[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 99, Issue 35

[JON KIP <jonkip@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a viewpoint that I haven't seen here, about Michael P.

A few months ago I called Michael to ask if he knew how to get in  
touch with Chris Michalek's widow, who, with (the then alive) Chris  
had been so kind to me when I visited them in Arizona. (Due to bad  
timing on Death's part,  Chris still owes me a sushi dinner, but  
that's for Later.) Michael said he didn't know what she was up to, and  
then said "I may as well tell you now"... and I learned of his medical  
issues. He wanted to get together again with me and michael burton, so  
a week or so before the New Jersey thing, I drove down and we played  
along with some of the Aebersold cds for a couple of hours and then he  
wanted to go out for lunch.  Although he'd lost a lot of body weight,   
Michael P. appeared to be really happy, being funny ("I guess it  
doesn't matter what I eat at this point"), and talking about all the  
things he wanted to do "before it's too late", never appearing to let  
his lack of predictable extended future get him down, and laughing at  
himself when we had to help him up his front stairs.  I think Michael  
Burton and I were more effected by his condition than he was, in a  
weird way. He wanted to get to new jersey, and to get together with us  
right afterwards, and then spoke about planning a Jazz party in  
January (again "before it's too late") . But he was definitely NOT  
"down" about his situation.

I'll remember him for that. The way he handled dying. His body was  
turning on him, but his mind was going straight ahead, enjoying each  
moment and planning for and  looking forward to the next.

That was very impressive, and will be the biggest lesson I could learn  
from Michael P.

Learning to play an instrument is a matter of practice, and, after all  
these years,(66) I've figured that out.... but I'm not sure that I  
could ever have anything resembling his attitide and courage when  
faced with such problems.

it's going to take practice.

and I'm starting now.

trying to make each moment count.

it's not going to be easy.

good job, Michael, and thanks.


jon kip
los angeles.

On Nov 28, 2011, at 4:28 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Sorry to hear this news. I saw Mike play at the Jazz Harmonica  
> Summit and
> enjoyed it very much. Thanks, Slim, for posting the video. Though I  
> did not
> know Mike, I know how his family and friends feel ... I've lost  
> several
> close friends to cancer. It is indeed an evil disease. My  
> condolences to
> all who are feeling the grief of this loss.
>
> Bob Loomis
> Concord CA USA