2010- Dave was finishing up his brain radiation treatments. He had been on high doses of steroids and they started decreasing the dose. I wasn't able to take him to many of the treatments due to work, Julie and Joni took him most of the time. They have the radiation patients see the MD once a week or so, I never could make many of those either. It was so comforting to know that our friends would be there with Dave and help him remember what to tell me. About this time we were also preparing for a trip to Chicago to see Chick Corea and Gary Burton. It was so amazing...this is when Dave, Tim and I met Chick! We could only have 3 of us meet him (6 of us went: the Kings, the other Maki's and us) and I remember struggling with the decision that eventually all helped to decide. I had agonized over telling Dave or waiting, we didn't find out it was a go until about 6:30 pm when I got a call. I don't remember now if I told him it was a maybe...I think I waited and got to tell him after the call. I remember jumping up and down and trying not to scream!
When we started the blog I made it so Joni and Dave could write posts too. I guess I thought if I was working and out of town it may be easier to have one of them write about his day. That never really happened except one post. I somehow convinced Dave to write about meeting Chick. He said it best, here are his words:
The Chick Meeting....according to Dave
WOW--WOWIE-ZOWIE!!!!!!!!!! What a great weekend in Chicago, celebrating life and music. Lee and I were accompanied by our great friends Tim and Joni King and my brother Phil and his wife Loni. We had a great time gallivanting around, eating, shopping, snacking, eating, and also got some time to relax. Of course the highlight was the concert Saturday night, a duet with Chick Corea and Gary Burton at an exquisite small theatre with 3rd row seats right by Chick. The show was mixed by Chick's life long friend, and my new friend, Bernie Kirsch. The best part for me was a personal meeting with Chick that my lovely wife, coolest person in the world, secretly arranged behind my back. About 10 minutes of personal face to face time that he graciously agreed to. I had thought and thought about what I would say to him through the years. I told him how he had inspired me and thanked him. I presented him some of his favorite gum, he thought it was a "sweet gift". Towards the end of our time I told him I had never really seen him in an intimate setting and would like to some time. He immediately invited us to the Blue Note in New York City and described it as the kind of venue I was thinking of, or something like that. He recommended the second week of May when Eddie Gomez and other guests would be joining him. I asked if I could say hi if we got there, he said "of course" ( you can't believe how humble I feel around him). Upon leaving, Bernie confirmed the second week at the Blue Note would be the best.
All and all this was an amazing weekend, it definitely represented a full circle in my life.
Reading this brings back a few more memories. We knew Chicks favorite gum from the Return to Forever concerts we attended the summer of 2009 (Chick gave Dave his pack with 4 pieces left). Dave looked on line to find where he could buy some gum when we got to Chicago. We found the store and he bought a few packs. Then when we told Dave about getting to meet Chick, he brought them along and had Chick choose between four flavors- one he had never tried and that's the one he picked. Chick also signed one of the packs for Dave. I'll scan that later and post.
peace, love, groove
peace, love, groove
I remember this like yesterday & Chick told Dave to keep writing that echoes in my heart. The Ney York trip was another and we sat on the sidelines at work and were so sad when you had to turn around, that was a wake up call to me that I had to make more time now! Miss you Dave!
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