Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Simply Summer - Six Cups of Water

Radiation treatment is not fun, not at any season of the year, but especially not in summer. 

When a member of a local community chorus in the New York City borough of Brooklyn was diagnosed with cancer, he didn't take it lying down.  OK, he did have to take it lying down, but his voice wasn't going to be stilled.

Partially out of boredom and partially to entertain his fellow patients undergoing radiation treatment, this man, my friend of many years, decided to write and sing songs while undergoing his treatments.

Hence, something we can call Six Cups of Water in Three Variations.  Why six cups of water?  My friend must drink six cups of water before the treatment begins.  And, then, hold it in until the treatment ends.

He's passed his halfway point and "only has 20 more treatments to go."
The video above came out the best, probably because I finally figured out that the lighting was all wrong in the first two.  Remember, I am just starting out in my video career.

So without further ado...Six Cups of Water.

My friend graciously (OK, eagerly) sang all three songs in the series.  The third video (the first one I shot) didn't come out that well (don't ask why part of it is sideways-you really don't want to know), but the audio is fine - I just don't have the knowledge or software to fix the video portion up.  So VERTIGO WARNING close your eyes and just listen to the music on this third one.

And remember, you might have to pay good money one day to hear him sing!  Just think if these take off and go viral....probably not but we can dream.

If you like what you heard please show my friend some blog love, and tell him so in the comments!

16 comments:

  1. What a spirit! This man is a survivor. All the best to him and love your post.

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    1. Thank you. I've known him for over 40 years, and his wife for over 50. I think he will get such a kick out of being blogged about.

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  2. ah, yes, beginning in video. But, it's the audio that counts.

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    1. Thanks, Roy. I will get better with the video - and I hope my friend made someone's day easier today.

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  3. I can follow the song in my mind because of the familiar tunes. I like the thought to make a song out of an arduous task. With your positive frame of mind, you should voercome any obstacle. Sing, man, sing.

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    1. Thank you. This man reads my blog, and I hope he will read the comments and know that people from all over the country, and all over the world, are thinking of him today.

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  4. What a courageous, enterprising spirit your friend has! God bless him through his cancer treatment (and I hope the videos go viral--they are great!!) with many hopes for full recovery!

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    1. Thank you for your prayers - I felt so honored to have the opportunity to share these songs. (His wife is the crocheter/knitter whose work I shared last Friday, by the way.) I've seen him on stage performing for the public. This has been a post-retirement enjoyment for him. May he enjoy it for many years more!

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  5. I didn't listen to the videos, but I think that's a very sweet idea! And I hope they do go viral, along with his singing career. :)

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    1. Thank you for the good wishes. I'm sure he loves the chance to have his music heard more widely.

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  6. THAT was amazing! Truly an inspiration. I am going to share this with a relative that has been battling the vicious "C" for far too long. Maybe it will encourage him!

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    1. That's why my friend sings...I hope it has some effect, even a tiny one. I'll be hoping.

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  7. More!!!! More!!! These were GREAT and I can hardly wait until he finishes the album! How about something to the tune of "Another One Bites The Dust?" (Another cancer cell, that is.) Thanks to you and your friend for the inspiration. EQ

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  8. In our family such songs are called dotties (as opposed to ditties). If there are not set to music then they are pomes (as opposed to poems). We have a lot, many have lasted no longer than the day that they were composed. But the point is not their longevity but the moment in which they were concieved. The laughter, the silliness and the companionship. I pray and hope that this wonderful composer goes on to compose many more dotties, especially ones about how he kicked cancer.

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  9. What clever songs! It's good to see someone take on cancer with such bravery and strength in humour.

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    1. Thank you for listening in. All of you, my blog friends, have given him encouragement, and I thank you all.

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