Thunderbolt

On Wednesday, Jacob put up the bravest Instagram post I’ve ever seen from him. In it, he talked about how cystic fibrosis has not only affected his physical health, but his mental health. This took courage because this young man is only 17. Throughout the years, he’s struggled with what it’s like to have CF, and what it MEANS to CF. So much of his life has been defined by being Jacob Malchus, the son, the cousin, the best friend, that boy in school or church who has CF, he wondered what it would mean not to have something that has been a part of him for his entire life, even though it’s a chronic illness. That’s a pretty tough question, one that most adults would have difficulty answering, let alone a teenager. Being his father, I’ve witnessed Jacob’s struggles first hand. I’ve lost count the number of times I wished I could reach in and remove CF from his body. It’s every parent’s dream that their child stays healthy. On their way home from...

Cystic fibrosis has been in the collective conscious this year.  A recent contestant on American Idol has CF; Salt in My Soul , a heart wrenching posthumous memoir from CF’er Mallory Smith, was released to universal acclaim, and Five Feet Apart , a mainstream Hollywood feature film tackling the illness was not only a critical success, but a box office hit. More and more people are becoming aware of cystic fibrosis and asking, “What can I do to help?” This year’s Great Strides is a mere two weeks away. As with every year in the past 17 of Jacob’s life, I’m reaching out for your help. This past year has been Jacob’s most challenging yet. Three stays in the hospital resulting in pic lines for at-home antibiotic treatments, and just recently a surgery to have a feeding tube placed in his stomach for supplemental nourishment. Throughout ever challenge he faces, Jacob continues to maintain his humor and positive outlook. And throughout it all, Jacob’s sister, Sop...

This dog... ❤️🙁

In my formative years, my interest in 60s r&b led me to two titans of music. The first was Otis Redding, and the second was Aretha. Describing her music as “timeless” is an understatement. What I discovered in the 1980s sounded as vital and fresh as it did in the 60s. Moreover, Aretha’s songs still sound contemporary in the 21st century. Not only did her music open my ears to some of the most humanistic performances ever, but it was something that Julie and I connected over when we met. Aretha’s music was with us throughout the 90s and has since been ingrained in the lives of our kids. I’m proud that Sophie and Jacob won’t be able to tell people when they first heard “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “I Never Loved a Man” and “Natural Woman” because those songs were always around when they were growing up. Today we lost a legend, a superlative that doesn’t seem great enough. Thank God we have the music. Her spirit will live on.   RIP Ms. Franklin.

Tom Petty's music touched every facet of my life. From discovering rock n' roll and through my formative years, to college and becoming an adult, meeting Julie, moving to CA and the birth of my kids. Petty was always there. Even more than Springsteen, Petty was always there. I can name any Petty song and pinpoint the moment in my life when it first transformed me. This summer, I finally read Warren Zanes' warts and all biography of Tom Petty. It's fantastic, and Petty, who was interviewed and gave his blessing to the book, is brutally honest about the harrowing details of his life. This was a man who endured and persevered. He was far from perfect, but he did hia best.  If you have an opportunity, pick it up. It's the perfect companion to Peter Bogdanovich's epic documentary, "Runnin Down a Dream." I may not have loved the most recent Heartbreakers albums, but that was okay. The Mudcrutch records contained the ramshackle looseness that I loved about so...

Last night I saw Martin Scorsese's new motion picture, SILENCE. It's a profound and deeply moving story about one man's struggle with his faith and the power of forgiveness. The cast, led by Andrew Garfield, features Adam Driver, Tadanobu Asano, Yosuke Kubozuka, Shinya Tsukamoto, Issey Ogata and Liam Neeson. Every performance is exceptional and the film is a technical wonder. This may be Scorsese's most restrained movie in his storied career; it is also his most personal. Do not shy away from it because it's rated R. I've seen more violence and senseless death in the Marvel super hero adventures. Likewise, the 2 hour 41 min running time doesn't feel like a slog. The plot and pacing are perfect.

"When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.