Billy, Spectrum 40, Catching Up with Life and Times

I am going to get to this as I can but
a start can lead to a finish, so here goes:

It's been a long time since I have really
been here, with you, at Billy's forum and
I am sure your lives have been as filled as
much as mine, with things both profound
and mundane.  Life really does go on but
we know that a part of life is death.  We
only have to take a step back from now
to realize that in George's leaving us and
only a step before that, to understand
his loss in his wife's passing.  She was
a part of him and he was/is a part of us.

Since 2008, my life has been animated
by changes in the world that influence
my work and this has crept into my life
and not all for the better.  I can't go into
all of it but I can say to you that nothing
is the same for any person, in any country.
We live in a disposable world and that is
plainly seen all around us.

Raising children in this world is more than
challenging for all parents and with the
pressures of work making for longer and
longer hours and my awareness of the need
for my presence requiring the same, which
I did not falter on and defended; I burned
the candle at both ends. This lent itself
to other things but over the past year,
when my wife's father died, the change
that added to her already very complex
life (at our age), a last straw fell upon
her and our lives as result.  Our family
system fell into a quicksand and one
that I am still trying to extricate
ourselves from.  

We're still in this battling but enter, a
year and a half ago, when I was trying
to order my life changing things and one
of them: reading "Wheatbellies" by Dr.
William Davis, I realized things that were
influencing my body.  I urge all of you
to read that most important work.

Anyway, through key examinations, it
was found that I had developed a tumor
on my hip that I have to this day but
has now become so that I can no longer
function normally and this has been for
some time.  I have tried many things
and seen many doctors.  Their wonder
of it did nothing to steady me. The
growth has been equally steady and
time: not on my side.

Recently, I saw a surgeon, who, while
he could not identify the tumor (like the
rest of the doctors) said that it was at
a point where there was only one choice.
We cannot biopsy for the risk of spreading
a potential malignancy - that we had (have)
to take it out and have pathology done
afterwards, which would be the longest
4-days of my life, though I can think of
a similar period of wait, as my son's birth-
parents decided to give or not give my
miracle-son to me and so, I come to the
end of the first part of my story:

I am to be cleared for major surgery 8
October, 2013 for the procedure on 11
October and all with the purpose of
removing a mass invading my right hip,
which prevents me from sitting, sleeping,
walking and playing the kit, among other
things.  Afterwards, in the 4-days, we
will know what this mass is and whether
it's Mars - the destroyer or a temporary
reminder of how mortality is actually
spelled.  I believe there is purpose in
all things and this will be no different.

The question is whether I will live to
tell the story.

I will follow up with this lead-in to one
of the most important events for me
and my life - the (again) meeting of my
most wonderful mentor - Boomer and
the bonus of the Spectrum 40 Band.

More to come...

Loving you, Pete! And HONESTLY, SINCERE AND ERNEST PRAYERS TO GOD
ON YOUR BEHALF. This post has nearly brought me to tears. But remember
that God Almighty is still on the throne and prayer changes things for sure!

I will fall to my knees and make supplication to the one to whom NOTHING is
impossible!

Love you, Pete!

Mike had mentioned to me you were having some health issues but I had no idea it was so serious.

Indeed. Prayers ascending on your behalf, Pete.

Thank You Pete
for this update.

I hope it can be changed
for good health.

Keep On Keepin' On Pete


_______________________

Outtasight
Colin.

I too am praying that the surgery will be a resolution to the problem and not the beginning of another one.

thinking of you Pete !

Love, TED

What can i say Pete ... I'm just sorry, but i beleive in God and i'll pray for you!Peace Stef.

Not much at this time to say but that I am praying for you

rac

However, I did find this during my time with Lord and thought it may encourage;

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my (our) refuge, our place of safety; He is our God, and we trust Him
For He will rescue us from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with His feathers.
He will shelter us with His wings.
His faithful promises are ours
armor and protection.

Do not be afraid of the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.

Psalm 91:1-5

Love you brother Pete,
rac

We are lifting you up today, Pete. You will be placed before God all day long, I'm sure. May everyone involved with you today be their sharpest, finest, and most compassionate.

Courage in the Lord, Pete. Courage in the Lord.

Amen!  You are in our hearts and prayers are going out. Papa P.

Though we are scattered abroad, Jesus says where two or more
are gathered in His name, there He shall be in the midst.

Lord, in Your name we are gathered and we lift up the name of Pete
Corona to the Throne asking that the loving and gracious hand of God
The Father, be upon him and all his family in healing of body, mind and
spirit.  We know that ALL things are in Your mighty hands and there is
NOTHING that is impossible for You.  Therefore if You will it to be so,
Pete Corona will be made whole!

Lord we know and believe that You are a miracle worker and that Your
invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature have confounded
the hearts of men since the beginning.  You are the same yesterday,
today and forevermore.  You have said it.  And therein is where our
trust, our faith and our hope lies.

