I have recently had some difficult news as my father has recently had a stroke. This is his worst nightmare, as a normally free man is restricted to a bed with no movement or speech. He can hear well and after putting on Test Match Special his smile grew my next choice for him was ‘Dig Lazarus Dig’ hoping for some miracle/ biblical come back. This did not happen (obviously) but the smile and joy of him hearing ‘Midnight Man’ is hopefully a sign of recovery. My question is how did you deal with suddenly everyone looking for you as a point of strength, I have gone from looking after myself and being self-absorbed with everyday life to suddenly my whole family looking to me for guidance through this difficult time. I am only a week into this but feel so emotionally drained that I will just implode. Any tips appreciated.
ZACK @ Issue no. 245After the sudden and tragic death of our beautiful son, Dominic, my brother recommended for me not to listen to ‘Ghosteen’. Like my son, never one to be told what to do, I found it comforting and consoling but am still struggling with a reason to continue in this mostly beautiful yet, too often, painful world. How have you and your family been able to create meaning through such devastation?
CAROL @ Issue no. 95Do you pray with you’r family and maybe friends, hopeing that sometimes ‘someone’ leesen you’r despered ‘litle’ iner-voice, to get answer or gidence, ephifany, in this cruel world, which most of us taket for granted?
GIANELLI @ Issue no. 50I was first introduced to you by my stepfather in the early 80s. I was around 8 years old. I would later find much solace during a difficult time in The Boatman’s Call. Now I have 3 young boys and I find it to be the one thing that fills me with both fear and hope. I have an aching about the future world they are coming into. It confuses me – the darkness seems overwhelming.
NICK @ Issue no. 38So to continue! You say you would freak the fuck out when you heard that you have only 72 hours to live. I don’t hear you writing anything about your sons and the other band members. Did you forget them?
CAROLINA @ Issue no. 15How do you manage to balance your creative life with your family commitments? I’ve been a ‘hobby’ painter for years, but since the first COVID lockdown, I have taken it way more seriously and have reached a point where it’s all I want to do. I’m genuinely thrilled by what is happening at the end of the brush, but I am increasingly aware of the cost of hours and hours spent in my shed rather than with my wife and son. My desire to create feels like a compulsion, and I’m struggling to work out whether it’s the purpose of my life or some kind of mental illness. I’m in my 50s and still have a real job. I’m realistic about the unlikelihood of ever being able to paint full-time. But I believe, as much as I believe in anything, that this is the real thing and is of value. I want to spend every hour I can exploring this world. Any thoughts you have would be very welcome.
JOHN @ Issue no. 318