Charlotte and I spent time together.
Not the type of time you spend with family, classmates or colleagues - the time we spent together was from choice.
I added it up - just for fun - turns out that over the years - we spent more than 2,000 hours talking with each other...
We spent that time to build one of the first internet based advocacy communities - changing the lives of tens of thousands of people and developing a model that is still used by organizations today. We subsequently worked together to promote the positive power of music and she was instrumental in the development of a global online community that actively works to put more music out into the world.
Charlotte was amazing.
We met 17 years ago at a board meeting in New Orleans for the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation. After dinner, when everyone was heading out to the French Quarter, people told her to stay in the hotel as it probably wasn’t safe and certainly not suitable for a lady in a wheelchair.
One of my abiding memories is standing next to Charlotte at two in the morning on Royal street, both of us nursing Hurricanes while the mounted police broke up a street brawl not five feet from her chair. She was fearless, and I knew right then we were going to become firm friends.
We never really discussed her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - to us it was just a thing that was there - that had to be dealt with - like cutting the grass or getting the groceries - when the bill came due she would pay for it in painkillers, in breathing tubes, in hospital visits and bruises. Instead we would talk about life - about what it could be - about how we could change it and how we would do that.
Charlotte loved life - loved being alive - she was determined - absolutely determined - to get everything she could out of it. She was a force of nature, wrapped in a tiny body and powered by a 12 volt chair battery. She changed thousands of people’s lives for the better, she changed my life and I will be eternally grateful for her friendship, and her time.
Godspeed Charlotte.
It may seem strange that after all the music Charlotte and I worked on together I end up choosing someone else’s track - but - that was the beauty of working with her - she was always interested in learning something new - in hearing something different.
I adore this track from Cassie To - it’s just the kind of thing I might have written - if I was lucky - and it fits my mood perfectly. Here’s what Cassie had to say when she submitted the track:
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About the Curator - Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the dark forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top. They would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
After my dad died I was very sad - I couldn't play for a while and when I did, the music that came out reflected my grieving state. I wrote an album of solo piano music called Music to Grieve to - from which the idea of the Music to community originated.
If you'd like to know more you should read Nicole's fabulous article on why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
Latest Posts
Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel
24 September 2022
What’s the point?
You ever find yourself asking that?
The point of this playlist is to bring succor to people who are grieving. That’s it. We listen to and feature songs that we hope people can resonate with and perhaps elicit a cathartic release – at the very least – to help them feel less alone…
Strange Beauty – First Aid Kit
18 September 2022
It’s still September. We’re still talking about Suicide. We’re doing this because the experts tell us that the more we talk about it – the more we bring it into the open – the less likely it is that people will go through with it.
And yet – people still do…
Open Letter – Mr. Phelps
11 September 2022
So it’s September – and for the Grieve To list – that means our thoughts turn to suicide.
Yep – if you didn’t know – September is Suicide Awareness Month – it’s also National Suicide Prevention Month and in fact right now – between the 8th and the 14th – it’s actually National Suicide Prevention Week. If you are in any doubt as to the impact suicide has on society – spend a minute here: Suicide Statistics – the rate inches up every year – and as a middle aged white male – well – I’m slap bang in the highest risk group…
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.