Do you know what Pain is?

Well,...I certainly do! Thought I would take a different approach to my regular Blogs - which have NOT been regular - And, I want to talk about something that has been bothering me...A LOT!!!!!

Pain. Sometimes you look at someone and they look fine. Yes, just like all those postings on facebook. You can't "see" the pain...so...you figure the person is A-OK. That isn't always the case. For those of you that really know me...you know I suffer. And, I try not to say too much about the pain...but, well, um...it damn well HURTS!

I'm assuming it is a combination of my dancing/gymnastic/tomboy-ish days along with old age. Just add a couple of DNA defects there, too. 
I have mild scoliosis...a kyphoid spine...injuries from tree falls, and dancing and gymnastics. And, basically, it is all catching up! My Nana warned me...I can still hear her say it....almost 40 years ago! Oh...to top it all off: I have hyper joint flexibility mobility.

I have exercised all my life....maybe not as much in the past 3 years...I know...I need to get back into it! But, don't tell me it'll make the pain go away. It doesn't! I can remember pain ever since I was 9 years old...continual pain. You just learn to live with it. Except lately...it hits me at night. All night. Last night was bad! Up every hour...and the pain is a constant ache. I hate taking meds and lately I have been giving in...which makes me "expand" which puts more weight on my joints and causes more pain. See the cycle?! I have tried the "natural" and "holistic" ways...and they aren't working, either.

The one thing I have also learned is that when I am in a "bad" situation...I hurt. No,...I am not unhappy...I just hurt. My body tells me! Will I ever be pain-free...yeah, when I die....but, I'm not looking forward to that at the moment. I still have a LONG LIFE to live - just putting it out there to the Universe :) !!!

So, if I happen to snap at ya...which I NEVER mean to do...it could be how I am feeling inside! Just sayin'!

My Co-worker KILLS me! Careful...language may offend.

Co-Worker: Hey...have I shown you my new phone?! [Super excited]

Me: No.... [thinks anything is more exciting than my phone]

Co-Worker: Come check it out!!!! [almost runs to the studio]

[Pulls out phone. Talks to it:]

Co-Worker: Text Donna

Phone: What do you want to say to Donna Henry

[My eyes widen....crap...this is super cool!]

Co-Worker: Hey Donna it's Cory I just want to let you know you are a whore...smiley face.

[I walk out to my phone....sure enough...I have a text....it reads:]

Text: Hey Donna it's Cory I just want to let you know you are a core :)

[WTH???? Obviously "Phone" does not like bad language! Beep beep, beep beep! New text...]

Text: Whore

In my industry, I get to participate in a lot of extremely cool things. And, well....sometimes I have to really go-out-on-a-limb! For instance, Painting a picture when my best painting - EVER - may have been from Grade 5 (and, that's a stretch.)

It was 3 years ago that I saw something unique on facebook. It was introduced to me by New Brunswick Country Music Recording Artist - Chris Cummings. It prompted an interview with Chris that led me to an introduction to Tim Fox in Fredericton. So, this year I have finally come out of my shell and sent in my painting.

It is A Brush For Hope, a fund-raising project for The Kidney Foundation of Canada where celebrities from across Canada put brush to canvas to raise funds for Kidney Research. These paintings are then auctioned off on eBay.ca - this year being Oct. 20 - 30th.

Kits are sent out early in the year (paints, brushes, canvas, etc.) and then it is up to the "celebrity" to paint whatever he/she would like to display to the world. I have no idea how I have been deemed "Celebrity" status but, I certainly am OK with helping the Kidney Foundation.

Paintings will be auctioned October 20 -30th, 2011 on eBay.ca so please stop by and check them out! All you have to do is type "kidney foundation" in the search field and bid on the painting!

Some of the Celebrity painters are: Chris Cummings, Myself (Country 93 - Owen Sound), Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy, Mike Myers, Brent Butt, Natalie MacMaster, Faber (Faber Drive), Julian Austin, Justin Trudeau, Paul Brandt, and Steven Sabados (Steven & Chris of The Designer Guys)...with many, many more. My initial idea was to paint a Maritime ocean scene, as I love and miss the ocean. However, my skill level at painting dictated that I paint a portrait of my Portuguese Water Dog - Port Colborne's Finn. He is almost 18 months old and the "baby" in my life. Please check it out on ebay.ca...and check out all the other fabulous paintings while you are there!

