Tag Archives: loss of a friend

WE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Judy

I waited for the right moment. I chose the songs I had played in her hospital room. I sang my lyrics slowly and carefully so they could be understood. I felt tears falling around me as I sang. Continue reading →

Posted in Grief Stories, Insight Timer | Tagged acoustic guitar, angel in the sky, Angels, blessings, child leaving, comforting a friend, composing, creativity, expressing feelings, Friendship, friendship and grief, friendship and loss, goodbye song, guitar, healing, healing from grief, healing music, Insight Timer, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational life, Judy Unger, loss of a friend, Music, musical inspiration, musical passion, original songs, overcoming grief, passion for music, songwriting, staying positive, writing | 9 Comments

JUST A TUNE – PART 2

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Judy

I love how Cheryl lives on for me through my songs. When I think of Cheryl, I am always reminded of how precious life is. She desperately wanted to live. I am blessed because my life is truly a gift. I’ve decided to unwrap it now and enjoy what’s inside. Continue reading →

Tagged acoustic guitar, arranging a song, arranging music, be my own best friend, being your own best friend, best friend, Cheryl Kessler, Cheryl Rocke, childhood friendship, composing, creativity, death, emotional singing, falling in love again, Finding love again, Friendship, gray divorce, grief, grief and friendship, guitar, guitar arrangements, healing music, I was so empty, inspiration, Judy Unger, just a tune, loss, loss of a close friend, loss of a friend, love song, lovesong, lyric composing, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, music recording, optimism, Ordinary Life, original songs, recording vocals, rediscovering love, self-love, shown me how to care, singing, song arrangement, songwriting, that moment when, vocals, what it means to be a friend, writing | 4 Comments

HOW MUCH I CARE

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Judy

My friend, Cheryl, inspired my song “Just a Tune” and I really miss her (she died in 2008.) I am sharing some stories about the feelings behind my song, which I recently created a new arrangement for. Continue reading →

Posted in Healing and Hope | Tagged acoustic guitar, be my own best friend, being your own best friend, best friend, Cheryl Kessler, childhood friendship, composing, coping with divorce, creativity, death, emotional singing, emptiness in marriage, empty spaces, falling in love again, Finding love again, Friendship, gray divorce, grief, grief and friendship, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, guitar, healing music, humor daily life, I was so empty, inspiration, Judy Unger, just a tune, loss, loss of a close friend, loss of a friend, love song, lovesong, lyric composing, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, music recording, optimism, Ordinary Life, original songs, parenting, recording, recording studio, recording vocals, rediscovering love, self-love, shown me how to care, singing, singing openly, singing with emotion, songwriting, that moment when, vocals, what it means to be a friend, writing | 7 Comments

IT’S NOT MINE

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Judy

My dedication to singing is completely driven by a desire to fully express my feelings. Singing is the one area of my life where I have felt free to do that. Continue reading →

Tagged acoustic guitar, beautiful music, child's death, composing, creativity, escape through music, Friendship, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, guitar, Hang On, having hope, healing music, hope, hopeful and optimistic, hopefulness, inspiration, Judy Unger, Kimberly Haynes, loss, loss of a friend, love is never gone, love never dies, love will always stay, love will lift you up, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, maintaining hope, Music, music and inspiration, musical comfort, musical inspiration, musical rediscovery, optimism, original songs, passionate songwriter, pursuing dreams, recording vocals, singing, songwriting, terminal illness, vocal coaching, writing | Leave a comment

HANG ON – PART 2

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Judy

Of all my songs, this would have to be my favorite and most inspiring. Continue reading →

Tagged acoustic guitar, cancer, composing, facing the end, friend dying, Friendship, grief, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, Hang On, having hope, healing music, hope, hopeful and optimistic, inspiration, Judy Unger, Kimberly Haynes, Kulak's Woodshed, loss, loss of a friend, love is never gone, love never dies, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, maintaining hope, mother's illness, Music, ocular melanoma, optimism, original songs, performing, singing, songwriting, terminal illness | 3 Comments

IT POURS, THEN IT CLEARS

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Judy

My blog is like a diary, but at the same time I see it as a magnificent opportunity to touch other people with honesty and real experiences. Continue reading →

Tagged cancer and dying, courage facing death, death, death of a friend, expressing feelings, facing the end, friend dying, friend's death, Friendship, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, guitar, inspiration, Judy Unger, Las Vegas, Linda Shaff, loss, loss of a friend, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother's grief, Music, original songs, ovarian cancer, performing, Rainbow through my tears, releasing tears, singing, son's grief, songwriting, suppressing tears, Tennis, tennis friend, tennis friendship, terminal illness, Todd Shaff, Vegas | 2 Comments

I WAS BLESSED TO BE HEALED-PART 2

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Judy

Healing is amazing and that is why I write so much about it. People in deep grief suffer and destroy themselves because they lose hope and don’t realize that out of it can come a new life – with resilience, strength and even happiness again. Continue reading →

Tagged acoustic guitar, cancer and dying, courage facing death, death, death of a friend, facing the end, friend dying, friend's death, Friendship, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, guitar, inspiration, Judy Unger, Linda Shaff, loss, loss of a friend, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother's grief, Music, original songs, ovarian cancer, performing, singing, son's grief, songwriting, Tennis, tennis friend, tennis friendship, terminal illness, Todd Shaff, women's doubles | 8 Comments

I WAS BLESSED TO BE HEALED-PART 1

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Judy

This story is about healing and grief – as many of my stories are. When I was grieving the death of my child, sometimes it was impossible to imagine feeling better. But I always held on to hope of healing. Continue reading →

Posted in Healing and Hope | Tagged acoustic guitar, cancer and dying, death, death of a friend, facing the end, friend dying, friend's death, Friendship, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, guitar, inspiration, Judy Unger, Linda Shaff, loss, loss of a friend, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother's grief, Music, original songs, ovarian cancer, performing, Revlon Run-Walk, singing, songwriting, Tennis, tennis friend, tennis friendship, terminal illness, Todd Shaff, women's doubles | 7 Comments

ONLY TEARS – PART 2

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Judy

I decided I wanted a new arrangement for “Only Tears” that would fulfill my sentimental vision for this song. I was graduating college when I wrote “Only Tears,” and my lyrics expressed uncertainty about the future. Because I was getting married, I had some doubts over whether my friendships would endure, and that was the reason for my tears. Continue reading →

Tagged breast cancer loss, Cheryl Kessler, childhood friendship, college memories, composing, creativity, death, death from breast cancer, Friendship, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, inspiration, loss, loss of a close friend, loss of a friend, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, marriage and friendship, Music, oh my friend, Only Tears, original songs, playing my guitar, singing, songwriting, voice lessons | 3 Comments

BORDERING ON TEARS

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Judy

When people hear that I sleep so few hours, they often tell me that it is not possible to function that way. I smile with the knowledge that those people are welcome to their beliefs and can continue give themselves that message if they so choose. I prefer to tell myself a different message. My message is that I have more energy than I ever did before when I slept more and was sad. Continue reading →