Tag Archives: father’s illness

WITH ME WHEN I WAS BORN

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Judy

When I have a song that “grabs” and uplifts me, I feel like every day is my birthday. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, adjusting to loss of parents, Aging Parents, cemetery visit, comfort while grieving, composing, dad died, death of a father, father's death, father's illness, grief, GRIEF RELATED, grieving a dad, grieving a father, grieving my dad, guitar, healing music, inspiration, Judy Unger, loss, loss of a father, loss of my dad, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, not sure where I'm going, optimism, original songs, performing, singing, songwriting, through the darkness, visiting the cemetery, with me, writing, you are my light, you are with me, You're With Me | 7 Comments

ALL OF MY TEARS GAVE ME COMPASSION

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Judy

Tomorrow is my father's birthday. He died two years ago. Thinking of his absence over the last two years, is a mixed bag. I miss his caring and concern for me, but hated watching him suffer toward the end of his life. Continue reading →

Posted in Princess Stories | Tagged beautiful music, Carol Bidwell Walkey, Carol Walkey, Clear, compassion, composing, courage to change, dad dying, death, death from sepsis, death of my dad, death of my father, editor, facing divorce after a long marriage, father dying, father's death, father's illness, grief, grief and compassion, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, inspiration, Judy Unger, loss, loss of a father, loss of my dad, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, memories of father, original songs, Parents, releasing pain through writing, songwriting | 4 Comments

YOU’RE WITH ME – PART 2

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Judy

This post is dedicated to my father. Today would have been his 89th birthday. One year ago today he went into a coma and died five days later. My song “With Me” was written a month after his death. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Aging Parents, comfort while grieving, composing, dad died, death of a father, father's death, father's illness, grief, GRIEF RELATED, grieving a dad, grieving a father, grieving my dad, guitar, inspiration, loss, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, original songs, singing, songwriting, with me, writing | 2 Comments

I AM THE SANDWICH – PART 2

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Judy

I love my mother and celebrate her quality of life. There are those who believe in spending countless dollars to extend the suffering of terminally ill patients. I am proud of my willingness to go against medical professionals who believe they know what is best for my mother. I am so sorry for elderly people who do not have an advocate! Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", Advocacy, Aging Parents, broken hip without surgery, Caregiving, dementia, elderly directives, end of life decision, father's illness, inspiration, mother, mother daughter relationship, mother's illness, no hospitalization order, nursing homes, refusing to go to a hospital | 5 Comments

CRYSTAL OCEANS – PART 2

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Judy

I exited my stressful world and entered my magical world this past week. It is probably very funny to see a middle-aged woman wearing an iPod, swinging her fists like a conductor and dancing as she walks. That’s me. My big smile often causes people to stop and I hear them say, “What are you listening to?” Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Aging Parents, Caregiving, composing, coping with divorce, creativity, divorce, divorce after a long marriage, divorce after long marriage, divorce and separation, facing divorce after a long marriage, family vacations from hell, father's illness, gray divorce, guitar, honesty, impending divorce, inspiration, loss, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother, mother's illness, Music, original songs, separation, singing, songwriting, voice lessons | Leave a comment

WITH ME – PART 1

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Judy

I am thankful that music was there to comfort me when both my parents died. Recently, I recorded a new vocal for my song “With Me.” I share here my song and story.

May it comfort anyone longing for their mother or father in heaven.
Continue reading →

Tagged acknowledging grief, acoustic guitar, adjusting from grief, Aging Parents, as I grow old, as I mourn, beautiful music, bravery, Caregiving, changing your life, comforting music, compassionate friends, composing, courage, creativity, dad, death, death of a child, death of a father, death of a parent, discouraged about healing, discouraged by grief, end of a marriage, expressing feelings, father and memories, father daughter relationship, father's illness, Friendship, grief, grief and healing, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", Grief descriptions, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, healing and grief, healing from grief, healing music, hope, hope for healing, hope of healing, inspiration, Judy Unger, losing a father, losing your dad, loss, loss of a child, loss of a dad, love, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, memories of dad, memories of father, Music, music and healing, music arrangements, musical comfort, optimism, optimism after loss, original songs, overcoming grief, separation, singing, songwriting, spirituality, staying positive, surviving grief, voice lessons, watching my life unfold, when I was born, with me, With Me when I was born, writing, you are my light | Leave a comment

AS I GROW OLD

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Judy

In honor of Father’s Day, I am sharing a brand new song, which I wrote last week. It is called, “With Me.”

With me, when I was born, with me as I mourn
With me in every song, with me to keep me strong
With me every day, with me in every way
With me and always near, you take away my fear
With me when I ache, with me as I awake
With me when I weep, your’re with me while I’m asleep
With me when I cry, with me when I die
Watching my life unfold, you’re with me, as I grow old . . . Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Aging Parents, composing, courage, creativity, dad, death, elderly father, father, father dying, father's death, father's funeral, father's illness, grief, guitar, having faith, inspiration, losing a father, loss, loss of a dad, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, memories of dad, Music, original songs, performing, singing, songwriting, staying positive, voice lessons, with me, writing | Leave a comment

I’LL STILL SEE YOUR LOVE EVERYWHERE

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Judy

I want to write about my experience of saying goodbye to my childhood domain, yesterday. With that, I definitely faced many more “pangs. I knew that it had finally hit me. For decades, my parents’ home was always there. It was a place where I felt safe and secure. And that was all over. There were only memories to hold onto now. But I did not want to have this memory, of seeing trash everywhere! Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", Aging Parents, childhood memories, composing, Daily Life, father's illness, GRIEF RELATED, hoarder, hoarding, inspiration, loss, lyric development, original songs | 3 Comments

HOW HARD IT IS JUST SAYING GOODBYE

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Judy

I have written that with Jason’s death, an opera played over and over in my mind. It is interesting how that has been happening with my father’s death. Although Jason’s opera had no melody or music, my song “Set You Free” continues to play over and over as I see the moment of my father’s death replayed throughout my day. I accept it and I understand that it is my mind’s way of trying to grasp the concept that my dad is physically gone forever. But in so many other ways, he is still with me. Hearing how much he touched other people has been very meaningful for me. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Aging Parents, composing, creativity, dad's death, death, dementia, father's death, father's illness, grief, GRIEF RELATED, healing music, IHOP, inspiration, International House of Pancakes, loss, loss of a father, loss of a parent, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Memorial Plaque, memories of dad, Music, music and healing, original songs, saying goodbye, singing, spirituality | 1 Comment

WE’LL BOTH BE ALRIGHT

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Judy

Yesterday, I wrote: “You know you are a songwriter when you write a song while your father is dying.” That is true. I am in the process of composing the chorus for a new song, which already has two verses. This happens in my mind, no matter what I am doing. Today, I can write: “You know you are a writer when you feel the urge to write about the experience of your father’s death while it is still fresh in your mind.” That is also true. I can close my eyes and be at his deathbed in a fraction of a second. It has only been a few hours since he took his last breath and I am writing because more than anything else it comforts me. Why is writing so comforting? It is because I am hopeful that by sharing my experience I can touch other people and be inspirational. I feel like there is a light shining all around me. It lights up what once used to be darkness. Continue reading →