I'm a political junkie. I spend probably 8 hrs. a day switching back and forth between CNN and MSNBC. I was absolutely shocked about the sudden and unexpected death of Tim Russert at age 58. Taping a show one minute, dead the next. Very sobering for people in our age group. Most of us are no less vulnerable. Although we can't afford to walk around in a perpetual state of doom and gloom, we should probably give some consideration to what we would like people's last remembrance of us to be should the unexpected happen. I wouldn't be to unhappy if most folks memory of me was "well, he was a little grumpy at times, but basically, he really liked people".

This may be a little too personal for some, but (if you care to answer) how would you like to be remembered?

chas

Well Chas, after a couple of near death experiences...one from drug addiction, the other from my health problems with chronic diverticulitis, I am pretty much grateful to be here at all.

My attitude has mostly been one of being happy and enjoying the gifts I have, one day at a time.

Sure, life is not always a bowl of cherries, but it doesn't have to be the pits either...

I think I'll be remembered for laughing a lot...and living life very full, but at a relaxed pace(I'm lazy).

Ian

PS...I never watch the news or bother with politics.

Chas great post. Although I'm not a political junkie I always admired Tim Russert. I haven't seen many in the media as enthusiastic as Russert was when it came to politics and his involvement. You could almost see him salivating when he was in the thick of things making comments. May he RIP.

Hence why I play some gigs for $50

i'm facing death now for the 4th time, great question. for some time , i wanted to be remember for my dedication to my music and the business. how i was so grateful to live this life of music. BUT now that i'm
no longer playing, i've had a chance to learn that life is not just about making the gig,being the best,playin the show biz game,getting the deal etc. i'm seeing life in a different way. life now consists of family get togethers. last year was my 60th birthday and my first birthday party done by my family in my life. i was always on the road playing. watching sunsets in peace with the contentment and the relief and tiredness of someone who has seen many of his fellow musician give up the music for a family life and not understand why they changed. now i see.
i feel like i have been in a war and i'm tired but grateful that i'm able to experience the music life and for now what some some call normal. how do i want to be remembered? i was a terrible husband, father,i put my music above my family and tried to justify it as doing the right thing for survival. i don't think i deserve to be remembered as a husband/father. i know i was a pretty good musician. now as i look at the sunsets i'm grateful that my kids still call me dad and grandpa.i (for the first time) feel at peace. sorry for the long confessional speech. thanks

It’s funny at age 76 I now look back at all the things I felt were so important, they do not seem so important any longer.

My Wife, my children and my music are now at the very top of my list, all the other things were just stuff. I leave my religious out of the equation.

Life is good, John c.

Nobody that I've ever known has said from their deathbed that they wished they had worked more during their lifetime..

Perspectives change when life's circumstances change and when people get older. What we once thought of as extremely important, and obscured by our obsession for wealth, fame, excessive needs for our family, or whatever else it may have been, has suddenly reversed itself in our later years when health, wealth, fame, and fortune may no longer be our lot in life and death (our own mortality) stares us in the face. Funny how that happens huh?

Instead, you begin to appreciate the simple things in life, and the stress we accumulated from the harried life seems to melt away into traquility and acceptance for a more meaningful and peaceful way of living and with our priorities changed or even completely reversed from what they were previously when we were much younger. But it came about 50 years too late for us to really and truly enjoy it like we would have wanted to if we could only have those 40 or 50 years back.

Hindsight is always 20/20 they say. If we knew then what we know now most of us would have probably done things quite differently then we did.

Moral of the story? Live each day as if it were your last and suddenly you may realize that life's priorities are more than just work, making money, and your temporal possessions. Instead, the love of family, friends, the needs of others, and even the love of life itself becomes more meaningful and important to you, and you begin to realize life isn't really "all about me" and what I can 'get' out of life, but rather, it's about what we can 'give' in return.

Best,
Mike

Life is a FIRERACKER......

You Light the fuse when your born.....
& It Blows up when you die!
What will you do In Between?

"Life is Too Short Too Dilly Dally!"

Make it count EVERY DAY YOU WAKE UP!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 06-14-2008).]