Lord, we know that Your will shall be done, and it is all well with Thee.
Nevertheless, grant our request, we pray.  Glory be to God.

In Jesus name,

AMEN!

Pete!

I tried to phone you last week... left a voice mail and now know why I didn't hear from you. Yet I'm encouraged in Psalms 91:1-5... which Racman posted earlier. Its been awhile since I've been here on the forum as well, and had it not been for D-Slam (via Facebook) I might not even have been here today.

Yet you shall prevail even under these circumstances. My heart felt prayers are extended to you in the Name of Jesus Christ. I pray for your comfort and building up as you go through this procedure - in the knowledge that as God intended, you ARE SAFE!

No idle words... just a divine intent for your full health and recovery.

God Bless you My Brother and DEAR FRIEND.

Thank you Don for alerting me. And my thanks to Boomer for ensuring that we're able to communicate on any issue... musical or otherwise.


Ps 91:1-16

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge--
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
(NIV)

In Jesus Name... So be it.

Jer 29:11-12
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
(KJV)

I am overwhelmed by your support.  
Thank you.

Today, the battery of tests were
completed and I have clearance
for Friday's surgery.  

We took another look at all the results
and it was encouraging in that this
tumor seems encased.  All the blood-
work has come back normal indicating
this unusual independence of the
growth but this may be working in
our favor.  To the doctors, it appears
to be a straight-forward approach
to removing it.  

It will be a large incision and I will have
a ton of staples but they are confident
that they'll have a result.  Though we
cannot be certain until the pathology
is done, that the blood work and all
other tests show normal suggest that
it is not a malignancy but again, we
cannot be sure.  Friday and next
week will tell.

Already, your blessings are surrounding
me with love, good will and reassurance,
all of which flows from above.

I asked my wife to upload the images
onto the server so that I can access
them and post them for you, here.  I
won't post them all but the few that
convey the experience and I will talk
about what it was like to touch, again,
the father of us, all and his brethren.



PS: I dream of wearing regular pants.

God is good and I am encouraged,Pete.
Fervent prayers will continue, absolutely!

Satan is ALREADY a defeated foe and Shall NOT prevail!

YES!!! God is better than good but He's good to US!

And He shall show Himself to be better than what we share.

Great news... keep the Faith of God my Brother Peter Corona. Boomer may be our drumming father (among many for others), and you may be the aura of the sun (Son), but I testify that we're all a part of His Plan with purpose.

And you Shall wear pants.

Still praying for you, your Family and all those you know personally.

In Jesus Name.

[... and I've been booted from websites for even proclaiming that Mighty Name... oh well... LOL!]

I'm sending you all of my positive thoughts Pete. I know that it will turn out ok, and you'll be back in the saddle before long. You can't keep a good man down for long. I will pray for your positive outcome.
Stay strong friend.

D.L.

Pete:
I hope to get to Chicago again before the year is out. should that NOT happen, then in Spring.......You guys owe me a dinner and a good long conversation about life in the positive in Chicago. It was great to have finally met you in the flesh. After having met you, I cannot imagine anything but positive things for you after this very important surgery. so, it's about getting it done and moving on with life in the positive. FEEL positive and STAY positive as all good things come to those who ARE positive! It was great to have you in the Spectrum 40 family when we played Space.


Bill C.

Hopefully you caught the tumor in time, Pete. Sorry to hear of this news. I hope that your surgery is successful and you have many more years of health and happiness with your family, both at home and on this forum.

Again, thanks, everyone.

The time is nearer but before I go,
I thought I would tell you about that
night and how crazy-wild it was.

I purchased the tickets a long time
before the show and looked forward
to it like the coming of the comet
(timed for the same period)!

     

Anyway, the tickets were stuffed
away in my bag for the longest time
and my recollection was the they'd
be playing 1 October, 2013 and I
remembered this along with the
astronomical Ison/Mars event that
I had scheduled to view and thus,
all my preparations for for 1 October.
The trouble was that Billy was not
scheduled for that Tuesday but
THURSDAY!!  Idiot me!!

  

Well, no wonder we show up to
the club on 1 October, sit at our
seats and out of the dressing
room comes NOT Billy, Gary, Dean
and Ric but none other than Dave
Holland and his band including Eric
Harland on drums and the amazing
Kevin Eubanks on guitar!  You would
think that I get it, now but no!!

So, how did I get in, you ask?  You
know, I still can't figure that out
unless they just did not look at
tickets really closely because I
remember showing them the
tickets!  I mean they would have
seen the date.  I still can't figure
it out but there we were and
I figure that they are traveling
with Billy and opening.



