Rolling into 2026

Yes, I am slowly rolling into this new year. Despite the world's dystopia leaving me stunned at times, I’m beginning this year peacefully and very much looking forward to the months ahead, in fact, this month, I’m even on a magazine cover!! (see link below). My main resolution for this year is to stay on course and keep healing. To that end, I continue with mental health therapy and daily meditation. As to my physical health, I’m in a happy space with my late-60s-something body, having lost 25 pounds in 2025 (25 in '25!) and having my right right toe heal up from a skin condition originating in my childhood. I have been often been immobilized from this situation since the fall of 2022, but now I’m totally healed again after only minor blistering in October on my trip to LA.

Journaling is also very much a part of my healing. I have a private diary for myself, as well as this blog and the music and notes I publish for you. My journey has been unique. The whole effort is part of what gives my remaining life an essential sense of purpose and perspective. I’m happy and healthy in my skin and just want to stay the course. Last year involved finalizing various circumstances of a divorce from a long marriage, which necessitated a sabbatical from my composing to reconstruct essential foundational elements of my life. It was also a year of accelerated estrangements and loneliness; consequently, there are some old friends I really want to reconnect with in 2026 to get back together and have some fun.

My holidays were quite solitary and depressing at times, a situation influenced by behavioral dynamics of toxic families, both the family I grew up in and the family I recently divorced. Covert narcissism, being scapegoated and belligerently judged, and complex dynamics with my own families were damaging experiences in my life. I feel extremely fortunate to have survived these decades of complex family traumas. The weight of “close” (but no longer) family being over-controlling and belligerent and cruel in their judgements is gone. Often, these judgmental behaviors cover up personal insecurities of other family members by seeking to control narratives. I can’t be around controlling people anymore. My first few months of this complete disconnection have been peaceful. These circumstances are why I have a very important boundary: no violent communication.

Learning about violent and non-violent communication in my therapy became essential to establishing this boundary for my healing. I’m not perfect at the practice of non-violent communication, but I’m committed to it. In general, the normalization of violent communication is a scourge to humanity in general. But living without family—knowing how toxic my families have been to me over these decades—is still an internal sadness that is my past. I know it has been damaging. I feel I went through my entire life with my ankles tied together and an arm tied behind my back. Violent communication is damaging.  It’s a key element of our world's current dystopia. Looking forward to happy times without violent communication is always a cure. At least I now have that in my home, my sanctuary.

Right now I’m in the middle of working on three new songs, two from the play, The Process, and another new song, You Got to Show Love with my own lyrics. I’ve also made a couple of changes to my www.Alphasongs.net website: I have updated some photos of myself and improved formatting on the mobile site. I have also introduced a News and Reviews section because I’m beginning to get a little press, and I want to mention concerts I’m singing in as well.

I'm particularly pleased to announce that, on New Year’s Day, I went to my mailbox and found a magazine with my name on the cover! My high school—The Lakeside School—puts out a semi-annual magazine. The latest edition features many alumni working in the theatre industry, and my own work is recognized in one of the articles! In my performing life, I will be singing on stage with the Kirkland Choral Society at the Bastyr Chapel in Kenmore, WA on Sunday, February 22^nd at 3pm.

Lakeside Magazine (my article is on page 32)

https://www.lakesideschool.org/about-us/lakeside-magazine

Kirkland Choral Society – February 22^nd concert

                  https://www.kirklandchoralsociety.org/

Alphasongs – News and Reviews

                  https://www.alphasongs.net/news-and-reviews

Go Hawks

Some of you know that I’m a dedicated sports fan and a 50-year (original) season ticket holder of the Seattle Seahawks. My social media posts include several shots from my attendance at these games. This year, our Seahawks made the NFL playoffs as the top seed, which means I’m so looking forward to attending a playoff football game! That same feeling inspired my song, Interurban Fanfare. The lyrics for that song will be in my head this Saturday as the game begins. I’m so excited about that!

I also want to recognize Dr Martin Luther King’s upcoming birthday this month and remember his legacy. I feel privileged to share Dr. King’s initials in my name (MLK).

Stay Warm!!