Tag Archives: loss of a close friend

ONE DAY YOU ARRIVED

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Judy

This is a story about a boy who lost his mother when he was a teenager; she never had the chance to see what a wonderful man he grew to be. Continue reading →

Posted in Healing and Hope | Tagged acoustic guitar, artist, beautiful music, Beside Me Always, Chai Latte, child's death, comforting music, commercial artist, composing, creativity, death, death of a child, expressing feelings, friends, gratefulness, grief, grief and healing, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, healing, healing music, hope for healing, hope of healing, illustrator, inspiration, Judy Unger, Linda Shaff, loss, loss of a close friend, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, music and healing, musical comfort, optimism, original songs, painting, proud of your children, singing, songwriting, Todd Shaff, Watching You Grow, writing | 2 Comments

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

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

JUST A TUNE TO TELL YOU – PART 1

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Judy

I have written a lot about my close friendship with Cheryl. Cheryl was very close with me during the time that I was intensely writing many of my songs. She inspired me on at five songs. This song would be the song that was clearly the one I most considered a special gift to her. Although she is gone, she lives on in my song. When I sing this song, I am not thinking of her – I am actually thinking of how my life has changed and how I feel love again. A lot of that credit goes to someone named Connie.
Continue reading →

Tagged acoustic guitar, be my own best friend, being your own best friend, best friend, Cheryl Kessler, Cheryl Rocke, childhood friendship, composing, creativity, death, falling in love again, Finding love again, Friendship, grief and friendship, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, healing music, humor daily life, inspiration, Judy Unger, just a tune, loss, loss of a close friend, loss of a friend, love song, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, optimism, Ordinary Life, original songs, parenting, rediscovering love, shown me how to care, singing, songwriting, that moment when, what it means to be a friend, writing | Leave a comment

I CAN FEEL LOVE AGAIN

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Judy

It became clear to me that my grief regarding Cheryl had finally surfaced for me to explore. There was so much grief coming up and out of me. The newfound energy is the release of that pain. I had no idea how much energy was required to hold all of that pain inside! Continue reading →

Tagged acoustic guitar, be my own best friend, being your own best friend, best friend, Cheryl Kessler, childhood friendship, composing, creativity, empty spaces, falling in love again, Finding love again, Friendship, friendship and loss, gray divorce, grief, grief and friendship, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, guitar, healing music, humor daily life, Hypnotherapy, 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, optimism, Ordinary Life, original songs, parenting, 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 | Leave a comment

TENNIS – THE THREAD IN THE FABRIC OF MY LIFE

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Judy

This title should actually be, “Tennis is the thread in the fabric of my adult life.” I was married at the age of 21, and I experienced a huge change in my life. I became depressed when I was 23, and it was my own mother that encouraged me to find some other interests. She suggested tennis as a way for me to get myself out of the house. I was living in Sylmar at the time, and had seen an ad for lessons at a public park. I called the instructor, whose name was Ellie and took lessons for a while. Then I played after my lessons at the park where I started meeting lots of tennis players. Continue reading →