Sliding home…

The notion that life is not fair was brought home Wednesday afternoon as Dave Giegerich finished a long and courageous battle with cancer that was joined mightily by his wife Pam, sons Axel and Carter and his full circle of family and friends.  That it was so hard-fought and that there had been such hope he would get through it, makes the finality of it so very hard to accept.  Dave, with his beloved Dobro and his sparkling wit and good humor, brought much joy to so many of us who knew and admired him.  We first knew him as a member of the Richmond-based bluegrass band Stoney Point back in the mid-80s with Dave as front man along with Tom “Big Tree” Reynolds, Richard Ward, D.J. Sharp and Billy Budd…there were many entertaining nights at Charlie Shifflett’s Flat Rock Inn in Powhatan.  Here’s an audio sampler of the band’s last show there.  Dave would go on to share his musicianship in countless other contexts including Bill Harrell & the Virginians and the eclectic Hula Monsters and as a beloved instructor at Nashville’s distinguished ResoSummit.  But one of my most fond memories goes back to Pete’s House at Graves Mountain in June of 2009 and a wee-hours jam that re-united Dave, Tree and Richard Ward along with Gary Ferguson and a host of others.  There was magic that night.  Dave, Richard, and Gary along with Jackie Frost, our daughter Emily and Billy Budd comprised the fledgling band East of Monroe that spent the past year rehearsing and recording but due to Dave’s tenuous health issues sadly never made it to the stage.  Listen to some of the fruits of their musical labor of love here.  And when you visit the site, take note of the wonderful artwork of Richard’s dear mom Martha, who in a somehow fitting twist of fate, reached the end of her life’s journey on that same Wednesday afternoon.  Full circle.

As we come to the final hours of another year of mixed blessings, let’s all resolve to make more time for the things that mean the most…good times spent with family and friends.  We can never know when those opportunities will end.  Here’s to a meaningful 2011 for us all, with thanks for your time spent here over the past 12 months.

TT