Well, these guys took us back
to the early 1970's and let me
tell you, Eric was fab, with Kevin
and Dave, who are just absolute
monsters!  Especially Kevin was
out of this world and when he left
the stage, at the end, I stood in
front of him and bowed, at which
he promptly started laughing
hysterically but let me tell you
that he deserved every bit of it.  
There is nothing he cannot do!
He is one of the premier guitarists
of this age and I was so fortunate
to have seen him that night.

I should mention that Craig Taborn
was at the keyboards and he was
nothing short of incredible! He
made you want to get up there
and play with him!!

This brings me to Eric, who I
have known about since he was
the boy and and then his work
with Joshua Redman, which we
even talked about, here.  He
is such the exciting young player
(36).  I call him young because
I am the broken old man of 54!!



Just a crazy boy, his set-up may
your head spin and mind you, I
could never play like that but not
because it isn't right but because
he owns that.  I just loved it and
told him so, at the end of it, all.  
This, after seeing the staff breaking
down and then the doofus-me asking
when Billy was coming on and then
the news hitting the floor I was
standing on, which was sand!!!

 

I told him part of the story, by the
way and he laughed but it got to
us paying tribute to the man (Billy).
We were both bowing.  I asked him
if he was going to be hanging
around the town until but alas he
and the band had to move on.  He
wanted to be there, Billy. You have
to know this - that we all bow down
to you - the one and only.

...to be continued.

...and so all my lovely wife (Judy)
and I talked about, that night, was
how we got in there, in the first
place and then, how wild the sounds
were (she does not like a lot of jazz)
and what we were going to do about
the baby-sitting on Thursday, when
Billy was actually scheduled to be
here, if you can imagine!!

   

Incidentally, I can't tell you how
uncomfortable I was.  I had to
fidget about, never comfortable,
always in pain but the performances
took me thankfully away.

I can't really go on without saying
that I had been in contact, with
the Boomer but the connection
was never made.  We just were
not pinning down the actual date,
though, the night of Dave Holland,
I did text that I would be directly
behind him!  How crazy!!

I actually had been planning to
take the band out to lunch, as
there is decent tapas up the
road and there, I had hoped to
really get down and family-like.
Billy is only everything to me, like
he is to all of you.

Well, due to the very unusual
circumstances in my life medically
and what turned out to be a
related situation for the Boomer,
we could not have that lunch
together and for that, I was
very sorry because I had planned
this in my head, through all that
was going on - to see the very
inspiration of my life again, mano
a mano...  I tell everyone and
never exaggerating, just what
Billy has done for me and I don't
mean just on the drums.  

So, in a kind of half despair, I
return to the club, with my wife
and in the club (getting in without
the hitch), I find the place mobbed.
My table is gone and we're stuck
in my corner (front row, still) against
the wall, with not the best angle.
The martinis were just OK but I
could tell that the people that had
filled the place up were there,
with a reason and that touched
my heart.  So many of us really
do understand the law of Cause
and Effect - of Billy and what
eventually followed.  

 

And they came out to a crowd that
was to tribute.  They took the stage
and through different arrangements
painted a past in a future that was
now and through wondrous commun-
ication with us - of course, so familiar
with the motifs of Spectrum, we were
taken back and in a bliss of grace,
able to applaud the source of it all.











It was just fantastic to see him and
band play.  All were lost in the music,
Gary (far, on the other side) and in my
mind's eye, I saw him on the drums, too,
though he was all over the keys and
the gargantua-creative and the animated
Dean, who I have loved, ever since the
iconic Observations and Reflections.  His
spontaneous combustive playing electrified
the the crowd over Ric's Einsteinian
precision and pile-driving groove and
that leaves Billy.

Sitting high, as on the thrown he actually
occupies, he was "the joy" as one of
the audience told me, later.  He stopped
to talk to us telling us that it had been
a while since he'd been here and in a
moment of deep courage, reassuring us
that the Cubs might actually win a
World Series in a future somewhere...



 

He'd not changed - still the intimate
one with us sharing.

...to be continued.

...and take us through a magical
night, they did.



When it was done, I could only be
thankful for being there, for having
lived a life that allowed all the wonder
of my musical past, the musicians that
I came to know and contact, not to
mention the love that I experienced
through my parents and sibs and then
my wife and children and the caring
amongst brethren, as in here, at
Boomer's and other places, in my
work and in a crazy world, though
filled with a desert of hatred allowed
droplets of life-giving love...  I was
satisfied, even though I did not get
to have my lunch with him, even
though I would not be able to hold
him and Gary, who I so looked
forward to meeting.  All of this, I
would not have but I was quenched
and then they received their applause
and it was deserved...

...Off the stage they came and with
a tear in my eye, I inched forward
to touch the man that shaped me
and he grabbed my hand and would
not let go pulling me with him, as they
made their way to the dressing room
having said to me: "I was wondering
where you were..." and off, like the
child I am, with the father of us, all,
I went leaving my wife behind (she
later followed) to be with him.

