Hello, Stewart, @copelandmusic

I was having a telephone conversation with a friend of mine. This person is extremely smart, a writer, a stand up comedian, a singer, and a totally cool person, who has listened to me sort of fall apart, off and on (the falling apart part, not the listening part) for quite a few years.

(His name is Michael Dane. He's written two books, which are available on Amazon.)

Anyway, for a few days last week, Michael and I talked every day on my drive home from work. I periodically need this type of mental hand-holding; I have a lot of emotions, not all of them good ones, and Michael manages to listen, make me laugh, and apply a bit of real-world gravitas and experience (I've used gravitas in a sentence before, haven't I?) to my little mental breakdowns.

(We also talk about him. It's not a one-sided thing at all.)

Anyway, Michael has been listening to me for a while now, and reading my blogs, when there is one, and after all my whatever-ing on the phone, said something (not a direct quote but okay, let's see if I can imitate his vocalisms) like, "Hey, lady, when are you going to do some writing?"

And then he suggested that I start doing this very thing, i.e., writing to you.

I explained to him that at one time, that's exactly what I used to do, and I don't know if he was messing with me or what, but he was all, "Yes, dummy, that. Do it."

So here I am, someone who allows good friends only to call her dummy, writing to you. Again.

There's been a lot of motion and emotion, action and inaction, and tears and stuff since my last message to you, but there's also been an increase in music and my hair is different, and I got a promotion, so it's not all bad.

Although, and this is a major thing to add as an "although," on July 20, 2014, a few months after my last letter to you was published here, my mother passed away.

That will be addressed later. I have things to say, obviously. It's quite possible that it's the reason for all the other stuff I've mentioned up there, though, I am probably the main one. Reason, I mean.

For now, let me just say: I hope that you are well. I hope your family and friends are well. I hope you're busy and musical and happy. I'm just okay right now, but that's better than I've been at other times (and I've been awesome at times, too, this just isn't one of them and that's fine) so hey. Let's get this thing going again. I'm all set, on my side.

Love,
Irene