I have a new website and updated blog setup.
So you can pick up with the newer entries here..
My new website blog
So you can pick up with the newer entries here..
My new website blog
The adventures of a modern day troubadour..
Monday, November 23, 2015
Saturday, July 4, 2015
A magazine story about our touring life...
Hi everyone! The text of the story is below the images. I've been meaning to post this which came out in the current issue of the Folk Harp Journal. They asked me to write a story about our road tours, (during a road tour) so it was easy and fun to do. I hope this gives you an idea of what our life is like when we are on the road. I have posted many videos on this blog of our actual tours, and this is what what happens behind those scenes.
Three weeks into our current month-long string of shows I’m
sitting in the back seat of my trusty van with the little white trailer
behind us. We have been traveling and performing this tour for
three adventurous years. This current tour includes flights to the
freezing Midwest and driving to fifteen shows from California to
New Mexico. Right now, we are passing through long stretches of
desert lands with luminous clouds floating as only they can do in
the rich skies of the Southwest.
Fronted by illustrious Celtic storyteller and wire strung harpist Patrick Ball, our trio blends stories and music to create a theatrical experience that is rich in history, humor and, of course, music. Aryeh and I play nylon-strung harps as well as Swedish nyckelharpa, cittern, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, bodhrán and Irish bouzouki. We all have vibrant careers separately, but were delighted when Patrick saw our duo show and shared his idea with us to create something new together.
Our original show Legends of the Celtic Harp traces the stories, myths and historic writing about the harp as it travels through the centuries. Our seasonal show is called A Winter Gift. Our current tour is our newest show called The Door Between the Worlds about the mysterious Celtic “Otherworld.”
We have performed throughout the U.S., including Hawaii and two Alaskan tours; often traveling by air, usually by land and even by sea. On our last month-long tour we drove from California to Rhode Island, down the eastern seaboard and back across the country. We had to abandon my tired, fluid-expelling van in Texas and travel home in a U-Haul with my faithful little trailer behind us. Now we’re in my new van. Patrick is in the front passenger seat reading from his abundant pile of books, Aryeh is at the wheel listening to his favorite podcast and I am, as usual, working on my laptop.
As we move through this beautiful scenery I think a lot about the troubadours of the past. A story in our Legends show tells the epic saga of “Gwilan’s Harp,” by Ursula K. LeGuin, a tale of a young girl’s journey with her harp and her life of music and rebirth in Ireland circa 1000 AD. Unlike Gwilan, for us there is no horse and cart. We have cruise control and a GPS. But the mission is the same—to share in the love of harps, music and connection.
Fronted by illustrious Celtic storyteller and wire strung harpist Patrick Ball, our trio blends stories and music to create a theatrical experience that is rich in history, humor and, of course, music. Aryeh and I play nylon-strung harps as well as Swedish nyckelharpa, cittern, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, bodhrán and Irish bouzouki. We all have vibrant careers separately, but were delighted when Patrick saw our duo show and shared his idea with us to create something new together.
Our original show Legends of the Celtic Harp traces the stories, myths and historic writing about the harp as it travels through the centuries. Our seasonal show is called A Winter Gift. Our current tour is our newest show called The Door Between the Worlds about the mysterious Celtic “Otherworld.”
We have performed throughout the U.S., including Hawaii and two Alaskan tours; often traveling by air, usually by land and even by sea. On our last month-long tour we drove from California to Rhode Island, down the eastern seaboard and back across the country. We had to abandon my tired, fluid-expelling van in Texas and travel home in a U-Haul with my faithful little trailer behind us. Now we’re in my new van. Patrick is in the front passenger seat reading from his abundant pile of books, Aryeh is at the wheel listening to his favorite podcast and I am, as usual, working on my laptop.
As we move through this beautiful scenery I think a lot about the troubadours of the past. A story in our Legends show tells the epic saga of “Gwilan’s Harp,” by Ursula K. LeGuin, a tale of a young girl’s journey with her harp and her life of music and rebirth in Ireland circa 1000 AD. Unlike Gwilan, for us there is no horse and cart. We have cruise control and a GPS. But the mission is the same—to share in the love of harps, music and connection.
For our Legends ofthe Celtic Harp show Patrick’s opening monologue
is quick to point out that we never thought of ourselves as the
legends (although our mothers might think we are). But we have
such an appreciation for the Celtic harp we wanted to share with
others some of the history and legends of this instrument that
we love so much. There is no one more suited to deliver this
collection of stories than Patrick Ball. With a master’s degree in
Irish history and a deep love for spoken word, he is among one
of the most beloved storytellers in the world. The San Francisco
Chronicle calls him “an American master of the Irish instrument,
a peripatetic modern day bard.” He has been frequently recognized
by the National Storytelling Association and awards from various
arts councils as well. The man has sold over half a million albums,
and Aryeh and I smile every time someone brings him their vinyl
copies of his early work to sign.
Aryeh is a masterful musician. We have been working together as a duo for eight years now and we are a duo in life as well. I had admired him from afar long before we met for his wondrous hybrid of World and progressive music. Aryeh started violin lessons as a toddler. Classically trained on violin (his mother is a violin maker), he later also taught himself to play many other instruments including Celtic harp. He was invited by some fiddlers to perform a large concert in Sweden and it was there he discovered a love for Swedish music—particularly the Nyckelharpa that he now considers his main instrument. He still plays a lot of harp in our shows, but he has become known for helping to introduce this rare instrument from the 14th century to folks in the States. He is a top-notch sound engineer and producer as well and when we’re not on the road you can find him most happily working away in our recording studio.
As for me, I started guitar as a young kid, electric bass as a teen, playing with heavy metal, classic rock, and Top 40 cover bands to make my living. I discovered the harp in my early 20s and taught myself by playing along to my Pink Floyd albums. I went to Musicians Institute of Technology in Hollywood for further studies of bass, but when I put together my first harp band, it was clear that this was my true love. I did a lot of unusual gigs and ended up busking on Venice Beach selling handmade recordings. I traveled around the country for years playing at malls and festivals in the U.S. and Canada, I started my own record label, and then signed with Windham Hill.
The tragedy at Columbine changed my direction when one of the families was finding my music useful to help their critically wounded daughter sleep. I visited them with my harp at the hospital and then told the harp chat group online I wanted to get the young girl a little harp of her own. Donations came from harpists around the country and with the help of Triplett we got her a full size Celtic harp. This inspired me to start music programs in various hospitals in California starting with City of Hope National Cancer Center. We had concerts in the lobbies with artists such as Kim Robertson, Sylvia Woods and Alfredo Ortiz, hands-on experiences, daytime music in the patient care areas, and loaner harps for the patients. This program continues to be successful, and I enjoy sharing what we have learned with others. Whenever possible, I still fill my van with 20 harps and do tours of cancer centers, schools, rehab centers and similar facilities.
Aryeh is a masterful musician. We have been working together as a duo for eight years now and we are a duo in life as well. I had admired him from afar long before we met for his wondrous hybrid of World and progressive music. Aryeh started violin lessons as a toddler. Classically trained on violin (his mother is a violin maker), he later also taught himself to play many other instruments including Celtic harp. He was invited by some fiddlers to perform a large concert in Sweden and it was there he discovered a love for Swedish music—particularly the Nyckelharpa that he now considers his main instrument. He still plays a lot of harp in our shows, but he has become known for helping to introduce this rare instrument from the 14th century to folks in the States. He is a top-notch sound engineer and producer as well and when we’re not on the road you can find him most happily working away in our recording studio.
As for me, I started guitar as a young kid, electric bass as a teen, playing with heavy metal, classic rock, and Top 40 cover bands to make my living. I discovered the harp in my early 20s and taught myself by playing along to my Pink Floyd albums. I went to Musicians Institute of Technology in Hollywood for further studies of bass, but when I put together my first harp band, it was clear that this was my true love. I did a lot of unusual gigs and ended up busking on Venice Beach selling handmade recordings. I traveled around the country for years playing at malls and festivals in the U.S. and Canada, I started my own record label, and then signed with Windham Hill.