...to be continued.

Yeah, crazy-wild - all of it!  Such a
surprise for me but pleasant.  Kind of
happened quick.  I could feel tugging
at me from beside (left and right).  I
am sure I knew a lot of the drummers
there - perhaps some from the House
of Drumming but I think I was banned
from the site for having written that
review of the DW/Pacific Boa Pedal.  
I know they have a moderator, who
endorses DW and what that brings.

Anyway, into the hallway that leads
to a larger area and I am thinking to
myself that I left my bag and my wife
behind but I can't let go of Billy's hand
after all this!

Well, quite a place.  Looked like a
real nice setup back there.  Screens
and couches and just very nice
accommodations for the band.  Of
course, just being with Billy and the
guys was the top for me.  How lucky
I am is all I could think.  

Billy recognized me, of course but
Gary took a moment and I think
Boomer introduced me as the "Tony
Officionado" or something like that.
Of course, that is not totally true
but we did the greets and then we
chatted about health and things,
about unusual circumstances and
how things did not quite work to
plan and then my wife caught up
and took some more photos.



It was was just so wonderful to be
with my mentor after all these years
and the real guy that he is.  It's not
just about the drums with him.  He
made me feel that in his manner and
sense of humor and concern for me
and my situation.  Actually, they all
did that for me.  What guys!

Knowing that Gary was with him and
as I told my wife beforehand, that this
was about him, too - one of the unsung
heroes/monsters of the kit and some-
one that we all have gotten to know
on site - transparent in his communication
and just like his playing - all out there.
It was fantastic to see him in the flesh
and tell him the things that we all
know but in person.  I introduced him
to my wife and while he was embar-
rassed, I could have gone on saying
more about him. Again, he was very
conscientious and sensitive.  I asked
him if he was getting to play the kit
much and he said: "Yeah."  I returned,
"But doesn't your back hurt?" and he
said, "Yeah."  I feel for him.



What a guy!  I just love him!  You know,
I knew that I would before that night
and it's all because of our interchanges
here, at the site.  He's contributed so
much as you all know bringing even more
wisdom and from the inside - his special
gifts and connection to our Boomer
a further foundation for us.

You know, I have to tell you that meeting
Ric and Dean was fabulous, too and I
have to say a little about that.

By the way, I apologize for not having
pictures of them but hope to make up
for it, next time.

Of course, these guys are killers on their
instruments.  That goes without saying
and we're all familiar with them through
the projects with Boomer and others
but you should have heard Ric speak
to me and about what I am going through,
now and how (he related this to me) a
friend of his had a similar situation (a
tumor apparently encased in fat etc.).
With real sensitivity and concern, he
encouraged me and just like Boomer
and Gary.  It touched me.  Outside,
again, in the main room: he reiterated
these things hugging me and wishing
me well. I was holding back tears.
Thanks, Ric.

Dean is the dream, literally.  He was
on the other side of the room and I
knew time was ticking and these
guys had to get back to work and
I was a dead man standing (so tired);
I spoke over to him saying and this
is the very truth:

"Dean Brown - I have loved you from
the first I heard you!"  He laughed,
of course.  He's only heard that for-
ever but I had to say it.  

I will never, ever, ever forget that
opening line of the guitar solo on
Jailbait, way back when.  He has an
energy that is so spontaneous and
com-busting and then he wears it
openly in his performance... Well,
if you have seen him, you know
exactly what I am talking about
but I must say that this is exactly
as I pictured him, not having had
the pleasure of our meeting in
person.  He, like the others, was
so perfectly affable and with a
memory to serve.  I only wish I
had more time to be with them
and just get to catching up
because... let's face it, a lot
of time has passed by and
soooooooo many things have
happened to all of us.  So many....

And there it is.  Hugging Ric in the
main room actually came after that
but I think I have touched on it, all.

One night can represent more than
just the few hours and so, this night,
when Fate had it: that I would
connect with Billy, Gary, Ric and
Dean - I, too, would be marked for
the rest of my life, again, as it turns
out - to touch a dream.

Thanks, guys. Love you.

Regards,


PS:  I will be going in, tomorrow
morning.  I hope to come out with
the story to tell.

      

Great Photos Pete


Good Luck Tomorrow


____________________________

Outtasight
Colin.

Nice reflections, Pete. Thank you. Felt like I was in the place with you.

Hey Pete:
It was far too short a time we spent together. We have a lot of history on the web site as colleagues in debate, etcetera.................
'Looking forward to connecting again in the coming weeks, months.
Get well and stay strong!

Boomer

Pete, thanks so much for taking the time to share your night with us . Just know that all our thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow in the O.R. and we will all be here waiting to hear from you after your ordeal has passed.

God Bless !


TED