Christmas Wish

As difficult as yesterday was, today has been that good. I had Christmas lunch today with my siblings and Rick and I, along with Steve Norris, George Scherer, and Dan Farmer(with his bass player, Mark) played a benefit for two siblings with Fanconi Anemia this afternoon at the Regions

Baseball Park in Hoover.

It is always difficult to see someone ill, but seeing small children sick...........that's the hardest. Both of these kids, a six year old and a four year old are facing bone marrow transplants. You could look in their faces and see disease, but they were having the time of their lives this evening.

As soon as I walked through the door this evening, Stella, the four year old walked directly to me, and gave me a hug.

She had never seen me before.........yet it was though she had known me forever. A little later, her two year old cousin, Bella came over, climbed up in my lap and almost fell asleep. Her mom was freaking. Rick swears I am some sort of alien, that everywhere we go, the old, the afflicted, the young and animals flock to me. It even freaks me out sometimes.

After the show tonight, as we were tearing down the sound equipment, Stella came back to me,

another big hug and told me how glad she was to see me again. Maybe she knows someone who looks like me.

I looked at their young parents tonight, they look like kids themselves. I cannot imagine what their lives must be like, with two sick children. Life is cruel when a family has one sick child,

it just seems unbearable to have two. So tonight, send this young family, love and prayers if you will. Sadly, I think they have some dark moments yet to come..........but tonight, there was laughter, there were hugs and great music and hope. I am so humbled to have been a part of this, to have met this family and been blessed with Stella's hugs. My Christmas wish........Stella and her brother live long, happy, healthy lives.