The tragedy at Columbine changed my direction when one of the families was finding my music useful to help their critically wounded daughter sleep. I visited them with my harp at the hospital and then told the harp chat group online I wanted to get the young girl a little harp of her own. Donations came from harpists around the country and with the help of Triplett we got her a full size Celtic harp. This inspired me to start music programs in various hospitals in California starting with City of Hope National Cancer Center. We had concerts in the lobbies with artists such as Kim Robertson, Sylvia Woods and Alfredo Ortiz, hands-on experiences, daytime music in the patient care areas, and loaner harps for the patients. This program continues to be successful, and I enjoy sharing what we have learned with others. Whenever possible, I still fill my van with 20 harps and do tours of cancer centers, schools, rehab centers and similar facilities.
A typical day on the road.
We’ll pull up to our venue for sound check around 4:00 PM, or earlier, grateful to have GPS. Some venues are impressive state of the art theaters; a fancy place where helpers with dollies await our arrival. Or a venue may be a dusty old church we’ve rented so we unload and roll everything in on our own. Aryeh likes to be left alone to set up the stage and sound board, and we have chosen to do our own sound from the stage. The unique qualities of the harps provide challenges so we have learned it’s better, faster and less stressful if Aryeh controls the sound. This set-up makes my Triplett harp, Aryeh’s Dusty Strings harp, Patrick’s Jay Witcher wire strung harp (made for him in 1980) and all the other instruments sound their best. I will then start setting up our sizable CD table, which includes about 30+ CD offerings between us, with rich table cloths and golden framed signs. We have sheet music books, t-shirts, posters and, sometimes, my mosaic work. We have descriptions for each CD, email lists, postcards and upcoming event brochures. It’s quite a presentation but selling merchandise is crucial for our bottom line and supporting these tours. During intermission and after the show we are always here to chat with folks and sign merchandise.
We’ll pull up to our venue for sound check around 4:00 PM, or earlier, grateful to have GPS. Some venues are impressive state of the art theaters; a fancy place where helpers with dollies await our arrival. Or a venue may be a dusty old church we’ve rented so we unload and roll everything in on our own. Aryeh likes to be left alone to set up the stage and sound board, and we have chosen to do our own sound from the stage. The unique qualities of the harps provide challenges so we have learned it’s better, faster and less stressful if Aryeh controls the sound. This set-up makes my Triplett harp, Aryeh’s Dusty Strings harp, Patrick’s Jay Witcher wire strung harp (made for him in 1980) and all the other instruments sound their best. I will then start setting up our sizable CD table, which includes about 30+ CD offerings between us, with rich table cloths and golden framed signs. We have sheet music books, t-shirts, posters and, sometimes, my mosaic work. We have descriptions for each CD, email lists, postcards and upcoming event brochures. It’s quite a presentation but selling merchandise is crucial for our bottom line and supporting these tours. During intermission and after the show we are always here to chat with folks and sign merchandise.
We’ll do sound check and get dressed in our finery and wait for the folks to come in. We often sell advance tickets online or we might just have to wait and see about the audience. I worry sometimes if all our promotion efforts will work, but as the people line up to enter I want to hug each person for coming.
No matter how tired we might be, from the first moments we start, and the first musical sighs and laughs of the audience, it is heaven. Patrick kicks into high gear. He is like the captain of a big ship that everyone boards. Aryeh and I are quickly switching instruments throughout the show but we still can marvel at all the smiling faces. The show features us playing both together and separately and Aryeh and I will tell a story or two as well. The audiences are diverse and the stories and music connect with people from every walk of life. It’s always a success and I feel like the luckiest gal in the world by the time we hear the generous ovation and do an encore. After the show if the venue is small enough I put my harp on the floor and invite audience members to play along with me. I play a left hand pattern and enjoy watching their delight as they pluck out a perfectly random harmonious melody, while their companions snap photos and videos of the moment. Patrick will chat with his admirers and we start the process of breaking down and loading up.
After the show we head to our accommodations for the evening. The venue might provide a hotel, but usually we are given shelter by local supporters and if we are lucky there’s a lovely spread of food and wine waiting for us. We are always famished after a show so my best intentions for eating healthy on the tour go out the window yet again. The hosts are generally wonderful, but we’ve had a few interesting experiences too. We rise the next day, find caffeine, drive for hours and do it all again. Along the way if we have down time we hang out in a coffee shop doing online work or find a local thrift shop to browse for unexpected treasures.
When we put together a tour, we usually start with what is known as “anchor” dates. These larger venues are usually somewhere Patrick has long-term relationships with the theater or cultural arts series. Often the cultural arts organizations are affiliated with local schools so we find times to present programs to entertain kids from kindergarten to high school. We have special stories for them, and explain each instrument and origin which I love. With the major dates confirmed we look at a map and find various smaller venues that make sense on the map. Those are often called “satellite” dates a couple of hours away in any direction. Aryeh writes letters to churches and sometimes harp chapter leaders around the country. If they agree to help us create an event, sometimes with workshops, then we create the route. If we fly, Aryeh and I are usually able and grateful to borrow harps from the local community, but Patrick always takes his wire-strung harp.
After the dates are confirmed I get to work on all the publicity six weeks before the dates. I write press releases, print, and mail posters ahead. I fill out calendar sections in newspapers and city websites and reach out to folk radio program hosts. I also seek out the arts and entertainment writers and bloggers. Writing to them personally often results in a newspaper story or radio/TV appearances. I seek out local folk musicians, Celtic groups, literary groups, college professors for music and world studies, and harp teachers to say hello and give them all the information regarding the show. It takes a lot of computer time but that’s the only way to make a tour work. I have worked hard to figure out the best ways to keep track of all the accounting and other do’s and don’ts. It has been such a learning process that I’m now writing a book about how to create successful concerts and tours for both the performers and the presenters. My new book will be a guide for both artists and venues to use for successful events. I hope the book will be out this year to help independent musicians take advantage of new opportunities we have in the music business.
So what is next for us? After this tour ends we will go about
our normal gigs until the next tour starts. Patrick will go off to
a European castle or some other wonderful place to enthrall his
listeners in a solo show. He just finished a new double CD release
recording of his “Tristan and Iseult” story. He will spend time
with his wife and grown daughter and beloved dog Max at their
beautiful ranch style home in rural Northern California.
Aryeh and I will go home to our cute cottage in a quaint San Francisco neighborhood. We’ll start a new album soon in our home studio, then go on to teach at music camps and harp conferences and do duo shows and house concerts. Aryeh will go right back to his usual gigs of festivals and farmers markets, where he does quite well selling CDs by the dozens amongst the spring produce and fine arts. I will use my time finishing my book, giving lessons on Skype, and writing new music. Sometimes providing background music at a casual gig is relaxing and often inspires new songs. My recordings are used in TV and independent movies, have been listed in the Top 20 of the Billboard New Age Charts, and are listed on most major streaming services, so I am lucky to own 100% of my publishing. Over the last 20 years, I’ve sold well over a million albums—from the early days of busking on the streets to the latest concerts and festivals.
Aryeh and I will go home to our cute cottage in a quaint San Francisco neighborhood. We’ll start a new album soon in our home studio, then go on to teach at music camps and harp conferences and do duo shows and house concerts. Aryeh will go right back to his usual gigs of festivals and farmers markets, where he does quite well selling CDs by the dozens amongst the spring produce and fine arts. I will use my time finishing my book, giving lessons on Skype, and writing new music. Sometimes providing background music at a casual gig is relaxing and often inspires new songs. My recordings are used in TV and independent movies, have been listed in the Top 20 of the Billboard New Age Charts, and are listed on most major streaming services, so I am lucky to own 100% of my publishing. Over the last 20 years, I’ve sold well over a million albums—from the early days of busking on the streets to the latest concerts and festivals.
We are working now on our next tours with Patrick which will
be in the Northwest for our Fall/Winter show. We’ll also have
scattered mini tours throughout the year and we will tour in Ireland
in 2016. If you’d like to follow our adventures in real time, you
can friend me (Lisa Lynne Franco), Aryeh Frankfurter or Patrick
Ball on Facebook. Since folks like to watch the adventures of my
little trailer on the road I’ve been creating a video blog for some
years to document my musical adventures. There are about 60 short
episodes on my website, or search YouTube for “Lisa Lynne vblog.”
