The Birthday of Birthdays

Oh MY!
I do not even know where to begin! I was the recipient of an old fashioned Surprise Party last Saturday night!!! It was amazing!!!

Here's how he story goes. Moby had scheduled to record with us that night. A few weeks ago he had us sing on one of his songs for his new CD, which is about to be mastered, so, he explained, a Saturday night session was important for final edits. That's typical of him, and I didn't have any real birthday plans for Saturday night since my birthday was on Monday, and Erin had coordinated a pool party for Sunday afternoon at a bar with a pool in Midtown. I was telling people to bring their bathing suits for swimming, it was a fun party not a glamour party, etc. Well, on Friday I got an email that said Erin's friends were having a party Saturday night that started late, but it was an industry party and we needed to be there. So she convinced me to dress up before we left for Moby's because we were going straight to this music industry party after.

Oh, you cannot imagine the feeling, climing up Moby's roof ladder, him talking to me about the vocal lines we were going to have to record, Erin in front of me, and emerging onto the wooden deck and instantly fronted with a wall of people and sound. "S U R P R I S E !!!" It was so LOUD!! I think my heart stopped beating, then started pounding so hard I thought it had left my chest! I cannot even tell you how flooded with love and huge gratitude I was, for all those beautiful friends who had come to wish me happy birthday! I was beside myself.




Then all the thoughts came in - "wait a minute" I'd say to myself, "so that email about the industry party was a story!" Or, "Erin sent out a fake invitation to me for the pool party on Sunday!" Or, "Moby had this night planned the whole time - all that talk about the vocals, his mastering, AHH!" I have to say, the party planners (Erin, Elissa, and Moby) were totally swift at keeping this whole thing totally under cover!!! Moby, in fact, was genius! So subtle, so smooth with his occasional commentary. He even told me that that bar with the pool was a really cool place, and he'd try to be there. I was so impressed at all their hard work.

Oh! And then they brought out the cake! Erin had asked me earlier in the week if she were to bake me a cake, what flavor did I like. I told her vanilla or strawberry (nothing chocolate!). I had no idea that Elissa was on cake patrol and found the single most delicious bakery in all of NYC and had them put that picture of me 9 years old ON THE CAKE!!! I was totally amazed. See the pictures below.




Me with Erin and Elissa, my 2 stars!

Seriously, it makes me want to cry thinking about how much love I have for these beautiful friends of mine up here in NYC. Thank you everybody who came to the party! I hope you had as much fun as I did!!!

ILU updates coming next post!
Love love love love!!
Luci

Last Days of My Current Age

I guess it's something to ponder the year when your birthday is approaching, to see if you accomplished what you hoped, got where you wanted to be. I am such a sucker for analyzation and love to ponder my years as they happen. So as August 20th rolles ever nearer, let's see.

Am I where I thought I'd be? In most ways NO. Absolutely not. When I was a little girl, I thought I'd be married with children by now, have a "real job", a house, dogs, a cat, be able to cook well, you know, a REAL adult. I guess I've taken a different path. I never imagined that I would have a professional career as a musician in New York City, to start. I cannot tell you how shocked, surprised, and especially happy that makes me. Friday night we were recording in a studio in Chelsea for Moby's band, The Little Death, and I got to play the Hammond! I am embarrassed to say that other than a few instructional moments, I have never had total control over a Hammond B3. The array of SOUNDS you can get out of that baby, AOW! Just move one of the drawbars a millimeter and you go from church to The Doors. It's AWESOME! The leslie, a cabinet much larger than the refrigerater in my apartment, was vibrating and gyrating in all its splendor and glory and with a flick of my finger it would cool down to smooth purity. And, sitting on the tall wooden bench, I couldn't get enough of it, despite the fact keys weren't laid until after 1AM. I thought, "Well here I am. I have really made it". I am happy with where I am, and more importantly where I'm GOING with my career. Currently I stand in thrilled disbelief that I am paid to deliver the therapeutic qualities of music to others (in my music therapy job), to create, perform, and record keyboard and vocal parts in various bands, to perform and share music with eager listeners, and occasionally to impart the knowledge of music skills in giving lessons. How exciting!

This year, however, hasn't been all happiness. I guess I could easily rate it as the very worst year of my entire life. My beautiful and best sister of a friend, Amy Fuller, died unexpectedly in March. That has shaken my ground so severely that my perspective is forever altered. Never again will I see life through the eyes I had before March 5th. Amazing. I feel like I have gained about 10 years in this one year, weird as that sounds. I don't feel older, but it's like I know more than I should, or something. I have learned a lot about myself and a lot about life, and happiness, and what really matters. I just went to Savannah and visited Amy's gravesite. I found her beautiful stone. Look at it here, designed by her mother and sister, I couldn't have thought of anything more perfect.

I miss her.


Finally, since this has turned out to be a birthday post, I've found a few pictures of me from earlier moments of my life - just so we can make sure I'm growing! Last week in Savannah, we ran into a distant relative who hadn't seen me since I was about 5. He said they weren't sure if they recognized my mother, but they knew it was me because I look exactly the same. ?! Is that good or bad? You can decide for yourself. I don't have a picture from when I was 5, but I have my 9th birthday, my 13th birthday, and near my 15th birthday.






I.L.U. is working hard and we're excited for a fun show that we're planning for October. I'll keep you posted on that! Enjoy the rest of the best month of the year!!
Love,
Luci