Sandy Beardsley
Living with a Brain Tumor
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10/23/05
Day Four
Filed under: General
Posted by: Dan @ 10:22 pm

Another beautiful day of warm sunshine… and perfect music….
Some things are just meant to be… Last night about we went down for a soak in the outdoor hot tub at the hotel. A warm night with a few stars showing above. We started chatting with a couple guys and a woman who were in the tub. They were musicians from C
hicago and N
ew York, part of a modern classical group, who were on a national tour with several other musicians from around the world. They were going to be performing Sunday at Memorial Hall on the Stanford campus (a great old theater we had walked into yesterday, and thought, wow this would be an amazing place to see a concert - of course we didn’t think to look at a schedule). They told us about the music and it sounded amazing (see a quote from the concert website - link at right describes it best and has music clips also). Modern classical - Spanish folk with
Mediterranean influence - lit afire by the voice of soprano Dawn Upshaw and the guitar of one of S
outh America’s best musicians. They said we shouldn’t miss it. So we told the musicians we met at the hot tub that we just might go to the concert.
So today, after taking a couple of wrong turns driving to the Memorial Hall, we arrived at the concert…. and went up to ticket window wondering if we would even be able to get in because the number of people outside waiting to get in made it look sold out. I noticed the ticket price of $50 for a good seat. Just then a man approached us holding up a couple of tickets… "Want some tickets?" We hesitate a second, thinking he might be scalping at a high price or something. "Free", he says, "and they’re good seats. Oh, and here’s a couple more you can give away to someone else, I have to get inside." Astonished at this good luck, we grabbed the tickets and thanked him, gave the other pair of tickets to a couple walking up, and headed inside. And yes, they were great seats - 6th row $50 seats right near the stage. We couldn’t believe it. Had I not gotten lost on the drive, parked a half mile walk from the theater, the timing to bump into that guy with the tickets would not have happened.
Like I said, some things are just meant to happen. The concert was unbelievable - I can’t even begin to describe it, but it touched our souls and moved us profoundly. Music like nothing we’ve ever heard, yet it was deeply familiar at the same time. The voice of Dawn Upshaw was incredible and a perfect match for the styles of music. After the concert, we met two of the musicians from the night before - Michael and Bridget - and thanked them. Sandy shared her story with Michael. We walked out into the late afternoon sunshine… soothed, energized, at peace and loving life that it gave us this gift of healing music.
Then back to our hotel (moved back to same one we started at on Wednesday) which is very quiet and has a little patio overlooking a creek flowing through a green forest, with roses and ivy outside the door. We look forward to getting back here, hopefully on Thursday.
Tomorrow is S
andy’s surgery, scheduled for around . We have to get there at 6, so I better sign off now. I may not be able to post anything from the hospital tomorrow, but I’ll call some folks to spread the word on how S
andy is doing.
Thanks for all the love.
Good night,
Dan

9 Responses to “Day Four”

  1. Joy Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 9:30 am It’s 8:35 and you will go to surgery at 9am. I’m sending positive thoughts and love your way and will be thinking of you both as I’m sure many others are too. With much love, Joy
  2. Mary Lou Johnson Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 10:05 am Hi Sandy and Dan….I looked for you last week which was my first day back at school….just think about extended summer…. Caprice told me about your news and so I wanted to see you in person to give you a huge hug…gently of course….and personally share good thoughts and support as you go through this next phase of recovery. So today, Monday, I was surprised when I walked into the portable to hear about your already being in California and by now well into surgery to remove growths that shouldn’t be there. So this has been fast for me too and in thought and prayers I’m doing much mental catch-up. but just because I’m late in the process, I want you to feel the surge of one more person that loves you and is rooting for you. Much love to you and yours….mary lou
  3. Tina Rieman Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 11:43 am I’m thinking of you both as Sandy’s surgery is going on right now. Heather shared your Blog site with me this morning. I feel privileged to be part of this process and am sending the most positive vibrations for you both. With love, Tina, and Dick too
  4. osvaldo Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 4:54 pm hi, i’m osvaldo, the composer of ayre, the piece that dawn sang in the second half of her concert on sunday. i was very moved by your capacity to embrace life in these difficult times: i hope that the surgery went well. with great admiration and all good thoughts to both of you, osvaldo
  5. Babs Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 5:08 pm Pat found your message on his phone and forwarded the news of Sandy’s operation on to all of us on the Oka Wen. Sounds like all went well - what a relief! Don’t forget to take care of yourself - get some rest and eat your veggies! Lots o’hugs to the both of you from J & me.
  6. Luke Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 5:19 pm We are sending all of the positive energy we can muster to you two. Sounds like the surgery went well from the post above. That is great news! We all want you to know that we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers daily. With Love, Luke, Nancy, Will, Claudia and Sonia
  7. Kay Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 5:50 pm Dan, thinking of you. I don’t know your wife, but she sounds like an awesome person. Your attitudes are phenominal. Many positive thoughts are coming your way.
  8. Lee and Anna Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 5:56 pm Sandy and Dan, Greetings from the end of Wilson Street where after a morning fog, the sun has shone all day. Thinking of you two day by day and sending every warm and hope-filled thought we can muster, i.e. LOTS! Still we feel that WE are on the receiving end here — your blog entries fill us with more warmth, joy and admiration than you know. All good thoughts to you both, Lee and Anna
  9. Rich Says:
    October 24th, 2005 at 9:38 pm Sandy and Dan, Sounds like Stanford has been a great place to gather your energies. Here in Seattle we are thinking of you and wishing you the best. Love, Rich, Cathy & Anna.

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