Tribute to an Original: Eddie Van Halen

My college roommate Sharon introduced me to Van Halen somewhere around 1983. I bought the albums Diver Down and 1984. The songs I played over and over were Dancin' in the Streets and Pretty Woman from DD, and Jump from 1984.

I didn't know a lot about their personal lives except that Valerie Bertinelli married Eddie in 1981 and they had a son named Wolfgang, named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They nicknamed him Wolfie.

In the years since I learned that Eddie and Alex were classically trained pianists. 

Learning about Eddie's death a couple of days ago brought back a lot of memories from college and dating John. Van Halen and U2 were our in-common bands. After David Lee Roth left the band, we still followed VH through the Sammy Hagar years and part of the Gary Cherone years (the lead singer from Extreme who took Sammy Hagar's place. My two favorite Extreme songs I wore out were Hole Hearted and More than Words; didn't care for the album's name in case some may wonder, but I digress).

In the last couple of days I learned that Gene Simmons discovered Van Halen around 1976. I watched a short clip on ET on Gene Simmons' words about Eddie. He mentioned last seeing him shortly after Eddie's diagnosis. Eddie had his famous grin on and off the stage. Gene got the courage up to ask about his diagnosis, and Eddie kept it light, then bid goodbye. Gene commented on his constant kindness.

I also learned their father was Dutch and mother Indonesian. They came from Holland when the boys were young. The Van Halen's settled in California, the parents working a lot to keep the boys in school and in piano lessons. Eddie ended up purchasing a drum kit and somehow a guitar got thrown in, either by his parents, or Alex bought it. The short story is they traded instruments and the rest is history. Eddie's words about Alex were something like Alex made music on the drums.

There is so much I don't know, but will end with this; Eddie did the guitar solo for Michael Jackson's Beat It. He made a deal with the producer, Quincy Jones to do the rif. When the "Beat It" musicians were away from the studio, Eddie snuck in and played  around with a few rifs. He layed down a track which Quincy said was better than the one they had written originally. Eddie didn't want pay or credit as VH had a pact that none of them would do solo or side work. Eddie "got away" with it because everyone was on vacation and he had the time to do a favor for his friend Quincy.

In the little information I've gathered these last few days I discovered that though Eddie was a chain smoker and battled alcohol much of his life, he was still known for his good nature. In his later years, he was valued and remained humble. In a short interview clip he was telling his story to some college students and asked them about fifteen minutes into telling his story, "Is this interesting"? They all yelled, "Yes"!

Thank you Eddie for finding new ways to bring music out of an electric guitar and lifting so many spirits. Rest in Peace and know your family is in the world's prayers and hearts now.

New Shoes

Listening to one of my favorite groups as I write this piece. I was introduced to Bread by the Norton family while living in Brazil during my Jr. High years...Enjoy a little background music while reading...

"Make It With You" Lyrics Link

 

I need to replace these shoes...

Smelly, story-laden shoes

They are comfy, still have a lot of life, but a bit smelly...even when I wear socks! I hate replacing them, but the scent of feet in unbreathable shoes is getting to me, not to mention my husband and daughter. They've been kind and laugh when I remove my shoes and run to the bathroom to wash my feet.



My Monika and Me

But these sturdy shoes need to bless someone else's feet with the rest of the life they have ahead. I spent yesterday shopping with Monika looking for a replacement, but no dice yet. I must endure the ripe olfactory wisps until then.

But I will miss them. They have a story to tell...

I got them around February of 2006, right before my Bammel church women's retreat. I was asked to lead the singing that year and nervous as a cat on its way to getting a bath.

But Mom taught me years ago if I am asked to help out at church, and can do it, just do it. It will bless me and others.

How right you were mom!


My amazing Mother!

I sang my heart out...maybe too much...but what a great retreat that was! I recall traveling to the retreat with my good friend then Dollwyn, and hearing wonderful lessons about how being in the family of God is akin to royalty, and to never ever forget it as long as I live!


I have not. It's guided me when the externals threaten otherwise.

What I remember when I look at my shoes is the role Bammel played in my life. John and I had been married 10 years when we began attending church there. He was a New-Englander come Texan four years prior. Bammel had a profound impact on my early spiritual formation and I wanted him to know this group of people too, and hoped they had not changed. But they had...they had only gotten better!

Boston

I first heard of Bammel when my youth group went for a youth retreat from our then temporary home of four months in Corpus Christi to Houston for a weekend. We had so much fun that weekend while growing our personal faith in God. I made new friends as a newly transplanted MK from Brazil to the US, and was made to feel so at home because of the love I saw radiated at Bammel.

When we began attending Bammel in 2004, John and I were welcomed with open arms and enfolded by Michael Montalvo, a wonderful minister that reached out to John and made him feel as if time and space had never separated them as brothers.

Houston

Gail Matthews was my mentor, allowing me to stretch a newly found gift; writing. She put me right to work editing a quarterly women's newsletter. I so enjoyed each newsletter we published with the help of a dedicated staff. I learned so much from the other contributors, namely Holly Lewis whose writings on motherhood watered my dreams of being a mother one day. I also enjoyed researching and writing my own pieces; it got me out of my head and focused on the good things God was laying on my heart to share.