I am going to be 45 this year. However, I lost my Dad 27 yrs ago, he was 57. I lost my brother in 2000 , he was 46. I've lost good friends at young ages. This question of
"how I wish to be remembered" led me to getting involved with a Church. At 1st I did it because of my children, than it became a part of me.
I started a contemporary service and give back what talents God has given me. I also started to support a charity ( Ed Block Courage House) ... I started to love my family more and more each and every day.
Every day is precious ... Love,Laugh , Learn, but GIVE, GIVE, GIVE all that you can... By giving, you will be remembered..
That's how I feel.

Peace ... Dan O'

Chas, it would be important for me to be remembered as your acquaintence/friend.

And that would apply to others, including UD, Don, Taiki, Jim (Zuki), Nigel, Chico, Rory and more...

Russ

Hard to decide what I want to be remembered for at this point (I'm 52), as I am hopeful that a large proportion of my adult life is still to come (touch wood )...

But, if I had to go tomorrow, maybe it would be for always being happy to play music, no matter with whom, and for all the times I played with others for free, sitting in and jamming, rather than any commercial gig. It's not how much music you play for money that matters, it's how much EXTRA you get in every day, every week, every year.

That and a few #1 hits wouldn't be bad...!

Russ, that's a very nice thing to say about anyone. Without sounding mushy (I hate 'mushy'), the thing I (and probably many others here) admire about you is your ability to completely overlook the small things that divide us (like race, age, music preference, etc.) and see the larger picture. Then, there's your huge diversity of interests (and causes). I absolutely am drawn to people who are aware of and involved in a world outside of their own little fiefdom. I'm also guessing there are more than a few dads on this board who smile warmly at the relationship you share with your sons. All that stuff.......that's what life is REALLY all about.

Of course, all of that will be trumped and you'll end up being remembered as the guy who owned not one, but TWO B3's .

chas

The game finished when I made a radical prostatectomy two years ago.
Now, I am living the "extra time" and I want to make use of every day with my gratifying work (music), giving friendship , still fighting against my
health problems.
I am sure : this way is the best resource.
Chico

Mike, I appreciate your view on life, it’s precious.

John C.

D I T T O !

My boys Logan and Ben came to the house to take me to a Poker Run for the Make a Wish Foundation yesterday afternoon. I know, it's motorcycles and some don't like them.

But what a great day! A cause we three believe in on Fathers day.

This one goes in the book of best memories!


Russ

Thanks, Chas. Actually, I have my old B-3, a really cherry old C-3, an M-100, a 1949 M, two Hammond tone cabinets (non-rotating), a C-122, 145, 147RV.(Oh, and a quirky little XB-2, plus my new C-1, Electro and Motion Sound 145).

I'll add to that a new Hammond B-3 after NAMM.

Ah, old boys and their new and old toys...!


"Packrat" Russ

I've been following this thread since it opened. My thoughts now are the same as they were then:

I don't say this boastfully, but...I don't care if I'm remembered at all! I think if I was Elvis Presley or Leonard Bernstein Parts II, I'd still feel the same way.

Does anyone else share my view? If not, can someone tell me why they feel it's so important to be "remembered?"

If it helps you to understand my reasoning any, I'm Spiritual and into Metaphysical thinking.

Lucky

Do you have children? Family you'll leave behind?
I could care less if the general population remembers me at all but I do hope I have a touched a few of the people I really care about in a positive way. And hope they will remember me that way.


And I agree with you Chas you have to be nicer!

Mike, you rotten #x$!%X)*%.....oops.



chas

Oh my ... Without memories, your life may as well be wasted! We all must touch someone, leave something behind ... Life is the journey, and what happens on the way HAS to be remembered, or it was all in vain!

I pray that my family remembers my laugh, my smile, the adventures we had together ... a certain joke, or a look that reminds them of something special. I hope to Dear God that my young Grandson remembers Pop Pop's pool, reading in my chair, playing drums together ... there are Soooooo many memories I'm working on - if no one else remembers them ... it's all be for nothing.

You guys are all great friends to me. I just hope that when I go people remember Synth Zone kindly and how it brought us all together, cos that is all I really ever hope to acomplish.

Although people do not like to get into the gushy stuff I feel this thread is a good one, it shows another part of the members, a precious part.

Nigel, your heart must be warm, this thread gives balance to all you are trying to do, and it makes everything OK.

John C.

Of the people I like, respect and admire, Nigel would be high on the short list.

R.

Now that's just plain wrong. Uh, where exactly did you say that warehouse of yours was located.......not that we have any devious intentions.