If you’d like to be on our email list, please sign up at my website. LisaLynne.com.
You will receive a quarterly newsletter packed with fun stuff, videos, free music downloads, and our show schedules.
We hope to see you somewhere down the road! LegendsOfTheCelticHarp.com
If you’d like to be on our email list, please sign up at my website. LisaLynne.com.
You will receive a quarterly newsletter packed with fun stuff, videos, free music downloads, and our show schedules.
We hope to see you somewhere down the road! LegendsOfTheCelticHarp.com
Thursday, June 18, 2015
New Video - Luna de Amor
Here is one of my favorite songs. I wrote it in the mid-90's and it first appeared then on my "Moonsongs" CD. I re-recorded it more recently with Aryeh on our "Two Worlds One" CD. Aryeh is playing a viola that his mother made. Her website is www.woodenbabies.com
Monday, March 30, 2015
Lisa Lynne Vblog #44 Video tour of the Midwest and Southwest
Lisa Lynne Vblog #44 New Video - Our tour of the Midwest and Southwest
Off we went again, this time by plane to the Midwest and driving to the southwest. We experienced many special things and a variety of weather systems.
Off we went again, this time by plane to the Midwest and driving to the southwest. We experienced many special things and a variety of weather systems.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Lisa Lynne Vblog #43 - A Video of my Northwest adventure of music & art..
A fall trip driving to Seattle, a stop in Ashland for a Mosaic
conference, a visit to an organic farm, a Seattle harp conference at
Dusty Strings. Concert footage with fellow musicians, Aryeh Frankurter,
Kim Robertson, Patrick Ball, Erik Ask-Upmark, Beth Kolle, Laurie Riley,
Molly Bauckham, Kate Power. Special thanks to Sue and Ray Mooers for
hosting us all for such a great event. And the best party I've been to
in a long time!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Lisa Lynne Vblog #42 - Video tour across the USA!
Hi there folks, here is a video, a collection of images from our recent tour to the East Coast and back. Aryeh and I are narrating over the images. There's no way to capture all the adventures we had, and I even missed including a concert or two, but you get the idea. It was a very successful tour, but a lot of hard work as we did every aspect of it on our own. It's a new world out there for musicians and artists. Do it yourself is the new way of doing things. I will be writing a book soon about how to create your own tour and be successful on the road. So look for that soon! All the best, Lisa
Saturday, November 23, 2013
A live TV performance on PBS
We did a little visit to a PBS station to promote a series of concerts.
Aryeh and I played "Morning Star".. An original piece of music I wrote for a Windham Hill Christmas record. It's one of Aryeh's favorites, he is playing Swedish Nyckelharpa.
Monday, May 27, 2013
A Video of our tour of Hawaii with "Legends of the Celtic Harp"
Hi Folks, Here is the latest video from our recent Hawaii tour. We were there for two weeks and enjoyed many wonderful shows and visits with friends old and new.
Here is a video montage of some of my favorite moments.
Here is a video montage of some of my favorite moments.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Lisa Lynne Vblog #39 - Fun at Cazadero Camp 2012
Hi Friends, I haven't put up a video in several months, I have been having a wonderful summer with so many exciting events, I have so much footage but no time to edit it! But I did get this one done, and will soon be sharing more about the recent adventures.
This one features Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp. It was my first time there. Not long ago I was doing a concert in Oakland, and an important person was in the audience. She heard me talk about my traveling harps, and thought it would be perfect for the Camp that she runs. It's for kids of all ages to come and learn various arts and musical styles and instruments. I was happy to do it and had a wonderful time. I met many new friends and kindred spirits and learned that I actually love to teach! I have done a lot of workshops in the past, but this was every day four classes, about half the people were younger kids around eight years old.
I had so much fun every minute. I hope I can make a tradition of it.
Here is the video that gives an idea what it is like. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what all goes on there, but you get the vibe from here.
This one features Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp. It was my first time there. Not long ago I was doing a concert in Oakland, and an important person was in the audience. She heard me talk about my traveling harps, and thought it would be perfect for the Camp that she runs. It's for kids of all ages to come and learn various arts and musical styles and instruments. I was happy to do it and had a wonderful time. I met many new friends and kindred spirits and learned that I actually love to teach! I have done a lot of workshops in the past, but this was every day four classes, about half the people were younger kids around eight years old.
I had so much fun every minute. I hope I can make a tradition of it.
Here is the video that gives an idea what it is like. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what all goes on there, but you get the vibe from here.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
A Visit to the Musical Instrument Museum
A recent trip to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. I went to check out how they do their video presentations as I will be doing something similar for a museum in Tainan, Taiwan. It was a wonderful experience that I recommend to everyone. You can visit their site at www.TheMim.org
Monday, February 13, 2012
Legends of the Celtic Harp performs a tune by O'Carolan
I have been part of a wonderful new show with my favorite storytelling/harper Patrick Ball. We have created a performance that blends music and stories of the harp through time. We are having an incredible experience with it, we have played many fine theaters and the people just love the show. Patrick is so funny, and the stories are so heartwarming. Interesting facts about the harp, with folklore and myths too. Aryeh and I get to play other instruments besides our harps, and much of the music is from my collection of original compositions. Here is just a sample of what its like. On this clip that tells of the legendary harper O'Carolans early life.
I'll be posting more soon.
I'll be posting more soon.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Vblog #37- Lark in the Morning Music Camp!
Words just can't describe this wonderful music camp, so I'll just let my video do it.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Adoption Story Part Five - The meeting..
At last.. part five of this story!
Here are the previous parts:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
On June 14, 2011, I met my birth mother Olivia. After a lifetime of not knowing who or where I came from, it finally happened. Not only did I get to meet the woman who gave me my life, but a whole family of warm and loving people that are now in my life! I feel so blessed. I am still searching for the words. It's a profound self-puzzle with the pieces coming together everyday.
My family, Olivia's family, all of our loved ones have been so touched by this. The story takes on another level of complexity as Olivia is a stroke survivor. Eight years ago she suffered her second massive stroke which left her unable to walk, and with Aphasia, where the language part of the brain is impaired in both expression and understanding.
So, what we are experiencing is all about the heart. She was absolutely there and her spirit is bright and buoyant. She was smiley, a hearty person, and even spunky. I wondered beforehand if we would all be bawling our eyes out, but Olivia was steering the ship. She was joyful and playful, all smiles and thumbs up. She was full of connection and expression, taking it all in and clearly proud of all of her loved ones. Here are some moments from this great day.
The more I learn about her, the more I am amazed what parts of us are inherited in our blood, and what parts we learn along our way. I will write more about this as I continue to reflect, but she was indeed was a self-made woman. Very smart (as all of her relations), strong and independent. After she had me, she put herself through school and got her Masters Degree in business. She started as a clerk in a major company and worked her way to senior management.
When she was young she was not in the Peace Corp which I originally thought, but in the Foreign Services working for the Embassy. That's how she was in Thailand where she met and was briefly engaged to my birth father. She never married or had any other children. She lived her truth - in an alternative lifestyle (especially brave in the 60's and 70's) and had a great love / partnership of 30 years. She read spiritual books, (she had "Conversations with God" in her collection so maybe she had heard my music already) she ran the LA marathon in her 50's. She always loved music, dancing, her animals, she gave to many animal charities.
I was so nervous and happy going there. My sister Jenny went with me and she drove us towards San Diego on a sunny Tuesday. Olivia was waiting in her lovely and comfortable care home with her brother (my uncle) and his wife and two of his children, more extended family gathered from around Los Angeles to help celebrate this day. They were all so wonderful, warm, and funny too.
There are so many remarkable things that we all discovered that we have in common, both physically as well as small habits and tendencies. We all visited for six hours of continuous smiling, learning more about her history and her family members (who there is much musical talent within) much laughing and connecting the dots. How she and I both lived by our lists, we went to lunch and they noticed how I curl and tear my napkin at the table was just like her. There were many various personality traits big and small, and even the things I cannot eat. It's so completely fascinating. I am still trying to get my mind around it all.
