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Remembering Walter Parazaider, the Man Who Dreamed of a Rock Band with Horns
Walter Parazaider, the woodwind player from the band Chicago who passed away yesterday at age 81, was the first famous saxophone player I knew by name. As an only child, I had to discover music on my own. It wasn’t until 1985 that I learned that there was a rock and roll band with horns (Walt’s dream) but after I did, there was no turning back. Chicago vaulted to the top of my all-time favorites list and remains one of my top two bands of all time. And it all began with a question. Discovering Chicago and Walt When kids pick up an instrument and learn it, many have established…
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What Happened After I Said Yes
The Rewards of Leaning into Fear: How three weeks, a borrowed saxophone, and a terrifying invitation reminded me that growth still begins with “yes.”
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The Writer Waiting on the Other Side
Have you ever actually felt the Muse alive in you as you’re writing? Last week, I actually did, and I realized it nearly in real time. Let me explain. “Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him.” Those are the words Ben Kenobi tells young Luke Skywalker forty-nine years ago (in this galaxy) about the mysterious energy field that surrounds, penetrates, and binds the galaxy together. We creative types know our version of the Force. It’s the Muse. She’s there to help us create something from nothing, guiding us through our creative blocks and drawing on lessons from the past to make the best possible thing at the…