I will always have great memories of Bammel because of these shoes. Though we are back in Houston, and not at Bammel, I still have great respect and admiration for the theology and work Bammel does, and look forward to events we can share together as lovers of Jesus!

There are so many other reasons Bammel has a piece of my heart...too many to go into, but know it's all good!!!



Catfishing with my awesome Father!

Since we left Bammel in 2007 a lot of life happened. One of the best lessons I learned during that time was what my father taught me long ago; appreciate those you love while you can, because you never know when you won't have them anymore.
So during some years we were away from Houston, I sought to appreciate my family and current friends more while reaching out to new friends. I learned a lot of lessons; mostly that it's easier said than done, but not impossible, for in the end, reaching out is always worth the attempt no matter the outcome! Thanks Dad!

Glad to be back in Houston by my folks! They're super grandparents to seven grands already, and will be getting their eighth grand in Monika!


With my sweetie hanging out at our San Antonio home!

You see, John and I are first-time parents! A quick note about us and our marriage of 21 years: If either of us had a seven-year itch, it was not evident. We so enjoy each other's company. Now at mid-life, we are chosing parenthood over crisis and loving it!

John is an amazing carpenter, landscaper, business-owner when he ran an irrigation company, faithful employee, focused worker, Financial Peace University facilitator with a teacher's heart, runner, soccer-lover, beloved friend! I could go on, but you get the picture. He's near perfect and only getting better. We are each other's mutual admiration society and have never doubted for an instant that God formed our lives in such a way as to "bump into each other" when we did. For the day we started dating, we never looked back and there were never any others...just so grateful!


First family selfie

And now, back to our story...

We just gave life to a bouncing beautiful teenager named Monika and are living the dream!

I was wondering how I'd introduce this piece of news onto Coffee...but timing and story are everything...and this is the point in the story of our lives when I can reveal our latest happiness!

So as I go shopping for new shoes, I am reminded of all the good "new's" I have had in my life... new loyal friends when moving to the US at 14 years of age, new experiences when I went off to an inspirational college-OC, new first adult job in Boston with the incomparable Ketchen-Lipson family, new husband, new start in Houston 6 years into our married life, new dreams of children and finally a new daughter to love and share our wisdom, wit and wonder with!

I can't find a period, so I'll end as my mother does, "let's put a comma here..."

***

This piece is dedicated to my husband, family and non-blood kin, particularly Harry Lipson who has encouraged me lately to keep writing my Coffee At My Table blog after a lot of time away! Harry, you're a wonderful friend, great husband to a super-woman in Bev, father to two of the kindest human beings I know-Sarah & Andy-my beloved charges of days long past, a big-brother persona, great mentor and former employer, and the most knowledgeable person on Texas music sending me the latest and greatest from your computer in Arlington, MA with the most breath-taking view of Boston!!!

The limitless that is borne from the limited

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 So many good gifts. So little time.

I am going to attend worship service at my local congregation shortly. We sing unaccompanied by instruments. But during the week I enjoy a plethora of accompanied music, Christian, lite jazz, lite classical, blue grass, folk, country classics, pop classics and too many other genres to mention. There is a world of music too grand to know, and there are tunes yet to be written.

What is amazing is each song is written from the basic building blocks of 8 notes.



 I have loved music since a child. At one point I panicked thinking that all the notes would run out and no more songs could be written. I also had the same feeling about the 26 letters of the alphabet; that at one point everything of value would be written and one day all written works would dry up, and the landscape of humanity would find itself sitting in a vast wasteland wondering what to do next.

 

Well, the wonderful thing about appreciating God's good gifts as a Christian are all the good gifts God has for us to create for His glory to uplift those created in His image. There is an eternity of songs, literature and innumerable other gifts waiting to be created from the finite and limited sources around us.

The builder with a good eye looks at wood and sees the home that will house others. The seamstress/clothing designer with clear vision looks at wool and cotton and sees the beautiful clothing made to honor the human body. The engineer looks with a sound mind at materials waiting to be forged into machines to better humanity. The teacher with a good heart sees the opportunity to create a more sound human being, who better fit into their families and society.

 

I think you get the picture.

So after a week's worth of work in my own arena using the materials God has given me to build up those around me, I go worship the God who gave me the gifts I have, leaving all at the door to focus on Him with the congregation, joining their hearts, minds and voices to mine. By myself with Christ in my heart, mind and voice I know my sacrifice of praise is worthy. But bound together with the congregation, the love poured to God is limitless and undefinable.

Does this sound strange and hypocritical? It is no more strange than the fact a couple shares their hearts, minds and bodies in proper intimacy that they may better serve humanity by bringing more humans into the world and being better equipped in heart, mind and body to do the work needed in the world.

 

I have come to learn that worshiping and beseeching Eternal God to help build up and steward His creation with limited resources is one of the recipes for happiness in good times and fuels steadfast joy in times of trial. This plays into health and ultimately holiness. I also believe these three work together and only Holy God can judge rightly how this all works out. Mine is to do what He asks of me and praise Him all the more for His good gifts, the first being His beautiful and perfect son, Jesus.