Russ, I gotta tell ya'. I've hardly touched another keyboard since I got my C1. It's not so much the C1 (although it's great sound helps) as it is the pure joy of getting back to playing organ and re-living those "Jimmy Smith" moments every time I touch the thing. I hadn't played straight-ahead organ or touched a real B3 in years so it took a little bit of easing back into. Diki can tell you how 'rough' my early efforts were, but I'm feeling stronger and more comfortable with every gig.

Question for you. How is the piano and brass on that electro? I've been approached by a very, very good funk/blues band to join up to supply keys, primarily organ, piano, and horn parts (this would be in addition to, and seperate from the organ trio). They only play a couple of concert-type gigs per month, so I could probably handle that. They heard me in the club and loved the sound of the C1. Problem is, I need something for the piano and horn parts. My SonicCell would do nicely but I'd need a controller (probably 49 keys) as the C1 has got to be one of the worst controllers out there. Other possibilities that I already have include a MotifES, Triton, A70 controller w/expansion card, Tyros2, PA1x Pro. Each has a problem and besides, I think the two 'reds', electro and C1, would look pretty cool together. What do you think?

chas

Chas .....great Idea double up the Nords & at least you'll be in the same family comfort zone....as far as sounds? common you know RED can handle that no problem.

Good luck to you on your musical endeavors.

Thanks, Donny. Down in my heart, I know I'm too old for this stuff, but it just sounds like too much fun not to do it. BTW, the drummer is the co-founder and co-inventor of the ZenDrum, featured in this month's Electronic Magazine.

chas

Chas, really like the piano on the Electro, but really haven't used it for much else. I put it at a right angle to the C-1 and use it for piano only. I'll check out the other sounds and let you know. Got a feeling that, at around $1400.00, there's probably something better for horn parts (not surs what that would be, however).

If I were you, I'd GO FOR IT, as long as you have the time, health is good, etc.

You join that group and I'll take a night off to make a ROAD TRIP! Need to get down to spend a couple of days with a company I work with in Atlanta soon, anyway.

Bet you'd "cook" with a group like that!


Russ

http://www.zendrum.com/

Chas... I'd take that A70 and your Sonic Cell. Layering is the trick with brass patches, and at least the Roland won't give you fits dealing with the CC00/32's to call the patches up... Alternatively, what about a Nord Stage...? Really nice synth brass patches, if not the real thing.. at least it would still be red

Me, I'd do it on my G70 and a C1/Electro II

I could buy into "having touched and affected others" during my “journey,” but do I care if I'm remembered? Still....a big "no!" I see "wanting to be remembered" as a huge ego trip. One should help his fellow man (and woman....must be politically correct!) to the best of his abilities, but the Bible says that you get "recognized" in Heaven. That's enough for me! And besides, I think after a short stay in that great condominium complex in the sky, I'm going to come back as either a giant Hershey Bar or a jackrabbit in Arizona and then I'll start it all over again.

This thread put me back in touch with ambitions I had for years when I DID want to be remembered for something. I always wanted to do either a Victor Borge type of musical comedy or a huge family show a la Liberace and Andre Riu where you would do whatever you had to do to bring wholesome entertainment into people's lives for a few hours and on a grand scale. That would mean playing, singing, joking, having other entertainers on stage with you performing, and general patter with the audience. The whole format would be geared towards countering this assault (these last 20 or so years) on family values by producing good, clean, wholesome entertainment. No cursing or foul language or blue jokes. If Jackie Gleason and Lawrence Welk could do it that way, I figured I could to!

I forgot that I forgot all about this great endeavor where I would leave my mark on the entertainment world. Though I do think about it periodically whenever I toy with buying a Ketron and using that as the basis of an act.

Lucky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsJLWNbHORs&feature=related

I have to admit it. I've had some of my biggest belly laughs while watching Victor Borger. I remember the first time I saw him do the routine where he's playing this totally unfamiliar tune and suddenly realizes he's got the page upside down. He flips the page upright, starts playing and suddenly it's Claire de lune or something familiar. A real comic genius in the old tradition.

chas

Donny,

Thanks for the lead. Chas just reminded me here why I like Victor Borge so much.

I don't have high-speed, so it will have to wait until I get to the Library. But I'm glad you researched VB. I would never have thought of YouTube!

Lucky

Victor Borge is simply a Musical Comedic Genius....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyArTMtgT1w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWqFaGwNCMU