I will be forever grateful for Malidoma Some’. As students with their teachers and family members often do, Malidoma and I fell out of communication. I longed for him often, and remembered the gifts he had given me: the very gift that I bring to the world. You see, Malidoma is the one who introduced me to the Djembe, the Healing Drum.

So here is what happened. I was on my way to Hawaii last month and had a layover in San Francisco. A friend of mine was having a reading with Malidoma that day. It is an interesting “coincidence” that although he lives in Florida and I live in Utah, we were both in San Francisco on the same day. I agreed to meet my friend at the hotel where they were meeting Malidoma, never imagining it would be possible to see my long lost friend. It was a very odd feeling to know that we would be in such close proximity. Well, without boring you with the details, while on the way to meet up with my friend, my phone rang.

“Room 117,” said my friend.
“What?” I replied.
“Come to room 117. Malidoma wants to see you!”

At that moment, the capacity of my heart could not contain the joy flowing in and my eyes began to pour with tears of joy. As I entered the hotel, my heart was racing. As I approached the door I realized that only a few inches away was the fulfillment of a dream. Malidoma opened the door and we fell into each others arms, greeting one another as though time had never passed.

My heart sings with joy for the reconnection with my soul brother. Here is a video that sums up what I have learned from my African brother. I am so thankful for our AMAZING REUNION!!

I don’t ever remember not knowing Joel. I have no idea how or where we met. I just remember that he is in every memory of my younger days. Joel and his family lived close to mine, and we were inseparable. Joel was and continues to be, the support person for the ones who stand in the spotlight. In doing so (to my great joy), Joel has been brought into a spotlight of his own. Joel was always the one who would come to band practice even if he was not in the band. When we needed something or we were hauling equipment to a gig…Joel was always there to lend a hand. A great musician in his own right, Joel taught me tons on the guitar. Second only to Paul McCartney, Joel plays Blackbird like it is nobody’s business.

I just got a great Idea. I am going to publicly ask Joel to play this song for us and I’ll post the video on this blog!! WHAT DO YOU THINK JOEL?? WILL YOU PLLLLEEEEAAASSSSEEE??????

OK, so, when I reconnected with Terry and Guy, of course I asked if anyone had heard about Joel. Of course Joel will always be a part of our lives! I have come to know he is a father, with very successful kids, a husband with a loving and delightful wife, and most of all, Joel is a kind man of impeccable character, true to his core values, and still willing to go to any length to lend a hand. Joel is the example I use when I define the word “friend”.

My favorite story with Joel is the day we were playing drums at his house and his mother came into the living room and looked at me and said, “You can’t play drums like that, you are white. White people don’t have rhythm like that.” Then laughed cheerfully and went about her business. 20 some years later when I was in Africa, an elder of the Dagara Tribe said, “What dye did you use on your skin to make you look like a European? White people don’t play the drum like that. I know you are really African”. Here I am standing in the southern part of the Sahara Desert thousands of miles from home and who do I think of? Joel Bisset’s mom. She has passed into the world of the Ancestors and it saddens me that I was not able to tell her this story. You never know how a  statement you make or an action you take will affect a person’s life.

I am pleased to see that Joel has become an accomplished drummer and plays regularly at his church. I got a chance to jam with Joel when I was in Seattle on my last trip. He is a KICK ASS drummer. He holds the beat like a mountain! ROCK STEADY!!! We did a couple of percussion solos at the gig and really rocked the house. All I did was show Joel the beat I was doing on my djembe and he got on the kit like a jockey on a race horse.

Joel, I am so glad to be back in touch with you. My heart is filled with joy as I reflect on the great nobility, trustworthiness, and trueness of heart  you bring to the world. THANK YOU!

…and I’m waiting impatiently for a video of you playing Blackbird on your guitar!

Have you ever thought about old friends? Have you ever wondered… where is _______________(fill in the blank)? Well I have. In my youth there was a group of guys who were like me. We were boys who connected to our gifts early. While our other friends were playing kickball, soccer, or tag, we were in my parents basement or in Guy’s garage ( you will learn more about the amazing Guy Johnson in my next entry) playing Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, Led Zeppelin, and James Gang. I loved these guys with all my heart. In many many ways we were the “odd balls” and in another way we carried a sort of celebrity status. In the next few entries I would like to pay tribute to my old, new friends. I hope this inspires you to reconnect as well. We are not always aware of the impact we have had  on others and reconnecting with these amazing men that has helped me realize that even the simplest acts of kindness or spontaneous moments can have an unbelievable impact and inspiration on those around us. 

I searched for them from time to time but with no luck. For decades I thought about them. One of my favorite musical artists is the great Frank Zappa. My friend Terry Kingen and I used to go to his concerts when he came to Seattle. Sometimes waiting 6 or 7 hours at the door of the Paramount Theater to be the first ones in! Every time I hear a Frank Zappa song I think of Terry. I have since I was 14 years old.  I searched his name and was never able to find him. Then through a series of phone calls and synchronistic occurrences, which I will get to in future entries, I reconnected to Terry Kingen. Even though it had been 30 some years since we had seen each other, when I saw his trade mark Terry Kingen smile and heard his cheerful voice, it was as though no time had passed at all.  

Although back in the day, he had long dark hair, which has been replaced by short grey hair, the youthful and mischievous sparkle in his eyes has not dimmed. Terry was always the best musician of us all. While we were playing blues riffs and figuring out what the heck chords were in a song, Terry was taking lessons and practicing his Mixolydian Modes, Phrygian Scales, and his Dominant flatted 2nd what-evers! 

Over the years, he has developed into one of the greatest guitar players I have ever heard and has become a prolific songwriter whose style is somewhere between Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. Whether he is on his pink paisley Telecaster or his deep rich acoustic guitar, Terry plays with a driving rhythm and sings with a soulful tone. His music reaches deep into you and gently extracts the goodness of life that sometimes hides beneath the rough waves and tumultuous currents of the everyday goings on; sometimes with a hint of mischievous sarcasm. 

But this is not all that makes Terry Kingen great. What to me makes him a very amazing human being is his humility, willingness to help a friend in need, and his complete lack of judgement. Terry is an example of finding the best in each person he meets. He is quick to set aside differences to find the common ground of connection. When you have a conversation with him you can feel the authentic interest he has in knowing who you really are and hearing what you have to say.

I am so fortunate to have re-connected with Terry. Sometimes it seems that life passes us by and the rich joy of the past is all we have to hold onto. I am here to say that sometimes that rich joy of the past comes around and makes another pass through life. 

Thank you, Terry.