Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Who woulda thought

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Sonnytone writes:
 
Last year if someone said to me, "in a period of 3 weeks, you will have  you  
knee dissected, have no income for 4 months from your job of 10  years due to 
 
being out of work so long, then to top it off, lose that  job and all its  
benefits", I would have probably looked at suicide as  a viable option. 
However,  
after my experiences over this time period,  yes I lost my job, got laid off 
3  
days ago, no unemployment as I am  just starting Long Term Disability, I can  
clearly see this as my new  path, and providing I keep my faith, wonderful 
things  will unfold for  me. I know now that job was not what I wanted to do, 
it was 
draining me,  heroin and cocaine addicts that had no clue, one out of 500 
maybe   getting better, no matter how hard you try, if they are not ready, it 
 
ain't  happening. So medical benefits are my top priority, I am  ineligible 
due to 
my  current medical history, accepted that, just  taking it as it comes right 
now. I  can still do the business as the  labor part is all being done by SJ 
builder Tom,  my young man Desmond  is learning the craft of packing with me 
overseeing, and I  am finding  out what I am Supposed to do in life , want to 
do. 
Amps is a big  part,  the new amp is still moving forward full speed, the 410 
is 
getting  nice  reviews from its owners. So I am ok, all your prayers cannot 
be  
discounted, so  keep firing away. I was meant for large achievements in  
life, 
watching them  unfold will be interesting. Of course there will  be many more 
bumps in the road,  there are so many people that do not  see things the way 
I 
do, and are in serious  distress, I will fight  this. The things in life that 
are guaranteed ( Ghandi )  without our  help are that we will suffer, we will 
feel emotional pain at  points in  our life, and things will not go as we 
planned 
them. The good stuff we   must work for, love from friends, being happy, 
positive thoughts, all the  good  things are a result of the karma we build 
to 
balance out the  negative events. I  have slipped backwards with my funky 
responses  
after surgery, just a  reminder of how human we all are, but am quickly  
aware 
of it, I think my  tolerance for BS has gotten much and much  less, so any 
more 
tests I don't need  at this point. I am still here  for all reasonable 
requests,  I will continue to handle  personally  SJ owner's questions.  
Chris M. was 
nice enough to  offer a chat line for SJ owners, that just is not  the route 
I 
want to  take for my business, I like one on one stuff, that is  how I built 
my  
10 reputation, and like it that way, but other thoughts are worth   listening 
to, please just respect it if I choose not to go another   route. The list is 
a 
great tool for harp players to get messages  across  about any subject. If my 
experience and this post helps someone  going through a  rough time, some 
good 
was done, it is not easy, just  never give up. There's  gotta be some blues 
material in this scenario  lately, I would rather write about  positive 
things, not 
so much the  down and out stuff, we all have been there, not  challenging 
enough. I  am working on a full description of what the Double  Trouble amp 
will  
have for features, it came from the harp players desires of  what they  want 
in 
an amp, and a vision I got from hearing one of my  previous  projects.  I 
think 
I am going to have it nailed.  So rather than  take up list time, if 
interested, email me for details when  I post it  is ready for discussion.  
Having two 
lines of amps at the same   time will be quite a challenge, my builders and 
other 
amp builders know  how  tough it is, but I have some time now to explore 
along 
with  playing, I have  gotten some visions for ideas in music which would be  
groundbreaking, I need to  find the right people to approach with it.  Not a 
low 
level thing, serious  stuff. Without this recent fire walking  act, none of 
this would have presented  itself to me. Keep blowing,  helps the sanity 
factor. 
Peace.  SJ

....It's taken me a while to  absorb all of this. As you know, we've talked 
about the possibility of this  happening to you....and it still stinks.  I can 
see that it's probably your  new fork in the road...but not having the medical 
coverage is the biggest  problem.  I hope you can get on another plan soon.  
You didn't deserve  that extra thump on top of everything else you've been 
through. As with all the  rest of your friends, I'll be wishing you nothing but 
healing and less  pain.  Your attitude is superb about this....the work you did 
with  recovering addicts has not gone to waste.  You've helped so many, now 
it's  time to reap some of that good Karma...even with this new twist in your 
own  path.  It'll work out.  Just keep working on the knee...and play as  you 
played that last gig and on that cassette, while you recover...put it on a  CD. 
 There's no reason not to, now.  It'll be wonderful...that I  know...and it's 
TIME!
 
Elizabeth