My link: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Donna-Henry-Original-Painting-Kidney-Foundation-Brush-Hope-Dog-/110761637613?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item19c9e876ed

Column for The Northern Light in Bathurst, New Brunswick...

FanFest at the CCMAs in Hamilton, ON with Doc Walker...

From The DH Files:

In the words of Carolyn Dawn Johnson, let me introduce myself...or re-introduce myself to you. Born, raised and having lived most of my life in Bathurst, NB...it'll always be considered my home, and I thought I could share some of my DIVA DJ experiences with you. [Insert Rolly eyes here.]

It has been 9 years since I moved out to Owen Sound, ON....where I work as a Morning/Midday On Air Personality for Country 93 - Bayshore Broadcasting Corp. - see, Al Hebert...you influenced me! I have to admit, I love my job! And, I love working with independant artists. Yes, I am also an Emerging Artist Coordinator.

What in the world is that, you may ask?! Well, with the support of my station, I help Indie Artists (especially in Country music) try to survive in the music industry. If I can help an Artist/Musician gain some "airplay" or "popularity" or get extra "gigs"....that makes me happy!

Last year was HUGE for Indie Artists seeing Victoria Banks win Female Vocalist of the Year & Gord Bamford winning Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2010 CCMAs (Canadian Country Music Awards), with both up for the Awards again this year in Hamilton, ON. I have to say: I felt like a proud Mom. Both were very deserving of their awards.

A Muskoka girl now living in Nashville, Victoria Banks is a sweetheart full of soul and one of the best Songwriters in the industry. Her latest CD, Never Be The Same, is about empowerment and I love each song and the stories behind them.

Born in Australia and having moved to Lacombe, Alberta at age 5, Gord Bamford knows how to throw out - or throw in rotation - one great song after another. 2011 sent Gord into Eastern Canada on his Rowdy Boys Tour, which started in Owen Sound, with Aaron Pritchett & Marshall Dane. All 3 put on a great show, and I hope you got to see them.
If you are an Emerging Artist...what are you waiting for???? GET IN TOUCH! And, if you have an interest in Canadian Country Artists and have access to the net...I welcome you to listen in to Country 93 for our WHATS NEW program with Bob Bannister & myself, Saturdays 7pm & Mondays 10pm (NB time) at http://www.country93.ca/ By the way, I'm Donna Henry, former Bathurst resident currently On Air for Country 93 - Mornings/Middays/Emerging Artist Coordinator in Owen Sound, ON.

Johnny Cash Tribute with local Artists....

Ya know......

It sure has been a while since I had the time to chat with y'all...so, thought I would take a moment to mention One of my recent MC gigs....I met Johnny Cash when I was 4 and have always been a fan to an extent (I am always a fan to an extent :)...)

I loved the humour that Brian Moniz & The Oulaws brought to the stage! Just remind me to NOT wear a similar outfit next time! Ha ha ha!

Thanks to The Painted Wardrobe for the beautiful dress, btw! Another great Joseph Ribkoff fashion!

Singer-songwriter Jay Semko visits!

I tried to explain this to a friend (and, well,...she got "it")...I can be a huge fan of someone but not a fan in a usual way. Hard to explain.

I grew up with The Northern Pikes...I loved them, I played them...I probably still have their "cassette" somewhere?! They can be checked at thepikes.com

I had 1987 - Big Blue Sky & 1988 - Secrets of The Alibi. I just simply loved the music. I couldn't tell ya who the band members were, and unless we became friends...I could care less. I simple loved their music.

So, we are 2010 and I am an Emerging Artist Coordinator with Country 93...and we have a submission from Jay Semko. Wait a minute....I know that name! Ahhh...The Northern Pikes...well,... "a part of" returns to my life. And, now I am excited. This guy is talented...and branched into Country Music....and, well, he was the bass player for The Pikes. OMG! Check him out at jaysemko.net.

It's hard to explain what it is like to meet someone like that. And, yes...they are a human being like you & I....but, in my eyes...a very talented human being! And, without actually putting anyone on a pedestal...I still believe in letting someone know when they are appreciated!

So, now...here we are: June 2011...and Jay is making a stop in Owen Sound! He has a new song out with Patricia Conroy.... which BTW... She is fabulous, too!!! And, I finally get to meet Jay! I look forward to hearing more music come our way!