Thank you God that in seeking to obey You and reflect Your Son by the power of Your Most Holy Spirit I am relieved of playing God. May my finite plans be put in Your Eternal and most capable hands. When any kind of joy-stealing wall is put up, give me the grace to tear it down with Divine Love. May our limited resources always be used for Your unlimited pleasure and attract others to your Door, that we may help all enter who are looking. May we encourage all who need it, always blessing those who even reject You. For only You know the depths of cursing others in our minds and hearts and the damage it can do to our souls when we give in.

Amen.

May your limits be healed and you find unlimited joy in eternal God! The sun is rising and I am going to enjoy a walk among God's handiwork.

This post is dedicated to those whose limits have been reached, who don't know where to turn when energy and hope have run out. This is your day to find help and healing in God, one of whose many names is Jehovah Rapha, meaning The Lord that heals, and El Olam, meaning The Everlasting God. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him" [Psalm 34:8] 



Thanksgiving through the gift of music

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(Click video for wonderful background music as you read on...)

This song takes me back to my Oklahoma Christian years, a wonderful institution full of good memories, patient professors and the start of friendships that still linger. It's amazing how music has been a part of my life's walk.

We had a lot of music in our home growing up. Roger Miller, Peter Paul & Mary, Trini Lopez, the classics and some jazz. We enjoyed a capella music from Camp Yamhill, Oregon by some precious people who formed a mission team, later working in the city of Belo Horizonte concurrently with my parent's mission team in Sao Paulo.

My parents sang in the car nearly everywhere we went. In fact, my best friend Regina and I loved singing songs in the back of our Volkswagen Kombi; The Monkeys, The Beatles, The Partridge Family, The Osmonds and Jackson Five as well as songs from musicals like The Sound of Music.

Later I collected my own records, Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, ELO, some Styx albums, and yes, Debbie Boone. I played a little guitar and owned nearly every John Denver LP made. For the kids, an LP is short for Long Play vinyl records, the big black disks that look like plate chargers. I actually had the sound track to Star Wars, not knowing I would get to see John Williams perform in person as conductor of the Boston Pops years later when I moved to the Boston area.

While in Boston, as fortune would have it, I got to meet some wonderful singer song writers when I worked for a folk music producer named Harry Lipson, owner of Folk Tree Concertmakers. I took ticket orders over the phone for the concerts, and got to know some of the artists who wrote many of the songs I sang growing up. I worked with great people who taught me a lot about the good things in life through the art of music.

You could say music helped bring my husband and I together, as well as our faith, love of soccer and enjoyment of family. We loved listening to U2 and Sinead O'Connor. John took me to see U2's Achtung Baby and Zooropa concerts. Later John worked one job for Folk Tree, driving folk artist Nanci Griffith and her entourage around. We still have a hand written piece of paper from Nanci's band that was taped to the back seat of the van driver's seat that read, "Today's name is John." When we married, we chose to have dancing at our wedding with many of the songs we enjoyed growing up, including "Dancing Queen" from one of my favorite bands ABBA.

A caveat: The previous part of my post is not meant to offend anyone in my life who has chosen temperance and non-dancing as their expression of devotion to God. It's simply my own history that I am thankful for and enjoy sharing. My wish is you hear gratitude, and not bragging or sounding like I am better or smarter than my relatives, which may somehow be misconstrued. It's simply the generation I grew up in. I have sought to live out my life as a Christian against this background, although I have tremendous respect for the values of the 1950s. I have lived out those same values on a very different stage, post-Ozzy and Harriet America.

Then there have been times when I have reduced my song list to Christian music alone to help me cope through difficulties. But the truth is that Christian music and hymns are a part of a wider portfolio of music I credit God for using to help lift my spirits at opportune times.

Just this morning John and I reiterated our love of filling our own home with music and happiness on the road to doing life. It's been a wonderful gift to marry into a family that appreciates music as well. John's brother Pete, John and I would listen to music each summer on our treck to the annual family vacation spot at Lake Willoughby, VT. John's mother teaches piano and voice. She and I enjoy singing Christmas carols together as we did long ago at the piano with John's sister Cathy.

Today my favorite genres are still light jazz, light classical, Christian, folk, country classics, the best of popular '60s forward. I have barely gotten started as I think of so many more instances where music, family and life have intertwined.

Here is a '70s musical review by a funny man named Tim Hawkins. He is a modern-day Red Skelton. I hope my folks and their contemporaries enjoy this slice of silliness and not think we have strayed far from their path, but instead see the unique opportunities we have to live our faith, family and fun in our own world. I hope that the next generation enjoys the fact that their parents can have as much fun today as ever. I hope all three generations [or more] bond more this Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

This post is dedicated to Harry Lipson of Folk Tree Concertmakers. Harry, thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with Folk Tree and your family for so many wonderful years. You are a class act, were a great boss and wonderful mentor in the art of customer service. Have a terrific Thanksgiving in beautiful New England!