We had a lovely time and I already love them all so much. I smile every single time I think of them, and that is all the time, so I am always smiling. I will go back again in August and October.
It's clear that Olivia is so very loved by all who know her, and now, including me.
Here are the previous parts:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
On June 14, 2011, I met my birth mother Olivia. After a lifetime of not knowing who or where I came from, it finally happened. Not only did I get to meet the woman who gave me my life, but a whole family of warm and loving people that are now in my life! I feel so blessed. I am still searching for the words. It's a profound self-puzzle with the pieces coming together everyday.
My family, Olivia's family, all of our loved ones have been so touched by this. The story takes on another level of complexity as Olivia is a stroke survivor. Eight years ago she suffered her second massive stroke which left her unable to walk, and with Aphasia, where the language part of the brain is impaired in both expression and understanding.
So, what we are experiencing is all about the heart. She was absolutely there and her spirit is bright and buoyant. She was smiley, a hearty person, and even spunky. I wondered beforehand if we would all be bawling our eyes out, but Olivia was steering the ship. She was joyful and playful, all smiles and thumbs up. She was full of connection and expression, taking it all in and clearly proud of all of her loved ones. Here are some moments from this great day.
The more I learn about her, the more I am amazed what parts of us are inherited in our blood, and what parts we learn along our way. I will write more about this as I continue to reflect, but she was indeed was a self-made woman. Very smart (as all of her relations), strong and independent. After she had me, she put herself through school and got her Masters Degree in business. She started as a clerk in a major company and worked her way to senior management.
When she was young she was not in the Peace Corp which I originally thought, but in the Foreign Services working for the Embassy. That's how she was in Thailand where she met and was briefly engaged to my birth father. She never married or had any other children. She lived her truth - in an alternative lifestyle (especially brave in the 60's and 70's) and had a great love / partnership of 30 years. She read spiritual books, (she had "Conversations with God" in her collection so maybe she had heard my music already) she ran the LA marathon in her 50's. She always loved music, dancing, her animals, she gave to many animal charities.
I was so nervous and happy going there. My sister Jenny went with me and she drove us towards San Diego on a sunny Tuesday. Olivia was waiting in her lovely and comfortable care home with her brother (my uncle) and his wife and two of his children, more extended family gathered from around Los Angeles to help celebrate this day. They were all so wonderful, warm, and funny too.
There are so many remarkable things that we all discovered that we have in common, both physically as well as small habits and tendencies. We all visited for six hours of continuous smiling, learning more about her history and her family members (who there is much musical talent within) much laughing and connecting the dots. How she and I both lived by our lists, we went to lunch and they noticed how I curl and tear my napkin at the table was just like her. There were many various personality traits big and small, and even the things I cannot eat. It's so completely fascinating. I am still trying to get my mind around it all.
We had a lovely time and I already love them all so much. I smile every single time I think of them, and that is all the time, so I am always smiling. I will go back again in August and October.
It's clear that Olivia is so very loved by all who know her, and now, including me.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Lisa Lynne Adoption Story - Part Four - How I found her.
Welcome to part four of the story. Here are links to part 1-3
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
How the connection happened..
It was January this year. It was harp day in the hospital and I was visiting in the office of a retiring administrator at Kaiser Permanente. She is a wonderful person and very hip senior nurse responsible for bringing my program in their units now over seven years ago.
She told me she'd be spending time with her newly found daughter she had given up for adoption. I told her I was adopted too! She said that not a day went by that she didn't think of the baby she gave up. She had found her birth daughter with the help of a woman from North Carolina who loved to help folks find each other.
It was a sign for me to start again. I wrote to the nice lady. I was driving to do a concert with Aryeh when she called with my real name and my biological parents names. We had to pull over..My birth mother chose the name "Maria Elena Hart" for me, and "Hart" was the real name of the biological father. She chose his last name for me even though she never married him, or even told him she was pregnant. I was so effected by this I could hardly concentrate on the music we performed. I ended up confessing to the audience what was on my mind that night. Many up to me afterward wishing me well and sharing their own story.
Because my birth mothers maiden name was common and no first name was given, she referred me to someone who specialized in hard cases. His name is Paul Brown and he started his company "Miracle Search" because he found his own birth mother, and wanted to help others do the same.
He spoke to me at length and told me his story. I knew he was the right guy to help me, but I had to time it right. This was so huge to me, even when the smallest fact came in, I was lost in it for days, I can't concentrate on my life and what needs to be done. My days and weeks are always so busy with so much going on.
These first details affected me so much it was hard to absorb. In the meantime I wanted to write her a love letter and tell her about my life. Maybe she would be alive, but not able to meet me. Maybe she has family that doesn't know and she wants to keep it private. If she could read my words and know where I was coming from, then maybe she would see me. Or at least know how I felt about her. Because I also wanted to honor my family I grew up with, I wanted to write it for all of them. That letter became this blog.
As I went through scanning my paper photographs long boxed away, my heart went through so much. I was admiring the pictures of my family, missing my dad and Grandmas. Remembering old boyfriends, and what a worried teenager I always was. It took a lot longer than I thought. Weeks went by.
When I finally gave the go ahead to Paul, he called me at an airport soon after. I knew when he was going to call and was ready with my laptop and headphones. While I sat there amongst hundred of other travelers, I was receiving some potential answers to my life.
There were 347 possibilities in California, women born in the right year with the correct last name. 47 with at least one brother the right age that she had mentioned in her interview at the adoption agency. Of those 47, 10 were no longer living. Of the 37, 11 were still in Los Angeles, and of the 11, there was just one, that seemed to have only one brother at the right age.
So, because I chose the option of a "partnership" search, I had to make the calls myself. Paul prefers this middle option because he believes that the sound of the voice, talking to the birth mother has a potent effect in the heart connecting.
The idea of me cold calling this list of potential "targets" sounded impossible to me. I have a hard time even calling a festival to see if they received my promotional pack to perform there. The idea of calling a woman after over four decades to find out if she gave birth to me, was more than I can wrap my mind around. Now there was a list. And she was on this list somewhere.
Paul was a wonderful coach. From his vast experience he told me that 80% of birth mothers are happy to be found. 20% are hesitant or unwilling or even upset. That 20% is the percentage you have to prepare for.
I carried around this one name and phone number with me for the next three weeks. Working on my story letter to her and her family, about me and my family. I thought I had to get everything in place before I could call her. Plus I was nervous and I was stalling for time.
I was in Morro Bay for a memorial day festival weekend with my dear Aryeh, and he said over newly served enchiladas, "Why don't you just call?" My heart pounds just from that! "but I'm not finished with my blog" excuse.. excuse.. but suddenly I knew he was right and it was actually the perfect time. I had written out all my suggestions from Paul, about how to talk to the women I would call. So we practiced.
Aryeh and I on cell phones in separate rooms. He used his best 'older-lady-with-Spanish-accent"-voice, while I practiced my lines..
"My name is Lisa and i'm wondering if you can help me figure out where I fit into the Ramirez family" we ended up being goofy and silly, but I felt better about it.
He gave me every possible reaction we could think of. "I don't know what your talking about" or "I don't feel comfortable talking about this" "say what?" "go away!" etc, so I could practice every possible answer, but I kept flubbing it, we did it over and over.
My plan was to call the next morning, Memorial Day, because it was a holiday maybe she/they would be free and together, and maybe we could all have time to recover from whatever happened before a normal work day.
So, alone in my friends lovely home and surrounded by Angel images, beautiful crystals, wise quotes and Goddess treasures, overlooking a magical forest and bay, I knew this will happen here and now. I just can't get my heart to stop thumping. I called Paul for a last minute pep talk. He said, "It could be any one of these 347 names, you won't be this nervous for each one"
I had my questions and answers all spread out on the table in front of me. I knew everything that I would say, but the word that was going to mean everything was Thailand.
I knew from her vague pre-birth interview paper that she had been in Thailand.. and also it was for the government? (a mystery), and I had to somehow get that into the conversation, and when I did, it could go either way, I would know it was her, and she would know I knew, or it would be a dead end right there.
