Monday, April 8, 2013

Reflection - A New ACMImimi Video Project

Note on this post: The American College of Medical Informatimusicology frequently uses satire and irony in its posts. This post by Dr. Ross D. Martin, our President and Founder, is an exception as we are embarking on the creation of a new video to honor the special relationship between people experiencing serious health issues and their caregivers. The usual shtick will return in future posts. Thank you for understanding.

I have been somewhat distracted from Informatimusicology as personal circumstances have taken priority. Specifically, the love of my life, my wife Kym, was diagnosed with her third cancer in 30 years -- this time breast cancer. I have taken to blogging about our shared experience on my personal blog.

I've also been writing music in response to this experience and now am making an appeal to all of you for your help in creating a special video. I've written a new song, "Reflection," that speaks about the cancer journey as seen through the eyes of a caregiver and lover of one experiencing cancer. You can listen to an acoustic demo of the song at ReverbNation or through the widget below. The lyrics are at the end of this post.


The Reflection Video Project 

I'm now working with some musician friends -- Bill "Bumblebee" Davis and Travis Erwin -- to create a more polished version of the song, which will be soundtrack for a new video featuring, well, I hope, you. If you have a loved one -- be they a spouse, uncle, mother, friend -- whose chronic illness, cancer journey or other healthcare challenge you'd like to celebrate, please send an email to Reflection@ACMImimi.org:
  • Attach a picture (higher resolution is better - JPEG preferred) 
  • Include a brief quote, message of hope or just an "atta-boy" note that's about twitter length (140-ish characters) and suitable for sharing 
  • Let us know the names of the folks in the picture (first names only if you want) and where you are from (state/country is sufficient if that's all you want to share). 
  • Tell us your story too if you're willing to share it. 
You can also post your picture/message/story as a comment on this blog post. By sending the picture, names and message, you are giving me permission to use them in the video montage, post them here on ACMImimi.org, and otherwise use them to promote the song and video.

Contributors to the video will, of course, automatically be eligible to become Fellows of The College (but you still have to fill out an application form). Please know that we at The College are grateful for all that you do for making healthcare work better and loving people with medical needs. We hope this project will inspire us all to be better caregivers and to see the beauty in our loved ones even as they face difficult health challenges. Thank you.

Reflection 

Autumn rustles out my window
Winter's time is near
Shorter days cast longer shadows
On the path we walk from here
It's a detour undesired
Still it's ours to share
With a passion so inspired
I'll go with you anywhere

Just let me be your mirror
So you can see
Even as you're changing
You are beautiful to me
Let me be your mirror
Let me be the one
Let my eyes reflect your beauty
As the moon reflects the sun

It's easy to be frightened
When the weather rolls in
The senses are heightened
And faith wears thin
All the slings and arrows
Start to take their toll
If we focus on the narrow
We miss out on the whole

So let me be your mirror
So you can see
Even as you're changing
You are beautiful to me
Let me be your mirror
Let me be the one
Let my eyes reflect your beauty
As the moon reflects the sun

I can't promise you a miracle
Still I'll pray one comes our way
I'll be right here through it all
And I'll love you every day
In every way
So hear me say

Please let me be your mirror
So you can see
Even as you're changing
You are beautiful to me
Let me be your mirror
Let me be the one
Let my eyes reflect your beauty
As the moon reflects the sun

(c)2013 Ross D. Martin