Deaths & Injuries

The year 2011 began with a madman trying to kill my Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, yet succeeding in killing Gabe Zimmerman and five others instead, and wounding an additional thirteen. My only sister, Pamela Jenks, died from breast cancer on June 21st, 2011, and my mother, Mary Jenks, succumbed to her dementia on July 7th, 2011. There are empty spaces in my life where people once were. There's an empty chair, in the House Chamber of our nation's Capitol, where Gabby once sat; an empty desk at my local House Congressional office, where Gabe once worked; an empty Laz-E-Boy recliner at Crossroads Adult Care Home in Tucson, where Mary once held court; an empty sofa in my ancestral home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where my sister once watched Glee on TV. Perhaps Gabby will again return to Congress, but my mother, sister, Gabe and others can only return as angel/ghosts in my dreams or as loving spirits in my living room. I miss them. So here are a few sonic prayers for these people and for other folk as well; Mark, Charteuse, the Hopi, the Angel/Ghosts, the Injured and many more I haven't mentioned. By my definition, my prayers are not pleas to God to intercede, but instead, kind, compassionate, and loving thoughts for those who live now, and for those who have died. I don't expect God to heal the sick, raise the dead, or cure the mad, but I do expect God to be a infinite, constant energy of love, light, and goodness in the Universe. I expect He, She or It to be nearby, so I can reach in and pull out a bit of the love and light, keeping only a smidgen for myself and giving the rest to others in the world. At least, that's the plan. And if God gives us the occasional miracle, I surely don't complain. These songs are my prayers. Merry Christmas, and Happy Solstice, everyone. And peace on Earth, goodwill toward all beings. Dogs and cats included. - Stu Jenks, December 13th, 2011, Tucson, Arizona. Deaths & Injuries by Stu Jenks 1) Bright Morning Stars 2:50 2) Prayer For Chartreuse Wellingham 7:43 3) Prayer For The Hopi Clowns 13:09 4) Prayer For Gabe Zimmerman 6:01 5) Prayer For Gabby Giffords 8:53 6) Prayer For Mark Kelly 6:45 7) Prayer For Mary Jenks 4:03 8) Prayer For Pamela Jenks 7:22 9) Prayer For The Injured 7:15 10) Prayer For The Angel/Ghosts 14:45 Total Run Time: 78:46 Produced by Stu Jenks. Recorded 2011, at Studio BR-549, Owlery Studio and WaveLab Studio, Tucson, Arizona; and at Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California. Fezziwig Press: P.O. Box 161, Tucson, Arizona, 85702 All music by Stu Jenks, except Bright Morning Stars (Traditional) and Prayer For Gabby Giffords (Stu Jenks and Craig Schumacher). Mixed and mastered at WaveLab Studio, Tucson, Arizona, by Craig Schumacher and Chris Schultz. Stu Jenks: E-MU XK-6 Synthesizer, Baldwin Spinet Piano, Bina Harmonium, and Hardman & Peck Baby Grand Piano. Craig Schumacher: Effects. The Pacific Ocean: Waves Sounds and Bird Calls. CD Design by Gail Cross, of Desert Isle Design, Mesa, Arizona All Photos, 'Catawba Falls Hoop Dance, North Carolina', 'Bozos At Point Reyes, California', 'Cedar Breaks Star Circle, Utah', Ed-Lil, Virginia'. and 'Mary On The Fourth Of July, Arizona' by Stu Jenks, except 'Stu Stepping Over A Piano Bench, WaveLab Studio, Tucson, Arizona' by Jeff Smith, and 'Cowgirl Pamela, Virginia' by Stuart Jenks Sr.