I know, I know...I had to pull him down to my level...but, it was FUN! Safe Travels, Jay...see you at the CCMAs in Hamilton this Sept!

Let me introduce you to someone special...

OK...so, I don't really know Joni...only through facebook...BUT...I have met her wonderful husband Troy through the music industry. Troy always spoke well of his (then, partner - they are married now) wife Joni when interviewed. I felt like I knew her just a little bit. So, we became friends on facebook.
Cancer has been in my life in various ways...and, each time: it scares me, pisses me off, and down-right makes me sad....sometimes mourn. I do not like cancer.
What I do like is how Joni opened up and talked about Mr Bad C.....this letter "still" makes me cry. I am so happy that Mr. Bad C did not rape her of life.
And, this is why I am sharing this with you - with her permission - and, please feel free to comment afterwords. Cancer is serious and it is everywhere. And, may it never take YOU from this world!

Dear Cancer...

by Joni Delaurier on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 6:07pm

An exercise I was given..."write a letter to your cancer". Because often we write what we cannot say, and often what we did not know we felt.

-----

Dear cancer,

It's now been four and a half months since we crossed paths. I have been talking a lot about you, but never to you. It's exhausting. And it's not fair for you to get off the hook so easily. It's time we sorted a few things out between us.

You don't get how you mess up people's lives and the kind of wreckage you leave behind. And I'm one of the lucky ones. Your sins against me are small compared to others. I have every reason to believe that this time, you won't get to claim a win and that 3 months from now, I will only have traces and memories of you. But while I am planning to survive you, I am still forever changed by you. And I will never again get to be someone who hasn't faced and feared you cutting my days short.

You want to know what should be on your conscience?

• Hearing scary words like "tumors", "malignancy", "recurrance", "prognosis", "metasteses" and knowing they apply to me now, too.
• Causing me to tell my husband of three months that everything was going to be ok, even though I had no idea if it would be. And knowing that he could read through the fear and the tears, and that he was scared too.
• Making my mom cry and my dad silent when they found out you had taken residence in their youngest child.
• Leaving a large, difficult to camouflage scar on my neck (not unlike the Nike sign - only more like "Just 'Don't' Do It")...a permanent reminder of our time together every time I look in the mirror.
• Making me want to do nothing more than lie around on the couch since we crossed paths. At first, because I was scared that you might start roaming around in my body if I got my heart rate up (you are irrational, so am I). Then, because of the surgery, and feeling like crap. And finally, once I was physically healed, because I was depressed and had a hard time leaving my house.
• Weight gain and medication mood swings.
• Having to write down YOUR name in my medical history. Getting denied for insurance because of our history. Taking two days to read 6 pages because I can only handle seeing your name so many times before it makes me tired and sad.
• Stealing my low range and highest range when I sing. (And if I don't get it back eventually, you and I will be having more words about this!)
• Knowing you are still sitting in a drawer somewhere with my name on it, in case we need to dig you up again for more testing.
• Fearing that you will want to come back one day.

If I am being honest and fair, I have learned from you. I don't want you to misunderstand this and have you thinking I am happy to have known you. I'm not. But what you've taught me is that:

• I need to slow down.
• I love yoga.
• My family doctor likes to high-five and hug when she gets good test results.
• My veins are resilient and strong, and can handle giving blood 19 times in six days.
• The human body is amazing. The human spirit is inspiring.
• I have the best friends and family. Ever.
• People that I didn't even know really LIKED me, LOVE me. And told me so, simply and freely.
• Some people you think will be there for you, aren't, while strangers will surprise you with their generosity and kindness.
• God is good, and He's everywhere. And if I really listen in unlikely places, prayers aren't just a one-way conversation.
• I will always love chocolate, even right after major surgery. And even if I'm starving, I will not eat tuna.
• My husband is unfailing in his love, even when I feel unloveable. And even if he's lying, he swears scars are sexy.
• Our health care system works when you need it to.
• There are so many sick people, but there's so many getting better too.
• You aren't always a death sentence even though you sure try.
• Even in my saddest, most fearful moments, music flows through them all.

So that's it. Do I feel better after getting that off my chest? Not sure. It needed to be said. I may never truly understand why you, and why me and why now but it doesn't really matter anyway. You happened. I can only hang on to the good stuff and try to let go of the fear.

What I want you to hear: it's time for you to go away for good now, and to leave me and my family and friends alone. I will never forget you, but I desperately hope to never see you again.

******