So there I sat, 10:00 AM, deep breath, almost press the number.. wait.. deep breath,….close the eyes.. start again, no wait, need water.. I should pee...almost press.. just another minute, maybe I should meditate, or pray.. ok do that.
10:15, 10:30. My heart still pounding, but there was no turning back. I couldn't stay like this I would have a heart attack. I do a lot of pulse raising things.. big stages, audiences, talking to large groups, I even play my harp right when people leave this world. But nothing felt like this.
I wanted to chicken out, but like in swim class when your at the edge of the diving board, you want to turn and run back to safety, but there is already a line of kids waiting to go. Can't go forward, can't go back. Just GO!!
So I pressed the button, and a woman answered the phone. She wasn't the person I was asking for, she was her sister-in-law.She was so very nice, I relaxed some.
She said that the person I was calling for no longer lived there.
The person I wanted had been moved to a full time care facility, since she had her major stroke eight years ago. My heart is thumping. She said the person I was calling for was severely affected by the stroke and lost her ability to speak. And she never married, and she never had any other children.
"Do you know if she's been to Thailand?" She said I should call back in a few hours when her husband was home. He was the brother of the woman I was asking for. She said she knew that her sister-in-law had been in the Peace Corp.
I called Paul, he said to me "Peace Corp! are you kidding!!!" Of course, the Peace Corp!! It must be Thailand!! You got it on the first call!!!! He was thrilled and amazed, and it was only then dawning on me, I might have reached her. On the first call.
The Peace Corp. My heart was exploding, with happy and sad.
I called again a few hours later. A man's voice on the phone. Her one brother. All my questions and plans went out the window. He had the questions, he was very direct, "are you looking for your birth mother?"
Finally, I said, "yes". He said, "you found her". And I was talking to her brother, my uncle. It was her brother who was the key!.. because of him, and that he was an only brother, was the reason I found them all.
He was protective and asked my intentions. My voice felt like it was hardly coming out as I explained that I only wanted to let her know that I had a good life, and that her decision so long ago turned out good for me.
We talked for 45 emotional minutes. Yes, she was in the Peace Corp and stationed in Bangkok. There was so much to say, so much relief, so many questions, and putting puzzle pieces in together for each other. It was a surreal dream. It felt like the skies just opened, and sun was coming in. It all went by so fast, its hard to take it in still. But my birth mother was alive! and near San Diego, my uncle was helping with her care. He saw her often and they went out to parks sometimes in her wheelchair, and my birth mother could communicate with nods of yes or no.
He was going to see her the next day and he would tell her about our contact and read her my blog story! Just like you have read here! He told me he had found out about her giving me up years later. He had always wondered about me. I had been on his mind many many times over all the years.
I realized that even though I was so sad at first to learn of her physical situation, I was so happy that she was alive, and this wonderful uncle cared so much, and it mattered so much to him, and there was more family.. and cousins, and second cousins! The blessing felt so enormous.. He was being her voice for me. It was so big, for all of us!
Everything was so surreal. Aryeh was there thank goodness. I think we were laughing and crying all at once, he helped me so much. All in the parking lot of a dairy queen in Morro Bay.. on Memorial day!
By the time we made the four hour drive home to San Francisco, there were photos in my email! I couldn't believe my eyes were looking for the first time of my life upon
the woman who gave me life. And I could see how I came from her! Perhaps I will post photos of her in the next writing, but I want to make sure that's all okay first with their family.
And... I will soon have photos of us all together! Because in three days on Tuesday the 12th, I will meet them! Me and my sister Jenny are driving down together to go to her care home, and there I will meet my uncle, his wife, their daughters, and my birth mother all at once!
My uncle said she listened to my letters from my blog very intently. He asked her if she understood and she nodded yes, he asked her a few times to make sure she understood, and he asked her if this all made her happy, and she nodded yes, and would she like to meet me, and yes. He printed out these photo's I sent of me, and she now has these pictures with her!
I know that there will be a lot of emotions. I don't know how my birth mother will be as she is on a lot of medication. My uncle has done his best to prepare me for the reality of the situation. I'm not even sure what I will say to her, or how much we can connect. Or if she will realize its me and what is happening at the time. All I can do is show up and just try to do and say the right things. An think of lots of "yes or no" questions! Maybe she would like to hear me play my harp. There are already so many blessings. This story so far has unfolded much differently than all my many imaginings . But it is my story, and now I have one.
So, my friends and my precious family.. stay tuned. Much more to come and
very soon.
End of part four
Here is part five
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
How the connection happened..
It was January this year. It was harp day in the hospital and I was visiting in the office of a retiring administrator at Kaiser Permanente. She is a wonderful person and very hip senior nurse responsible for bringing my program in their units now over seven years ago.
It was a sign for me to start again. I wrote to the nice lady. I was driving to do a concert with Aryeh when she called with my real name and my biological parents names. We had to pull over..My birth mother chose the name "Maria Elena Hart" for me, and "Hart" was the real name of the biological father. She chose his last name for me even though she never married him, or even told him she was pregnant. I was so effected by this I could hardly concentrate on the music we performed. I ended up confessing to the audience what was on my mind that night. Many up to me afterward wishing me well and sharing their own story.
 |
| I remember that night well! |
 |
| A fun jam at the end |
Because my birth mothers maiden name was common and no first name was given, she referred me to someone who specialized in hard cases. His name is Paul Brown and he started his company "Miracle Search" because he found his own birth mother, and wanted to help others do the same.
He spoke to me at length and told me his story. I knew he was the right guy to help me, but I had to time it right. This was so huge to me, even when the smallest fact came in, I was lost in it for days, I can't concentrate on my life and what needs to be done. My days and weeks are always so busy with so much going on.
These first details affected me so much it was hard to absorb. In the meantime I wanted to write her a love letter and tell her about my life. Maybe she would be alive, but not able to meet me. Maybe she has family that doesn't know and she wants to keep it private. If she could read my words and know where I was coming from, then maybe she would see me. Or at least know how I felt about her. Because I also wanted to honor my family I grew up with, I wanted to write it for all of them. That letter became this blog.
As I went through scanning my paper photographs long boxed away, my heart went through so much. I was admiring the pictures of my family, missing my dad and Grandmas. Remembering old boyfriends, and what a worried teenager I always was. It took a lot longer than I thought. Weeks went by.
When I finally gave the go ahead to Paul, he called me at an airport soon after. I knew when he was going to call and was ready with my laptop and headphones. While I sat there amongst hundred of other travelers, I was receiving some potential answers to my life.
There were 347 possibilities in California, women born in the right year with the correct last name. 47 with at least one brother the right age that she had mentioned in her interview at the adoption agency. Of those 47, 10 were no longer living. Of the 37, 11 were still in Los Angeles, and of the 11, there was just one, that seemed to have only one brother at the right age.
So, because I chose the option of a "partnership" search, I had to make the calls myself. Paul prefers this middle option because he believes that the sound of the voice, talking to the birth mother has a potent effect in the heart connecting.
The idea of me cold calling this list of potential "targets" sounded impossible to me. I have a hard time even calling a festival to see if they received my promotional pack to perform there. The idea of calling a woman after over four decades to find out if she gave birth to me, was more than I can wrap my mind around. Now there was a list. And she was on this list somewhere.
Paul was a wonderful coach. From his vast experience he told me that 80% of birth mothers are happy to be found. 20% are hesitant or unwilling or even upset. That 20% is the percentage you have to prepare for.
I carried around this one name and phone number with me for the next three weeks. Working on my story letter to her and her family, about me and my family. I thought I had to get everything in place before I could call her. Plus I was nervous and I was stalling for time.
I was in Morro Bay for a memorial day festival weekend with my dear Aryeh, and he said over newly served enchiladas, "Why don't you just call?" My heart pounds just from that! "but I'm not finished with my blog" excuse.. excuse.. but suddenly I knew he was right and it was actually the perfect time. I had written out all my suggestions from Paul, about how to talk to the women I would call. So we practiced.
 |
| Aryeh |
Aryeh and I on cell phones in separate rooms. He used his best 'older-lady-with-Spanish-accent"-voice, while I practiced my lines..
