I took Maki to a concert last night, the first proper one I’ve taken him to. We bought tickets 6 months before just to make sure it would happen. We are both very sentimental about this band Echo and the Bunnymen, a big post-punk band from the 80s. I loved them in High School myself, but Vernon was really into them when he was a lad in England, where they were much more known.

This is a picture of a back of album cover that came out in 1981. Vernon would have been Maki’s age now. For a school art project, he made a watercolor painting from this picture. His parents put it in a frame, and its been hanging on the wall of the lounge ever since. Maki remembers it too. It’s one of the few artworks we’ve seen from that time in his life.

Vanessa sent over this picture  of a 14-15 year old Vernon when she heard we were going to the show. Think he looks a bit like Maki?

I do want to take a moment to praise the therapeutic and uplifting power of music. I’m not just talking about listening to music at home or in the car. I think the vibrations of live music must do something special to us. I know I always feel better for a few days after seeing a show, and Vernon is the one who made me realize how healing music is. He would always respond better to musicians playing for him than when he listened from a cd player. He would relax in ways that medicine couldn’t help with. It made me start realizing that listening to real instruments and voices is GOOD for people, not just nice for them. Maki and I can both feel the difference today!

So here’s to good health…and more music for all!