has provided me since I am no longer able to perform.
~ Larry Murante

“I am very thankful for my wonderful wife, kids and grandkids and, of course, the rest of my family. I am thankful for the greatest friends a man could ask for. And I am thankful for each and every day I am granted to enjoy these things!” ~ Peter Krantz, FAR-West Board Member

I am grateful for … the local stores in my town who deliver … my town friends who help me get where I need to go … for all of my clients who still need a Mother Hen … for the connections from really good personal friends (and 2 special cousins) who live far away … for all of the artists who shared their positive songs and their wonderful voices (and spoken words) for the “FAR-West Positive Jukebox” … and my 4 goofy cats who are an extra incentive to get up every morning and keep me on schedule while keeping things hopping on the home front. ~ Jeanette Lundgren, FAR-West Secretary

This Thanksgiving I’m especially grateful that everyone in my close family and friends have remained safe from covid. I’m also grateful to be expanding my team as I recently signed on with Blue Elan Records to release my next album! Even in the midst of an incredibly hard year there is still much goodness. ~ Natalie Gelman

Grateful for family, friends, Sandpoint, live music, small towns, travel, music conferences, books, love, musicians and singer- songwriters. 👍🎶🦃🍁🏡🕊~ Stephen Bond Garvan / Garvan Management, FAR-West Board Member

This year I am thankful for —

my wife & lockdown partner, who loves me and tolerates my version of cabin fever; Zoom meetings, & friends who make those meetings ALMOST like being in the same room; and music, the ultimate Shitstorm Umbrella. ~ Ken Holme

I am grateful for the Zenlike nature of this time. The sweeping away of the superfluous to dust off the important, family, friends, food, shelter and yes, music. Things we are so lucky to have. Oh yeah and how do you spell AAAAAAAH?! ~ John Zipperer

I am grateful for this time to grow spiritually and release my attachments to material things. Also, grateful to view one’s passing as a privilege of having known and loved them; and knowing their love is forever with you. 💕🙏 ~ Carey Appel, FAR-West President

Extra Bonus. A Lemonade recipe from Natalie Gelman ~ “The best lemonade in the country is at the Tupelo Honey Cafe in Asheville, NC. here https://tupelohoneycafe.com/blog/lemonade-limoncello-recipes/

In an attempt to keep us connected as we continue to find our way through these often stressful times, some in our extended community have been sharing their experiences, lessons learned and hope as they’ve dealt with Covid, lockdown, boredom, lack of inspiration, etc. We are all looking for ways to make lemonade out of the many lemons! This column will continue on a weekly basis and postings will be released at 10 AM Pacific every Monday, so watch for them! For guidelines and submission details, please contact Julie Zipperer at juliez@far-west.org or Marlynn Block at marlynn@far-west.org. Submissions will be posted based on approval from the Lockdown Lemonade Committee.