"My name is Lisa and i'm wondering if you can help me figure out where I fit into the Ramirez family" we ended up being goofy and silly, but I felt better about it.
He gave me every possible reaction we could think of. "I don't know what your talking about" or "I don't feel comfortable talking about this" "say what?" "go away!" etc, so I could practice every possible answer, but I kept flubbing it, we did it over and over.
My plan was to call the next morning, Memorial Day, because it was a holiday maybe she/they would be free and together, and maybe we could all have time to recover from whatever happened before a normal work day.
So, alone in my friends lovely home and surrounded by Angel images, beautiful crystals, wise quotes and Goddess treasures, overlooking a magical forest and bay, I knew this will happen here and now. I just can't get my heart to stop thumping. I called Paul for a last minute pep talk. He said, "It could be any one of these 347 names, you won't be this nervous for each one"
I had my questions and answers all spread out on the table in front of me. I knew everything that I would say, but the word that was going to mean everything was Thailand.
I knew from her vague pre-birth interview paper that she had been in Thailand.. and also it was for the government? (a mystery), and I had to somehow get that into the conversation, and when I did, it could go either way, I would know it was her, and she would know I knew, or it would be a dead end right there.
So there I sat, 10:00 AM, deep breath, almost press the number.. wait.. deep breath,….close the eyes.. start again, no wait, need water.. I should pee...almost press.. just another minute, maybe I should meditate, or pray.. ok do that.
10:15, 10:30. My heart still pounding, but there was no turning back. I couldn't stay like this I would have a heart attack. I do a lot of pulse raising things.. big stages, audiences, talking to large groups, I even play my harp right when people leave this world. But nothing felt like this.
I wanted to chicken out, but like in swim class when your at the edge of the diving board, you want to turn and run back to safety, but there is already a line of kids waiting to go. Can't go forward, can't go back. Just GO!!
So I pressed the button, and a woman answered the phone. She wasn't the person I was asking for, she was her sister-in-law.She was so very nice, I relaxed some.
She said that the person I was calling for no longer lived there.
The person I wanted had been moved to a full time care facility, since she had her major stroke eight years ago. My heart is thumping. She said the person I was calling for was severely affected by the stroke and lost her ability to speak. And she never married, and she never had any other children.
"Do you know if she's been to Thailand?" She said I should call back in a few hours when her husband was home. He was the brother of the woman I was asking for. She said she knew that her sister-in-law had been in the Peace Corp.
I called Paul, he said to me "Peace Corp! are you kidding!!!" Of course, the Peace Corp!! It must be Thailand!! You got it on the first call!!!! He was thrilled and amazed, and it was only then dawning on me, I might have reached her. On the first call.The Peace Corp. My heart was exploding, with happy and sad.
I called again a few hours later. A man's voice on the phone. Her one brother. All my questions and plans went out the window. He had the questions, he was very direct, "are you looking for your birth mother?"
Finally, I said, "yes". He said, "you found her". And I was talking to her brother, my uncle. It was her brother who was the key!.. because of him, and that he was an only brother, was the reason I found them all.
He was protective and asked my intentions. My voice felt like it was hardly coming out as I explained that I only wanted to let her know that I had a good life, and that her decision so long ago turned out good for me.
We talked for 45 emotional minutes. Yes, she was in the Peace Corp and stationed in Bangkok. There was so much to say, so much relief, so many questions, and putting puzzle pieces in together for each other. It was a surreal dream. It felt like the skies just opened, and sun was coming in. It all went by so fast, its hard to take it in still. But my birth mother was alive! and near San Diego, my uncle was helping with her care. He saw her often and they went out to parks sometimes in her wheelchair, and my birth mother could communicate with nods of yes or no.
He was going to see her the next day and he would tell her about our contact and read her my blog story! Just like you have read here! He told me he had found out about her giving me up years later. He had always wondered about me. I had been on his mind many many times over all the years.
I realized that even though I was so sad at first to learn of her physical situation, I was so happy that she was alive, and this wonderful uncle cared so much, and it mattered so much to him, and there was more family.. and cousins, and second cousins! The blessing felt so enormous.. He was being her voice for me. It was so big, for all of us!
Everything was so surreal. Aryeh was there thank goodness. I think we were laughing and crying all at once, he helped me so much. All in the parking lot of a dairy queen in Morro Bay.. on Memorial day!
By the time we made the four hour drive home to San Francisco, there were photos in my email! I couldn't believe my eyes were looking for the first time of my life upon
the woman who gave me life. And I could see how I came from her! Perhaps I will post photos of her in the next writing, but I want to make sure that's all okay first with their family.
 |
| Best sister ever for my whole life |
My uncle said she listened to my letters from my blog very intently. He asked her if she understood and she nodded yes, he asked her a few times to make sure she understood, and he asked her if this all made her happy, and she nodded yes, and would she like to meet me, and yes. He printed out these photo's I sent of me, and she now has these pictures with her!
 |
| My parents |
 |
| My sister Jenny |
I know that there will be a lot of emotions. I don't know how my birth mother will be as she is on a lot of medication. My uncle has done his best to prepare me for the reality of the situation. I'm not even sure what I will say to her, or how much we can connect. Or if she will realize its me and what is happening at the time. All I can do is show up and just try to do and say the right things. An think of lots of "yes or no" questions! Maybe she would like to hear me play my harp. There are already so many blessings. This story so far has unfolded much differently than all my many imaginings . But it is my story, and now I have one.
So, my friends and my precious family.. stay tuned. Much more to come and
very soon.
End of part four
Here is part five
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lisa Lynne Adoption Story - Part Three
If your just now joining me, part one and two are listed down to the left in the archives.
In 1990 I received my first information about the circumstances of my adoption. My biological mother's privacy was protected by the LA county bureau of adoptions. So I couldn't know her name, but could leave a letter in my file. But only if she checked the file, it would be there for her. So I typed out one page on and old style typewriter and told her about my life. I had a wonderful family, a fine childhood, and that I was a musician, and a happy person. I said the things I loved and experienced. Mostly I let her know that I always thought so much of what she did, to give me up in hopes I would have a better life than she could give at the time.
Strangely, after I wrote the letter I felt a sense of peace about it knowing that if she wanted to look and see there would be a message from me there. It's probably still there now.
To go back a little bit...
By 1985, I had been working as a professional musician. I moved from Orange County, CA to Hollywood and finally attended Musicians Institute of Technology in 1988 & 1989.
Right when I got into school in 1988, I had a car accident. I had only whiplash but it ruined my van which I relied on for all my gigs. I had to take another three month Top 40 tour in Alaska to afford another van and re-start school again in six months. I learned about video editing on the side, and although I was in the bass guitar program, I ended up creating my first serious band for my harp.
After that I was working various music jobs and was also a cocktail waitress in a Hollywood club were I waited on rock stars and movie stars. I ended up writing a popular column in a music paper that tattled on the stars that were bad tippers. I was an anonymous columnist of "True Tales from Behind the Tray" by Jackie Daniels.
In 1990, we lost my father's father, Florencio S. Franco. a loving man who adored is four sons, one daughter, 11 grandchildren including me, and many great grandchildren. He worked for the railroad in Los Angeles his whole life. He loved music and had a lovely soprano voice which he sang to us in Spanish. While his heart failed, my Nana never left his side. They were so in love, all the way to the end and married for over 50 years. He always said "mama was the boss". She wouldn't leave his hospital bedside. When finally she did for a moment to eat. He went to heaven. She lived another decade but counted the days until she would join him.
My sister Jenny married Jeff, a super terrific guy. They have two kids, Trevor and Annelyse who are a great joy in my life, the biggest blessing ever. I never had kids of my own, I love them as much as if they were mine.They are now 14 and 10.
We do a lot of fun stuff together, we make video movies with special effects, cooking shows.. music shows, dance parties, arts and crafts. Trevor's too old for that stuff by now, but Annelyse is always ready for fun. I visit them in Laguna Beach pretty often. My sister Jenny is the best mom ever.
