Nearing Turkey Day

Thanksgiving Blog Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Many things going on these days. Songbird Sings is in the planning stages for our first benefit to be held in Boston 2011. We're looking for the "right" venue to host this event.
If anyone has ideas please let me know. We want to have it take place within Boston, which means it could be surrounding towns but not too far out. Looking for a sponsor or sponsors to help defray some of the costs, and volunteers to help in different capacities.
You can learn more about Songbird Sings at songbirdsings.org Please get in touch if you want to volunteer or if you know someone.
Inspired by the healing power music has on trauma, I launched Songbird Sings to help survivors break the silence that hides violence, one song at a time. The mission: Heal those who have been silenced by domestic violence, PTSD, childhood abuse, war and incarceration and help them find their voice through the powerful medium of songwriting. I am witnessing the participants up close and personal being transformed through the restorative effect of writing their stories in song. I am dedicated to bringing Songbird Sings programs to as many people as possible and helping others to teach them as well. We welcome your support any way you can give it.
Thanksgiving at the home of the broken toys. That is Tim Jackson and Suzanne Boucher's lovely Somerville home "Let The Eating Begin" These festivities are for all the lonely people who have no where to go. Where do they go on Turkey Day...this is where. Everyone brings something yummy to eat but Suzanne slaves away for a few days cooking the Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pies. I'm not sure how Tim and Suzanne do all this but my daughter Evangeline and I have been attending since she was 5 and she is now 28. We've only missed a few.
I just entered TEDwomen contest. It is for the inaugural TED women conference happening in DC this December. TEDtalks is world famous. This will be the woman's version. The question we had to answer was "What is your big idea" and you know mine is bringing these songwriting workshops all over the world. Songwriting heals. Why is there such a correlation between trauma and music or to be exact between those who make music and perhaps the trauma they may have experienced. I do not know where I'd be today if I hadn't had songwriting and singing to sooth myself. I remember back in the day when I sat around watching the Buffalo Springfield, wanting to write songs like they did. I was so hungry but didn't know how to do it and didn't know why it was so important to me. My need was great. So much so that occasionally I would have this intense fear of music...I wanted it so bad. When I was pregnant with my son Adam my body, my soul, my heart, my whole being was taken over with song. They started pouring out of me. I could hardly keep track. 10 songs a day, well I'm exaggerating but truly I was tapping into the very thing that would ultimately save my life. There were many years after the demise of my band when I cursed God for not allowing me to become the next big thing. Many things happened that thwarted that. My second pregnancy with my daughter for example. For some reason MEN didn't think you could rock out and have a child. Idiots. Then came women who did. I can't blame it on God. I certainly didn't play my cards right and sang like a fool. Later I understood that it wasn't about people loving me for my songs it was about me loving myself and allowing music to heal me. That's what music does. The songs are an extension of who you are and your voice carries through the emotions. Makes it safer to look at some of the shit that happens to you or that you allow to happen to you. Your choices etc.