My father was diagnosed with Cancer and twice he was able to beat it with surgery and radiation. In between those times he was able to enjoy traveling in his RV for summer long trips with Margaret and visiting the kids and now grand kids.He still loved campfires and outdoor grilling and was always ready to go anywhere to see me play my music.We have so many great photos because Margaret was a photographer.
My mom Carol never remarried but enjoyed a life of working in National Parks and living in beautiful places with mountains and forest. She loves nature so much. She, my aunt and my grandma were always doing crafts and inventing good ideas.
I was sending out tapes of my music while still waitressing and got my first record contract in Germany. I traveled there several years in a row to do concerts and make my first few records there.
Those records never quite made it to the US, so I was still street performing on Venice Beach Boardwalk. This lead to more traveling and street performing around the country and Canada.
There were years of day after day performing long hours for tips and tape sales in every place possible. College campuses, art fairs, street festivals and shopping malls. There were snow storms and broken down vans, terrible motels, walking pneumonia IRS audits and US Customs fines.
One time I had a late night gig, and an early morning recording session. I opted to park my van by my bedroom window and leave everything inside. When I came out the van was gone. For three days I posted pictures of my harp at every pawn shop. That's all I cared about, not the guitars or mandolins or electric gear, I just wanted the harp. A Latin TV station I had just performed on showed pictures of the van and told my story. The next day the van was recovered and I was told to go to impound. The van had a screwdriver still stuck in the ignition. It was stripped and empty. Except for the harp.
Somehow I sold over 100,000 tapes and CDs on my own little label. Because of that, I was invited to the top floor office with my harp to RCA/Windham Hill. I was asked to play my harp, and to show my manufacturing receipts for my CD sales. I was signed to a major recording contract.
Around that time I met my magical musical partner George Tortorelli at a festival in Florida. We were a couple for the first two years of our now 13 year friendship. He plays flutes for all my music, we have toured extensively as a duo and had every kind of adventure. He lives in Florida where we perform often. He was already a well known musician in his own rite. We have a very special sound that people truly love. He taught me all about enjoying life, shutting off the pager and canoeing through nature...and where to hang hammocks in Maui. He is truly the wise brother I always wanted in my life. Still is.
Right when my first major label album release came out, I had an extreme headache so I went to an emergency room and while I was filling out forms I had a seizure. I had brain swelling and the left side of the brain was torn in two places. I was in critical care and it was a mystery why it happened. I also developed blood clots in both of my legs from the hip to the ankle. I had emergency surgery to put a permanent device in my main artery that would protect my organs from stroke. I was bedridden for six months. It was a slow recovery and it was eventually determined that I had contracted west nile virus in Florida, which caused the brain swelling. I was trying to feed a baby owl that had fallen through a fireplace. The owl was sick and dying. The mosquitoes were biting the owl, and then me. The legs were hardest to endure and recover from. I have had a few more blood clots since then and my legs have never fully been the same.
So after all I had been through to that point in my music life, I missed my big chance to promote that album and do all the planned performances and activities around it.
But the next year I had another chance, and things changed for me. I was touring in beautiful performing arts centers and theaters across the US. Making more records in fine studios, and performing with some of the greatest musicians you can imagine. After many tries I finally had a record in the Billboard Top 10 New Age Music charts. I had a full band of my dreams.
The best thing about this new level was the tools you get to use. Writing and recording the music was my highest love. To be able to record with state of the art technology was the greatest experience so far. To be able to hear at new levels.
My next very important relationship was with Gilberto "Gil" Morales. He was my good friend and gifted audio engineer for my music before we were together as a couple for eight years. He was an important part all that decade of music. He also was a musician who played many instruments. A true friend for life.
My fathers' mother Adelina lived a long life and we made a lot of plans that she would visit me from heaven and how I would know it was her.
This is her 90th birthday party surrounded by all of her children. All my aunts and uncles and cousins I grew up with and their babies came together to honor Adelina. This is the whole Franco clan, me on the right.
Only the very last weeks of her 95 years did my Nana lose her memory. But in this moment when I held up her face she recognized me and Margaret took this photo. It came out with a white star reflection of light on her chest. She passed just a few days later.
As the record industry changed and the economy shifted, the big bus mega tours weren't happening anymore. Windham Hill label folded up shop and I ended up signing to New Earth Records and working more on my own label and my own touring and promotions. I had a big experience around the Columbine tragedy and started doing Therapuetic music in hospitals. My programs grew faster than I could keep up with. Weekdays were playing music in intensive care units and weekends flying to the east coast for shows. I handled all parts of my business from my mobile office and worked a lot in airports. I never stopped day or night. I got another blood clot in my hip while performing in Utah, and had emergency blood thinning shots, and now pills too.That was hard for me because I have always gone the natural route. But the blood thinners helped me out a lot. I finally admitted.
My father's Cancer returned and this time it was in his lungs behind his sternum and there was no solution for it. He endured many procedures to prolong his life. It was a hard four years while his health declined. Margaret was devoted to him every moment. They were so in love after 24 years of marriage. He just wanted us to be normal and kept telling us not to be sad and worry. How much he enjoyed his life. He never complained.
He kept telling us how proud he was of all of us.
I stayed there with them in Nevada to help Margaret and be there for his last part of life. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, and how I couldn't have had a better dad in the whole world. There was so much I had to write it all out. Even though he already knew it. I wanted to tell him anyway everything I learned from him. And that I would do all the things he wished for me, and we would all be okay even though we would miss him our whole lives.
On one of the last days of his life, I read him my letter with shaky hands. Margaret took a picture of the hug he gave me. I will treasure this photo my whole life.
My grandma on my moms side passed just a few months later. But she still came to my fathers memorial with my mom. She was sharp right to the end. She knew how to live and taught us all how to enjoy life. We released white balloons for her in the park where we gathered.
I decided to start taking better care of myself and moved to a place right on the beach in Marina Del Rey for a year. I just kept taking walks to strengthen my legs and figure out what I was going to do differently than the workaholic thing.
Along came Aryeh, and his beautiful son Abraham. I fell in love with them both.
So I moved to San Francisco. Its a happy life here. A healthy life too. Aryeh is a great musician and we create music together as well. I love his parents too.
I still go to L.A often. I have my hospital music programs now over 10 years. I have special gigs and speaking engagements. I get invited to present my music and story at large conferences and spiritual retreats. I am fullfilled most when I bring my 15 harps to schools and hospitals to teach people to play. I still fly for shows and festivals, but half as much. I take more time off and spend time with my friends, I do cooking and mosiacs. I take much better care of my health.
My mom Carol and I bought a house together in Northwest Montana, she lives there now and we visit. She says she has never been happier in her life.
As I was just writing this, my mom just read part two
of my story and posted this:
See how lucky I am?
Jenny is a full fledged soccer mom. They are busy bees having lots of fun too. She's been married now for 16 years.
Margaret is just starting to come out a little bit. Her grief is long and hard. She visits us and I her. She carries on the festivities that she and Dad enjoyed doing for the kids. Her two daughters are grown. My stepsister Gwen and I visit sometimes.
We all miss my dad so much.
So, were up to date. An unusual set of divine interventions happen, and I decide it's time to look for my birth mother again.
I had no idea it was going to happen so fast.
End of part three.
Here is part four
In 1990 I received my first information about the circumstances of my adoption. My biological mother's privacy was protected by the LA county bureau of adoptions. So I couldn't know her name, but could leave a letter in my file. But only if she checked the file, it would be there for her. So I typed out one page on and old style typewriter and told her about my life. I had a wonderful family, a fine childhood, and that I was a musician, and a happy person. I said the things I loved and experienced. Mostly I let her know that I always thought so much of what she did, to give me up in hopes I would have a better life than she could give at the time.
Strangely, after I wrote the letter I felt a sense of peace about it knowing that if she wanted to look and see there would be a message from me there. It's probably still there now.
To go back a little bit...
By 1985, I had been working as a professional musician. I moved from Orange County, CA to Hollywood and finally attended Musicians Institute of Technology in 1988 & 1989. Right when I got into school in 1988, I had a car accident. I had only whiplash but it ruined my van which I relied on for all my gigs. I had to take another three month Top 40 tour in Alaska to afford another van and re-start school again in six months. I learned about video editing on the side, and although I was in the bass guitar program, I ended up creating my first serious band for my harp.
After that I was working various music jobs and was also a cocktail waitress in a Hollywood club were I waited on rock stars and movie stars. I ended up writing a popular column in a music paper that tattled on the stars that were bad tippers. I was an anonymous columnist of "True Tales from Behind the Tray" by Jackie Daniels.
My sister Jenny married Jeff, a super terrific guy. They have two kids, Trevor and Annelyse who are a great joy in my life, the biggest blessing ever. I never had kids of my own, I love them as much as if they were mine.They are now 14 and 10.
We do a lot of fun stuff together, we make video movies with special effects, cooking shows.. music shows, dance parties, arts and crafts. Trevor's too old for that stuff by now, but Annelyse is always ready for fun. I visit them in Laguna Beach pretty often. My sister Jenny is the best mom ever.My father was diagnosed with Cancer and twice he was able to beat it with surgery and radiation. In between those times he was able to enjoy traveling in his RV for summer long trips with Margaret and visiting the kids and now grand kids.He still loved campfires and outdoor grilling and was always ready to go anywhere to see me play my music.We have so many great photos because Margaret was a photographer.
My mom Carol never remarried but enjoyed a life of working in National Parks and living in beautiful places with mountains and forest. She loves nature so much. She, my aunt and my grandma were always doing crafts and inventing good ideas.
I was sending out tapes of my music while still waitressing and got my first record contract in Germany. I traveled there several years in a row to do concerts and make my first few records there.
Those records never quite made it to the US, so I was still street performing on Venice Beach Boardwalk. This lead to more traveling and street performing around the country and Canada.
 | ||||
International Buskers festival in Nova Scotia, Canada |
One time I had a late night gig, and an early morning recording session. I opted to park my van by my bedroom window and leave everything inside. When I came out the van was gone. For three days I posted pictures of my harp at every pawn shop. That's all I cared about, not the guitars or mandolins or electric gear, I just wanted the harp. A Latin TV station I had just performed on showed pictures of the van and told my story. The next day the van was recovered and I was told to go to impound. The van had a screwdriver still stuck in the ignition. It was stripped and empty. Except for the harp.
Somehow I sold over 100,000 tapes and CDs on my own little label. Because of that, I was invited to the top floor office with my harp to RCA/Windham Hill. I was asked to play my harp, and to show my manufacturing receipts for my CD sales. I was signed to a major recording contract.
Around that time I met my magical musical partner George Tortorelli at a festival in Florida. We were a couple for the first two years of our now 13 year friendship. He plays flutes for all my music, we have toured extensively as a duo and had every kind of adventure. He lives in Florida where we perform often. He was already a well known musician in his own rite. We have a very special sound that people truly love. He taught me all about enjoying life, shutting off the pager and canoeing through nature...and where to hang hammocks in Maui. He is truly the wise brother I always wanted in my life. Still is.  |
| George and I at the Florida Folk Festival on the Swanee River |
Right when my first major label album release came out, I had an extreme headache so I went to an emergency room and while I was filling out forms I had a seizure. I had brain swelling and the left side of the brain was torn in two places. I was in critical care and it was a mystery why it happened. I also developed blood clots in both of my legs from the hip to the ankle. I had emergency surgery to put a permanent device in my main artery that would protect my organs from stroke. I was bedridden for six months. It was a slow recovery and it was eventually determined that I had contracted west nile virus in Florida, which caused the brain swelling. I was trying to feed a baby owl that had fallen through a fireplace. The owl was sick and dying. The mosquitoes were biting the owl, and then me. The legs were hardest to endure and recover from. I have had a few more blood clots since then and my legs have never fully been the same.
So after all I had been through to that point in my music life, I missed my big chance to promote that album and do all the planned performances and activities around it.
But the next year I had another chance, and things changed for me. I was touring in beautiful performing arts centers and theaters across the US. Making more records in fine studios, and performing with some of the greatest musicians you can imagine. After many tries I finally had a record in the Billboard Top 10 New Age Music charts. I had a full band of my dreams.
The best thing about this new level was the tools you get to use. Writing and recording the music was my highest love. To be able to record with state of the art technology was the greatest experience so far. To be able to hear at new levels.
My next very important relationship was with Gilberto "Gil" Morales. He was my good friend and gifted audio engineer for my music before we were together as a couple for eight years. He was an important part all that decade of music. He also was a musician who played many instruments. A true friend for life.
My fathers' mother Adelina lived a long life and we made a lot of plans that she would visit me from heaven and how I would know it was her.
This is her 90th birthday party surrounded by all of her children. All my aunts and uncles and cousins I grew up with and their babies came together to honor Adelina. This is the whole Franco clan, me on the right.
Only the very last weeks of her 95 years did my Nana lose her memory. But in this moment when I held up her face she recognized me and Margaret took this photo. It came out with a white star reflection of light on her chest. She passed just a few days later.
As the record industry changed and the economy shifted, the big bus mega tours weren't happening anymore. Windham Hill label folded up shop and I ended up signing to New Earth Records and working more on my own label and my own touring and promotions. I had a big experience around the Columbine tragedy and started doing Therapuetic music in hospitals. My programs grew faster than I could keep up with. Weekdays were playing music in intensive care units and weekends flying to the east coast for shows. I handled all parts of my business from my mobile office and worked a lot in airports. I never stopped day or night. I got another blood clot in my hip while performing in Utah, and had emergency blood thinning shots, and now pills too.That was hard for me because I have always gone the natural route. But the blood thinners helped me out a lot. I finally admitted.
He kept telling us how proud he was of all of us.
I stayed there with them in Nevada to help Margaret and be there for his last part of life. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, and how I couldn't have had a better dad in the whole world. There was so much I had to write it all out. Even though he already knew it. I wanted to tell him anyway everything I learned from him. And that I would do all the things he wished for me, and we would all be okay even though we would miss him our whole lives.
On one of the last days of his life, I read him my letter with shaky hands. Margaret took a picture of the hug he gave me. I will treasure this photo my whole life.
He died on January 22, 2009. With all of us around him.
My grandma on my moms side passed just a few months later. But she still came to my fathers memorial with my mom. She was sharp right to the end. She knew how to live and taught us all how to enjoy life. We released white balloons for her in the park where we gathered.
George and I had a funny gig playing on a cruise ship. I brought my mom along. We sailed the Caribbean and thought it was funny that folks kept wanting to hear our cosmic version of theme from Titanic.
I decided to start taking better care of myself and moved to a place right on the beach in Marina Del Rey for a year. I just kept taking walks to strengthen my legs and figure out what I was going to do differently than the workaholic thing.
Along came Aryeh, and his beautiful son Abraham. I fell in love with them both.
So I moved to San Francisco. Its a happy life here. A healthy life too. Aryeh is a great musician and we create music together as well. I love his parents too.
I still go to L.A often. I have my hospital music programs now over 10 years. I have special gigs and speaking engagements. I get invited to present my music and story at large conferences and spiritual retreats. I am fullfilled most when I bring my 15 harps to schools and hospitals to teach people to play. I still fly for shows and festivals, but half as much. I take more time off and spend time with my friends, I do cooking and mosiacs. I take much better care of my health.
My mom Carol and I bought a house together in Northwest Montana, she lives there now and we visit. She says she has never been happier in her life.
As I was just writing this, my mom just read part two
of my story and posted this:
See how lucky I am?
Jenny is a full fledged soccer mom. They are busy bees having lots of fun too. She's been married now for 16 years.
Margaret is just starting to come out a little bit. Her grief is long and hard. She visits us and I her. She carries on the festivities that she and Dad enjoyed doing for the kids. Her two daughters are grown. My stepsister Gwen and I visit sometimes.
We all miss my dad so much.
So, were up to date. An unusual set of divine interventions happen, and I decide it's time to look for my birth mother again.
I had no idea it was going to happen so fast.
End of part three.
Here is part four
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