In Your Neighborhood: A Musical Moment From The Gala Celebrating The Opening of St. Anthony's Hospital

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Musical Moment From The Gala Celebrating The Opening of St. Anthony's Hospital

I had the opportunity to participate in various activities celebrating the opening of St. Anthony's Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington. I cannot begin to put my head around the meaning of that... this wonderful institution, St. Anthony's, with its doctors, nurses, and staff, will serve so many people for years to come. And I was there at its opening...

I cannot begin to put into words how much "being there" means to me.
Lots of very happy people came. And I had a chance to sit and listen to the talented
Rob Rigoni.

I think you will like his wonderful work.

6 comments:

Stephanie Frieze said...: It is exciting to have a hospital on this side of the creek, Joseph! I love St. Joseph's, but am happy that there's something closer to my home. Thanks for sharing this happy Gig Harbor community occasion.; March 17, 2009 at 11:41 AM
JosephMcG said...: I hope you get to take a look at the hospital soon... beautifully put together, state of the art technology... I am saddened because of my friends who worked in security and admissions transferred to St. Anthony from St. Joe's and I miss them...

take care, Joseph; March 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Kim Thompson said...: Gig Harbor has really built up beyond my imagination! I remember going there as a kid and teen and it was nothing but trees!; March 18, 2009 at 7:39 AM
Lorraine Hart said...: A hospital on this side of the bridge has been anticipated for a long time. So glad it's come to fruition.

I'm not so keen on some of the new shops put in and other developments that have come to Gig Harbor, just in the dozen or so years we've been here. I can't imagine what it looks like to folks who have been around the area so much longer.

Makes me think of dear George Carlin, who once said, "The suburbs...that's where they cut down all the trees...and then name the streets after them!"; March 19, 2009 at 5:11 PM
JosephMcG said...: Thank you for the wonderful way you help us to smile as we take a good look at ourselves...

Joseph; March 19, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Jaynie Jones said...: Listening to this Rob Rigoni play reminds me of two very special moments at the Franciscan Hospice House when my brother was dying at Christmas:

The first was when a hospice volunteer strolled into my brother's room out-of-the-blue with an acoustic guitar and played a free-flwing, spontaneous concert of uplifting, mellow music as he stood at my brother's bedside (I think his name was Tony or Anthony; mea culpa for not remembering his name precisely, but I'll never forget his face, his beautiful, long, flowing silver hair, or how beautifully he played Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring).

The second remarkable moment that was personalized, customized just for my brother came about when a young man named Ben, a hospice volunteer who had just moved here from New York, had learned that my brother liked guitar music. Not only did my brother like guitar music, he played guitar and owned a number of different guitars over the years) Ben came in with his laptop computer and sat down beside my brother's bed. Ben asked me about some of my brother's favorite artists: that was easy ~ Santana, Eric Clapton, and others.

Ben had all kinds of music on his laptop so he crafted a superbly, rocking concert, the likes of which the hospice had probably never heard echoing through its halls from Room #17.

After Ben went home, he created a custom CD of music by those same artists and brought it back to my brother's bedside so that he could listen to it on the little CD player as much and as often as he'd like in his final days and hours whether Ben could be there or not. He was even listening to it at the moment of his death, yes, right through to the very end of his life in a royal send off immersed in his favorite music...

There was a bond established with Ben that will remain with me through the end of my own life. I can never adequately express my appreciationg to him for his loving, thoughtful caring and sharing at that most difficult time.; March 25, 2009 at 6:38 PM

Our regulars

Stephanie Frieze
…has always liked to write. Her experience includes three years at the University Washington School of Communications studying journalism. She had a stint at the Chinook Observer in Long Beach. Raised in Bellevue, she’s lived in Gig Harbor for nearly 18 years. She and her husband have a home in Ilwaco, where they spend as much time as possible. This mother of four loves books, spending time with family and the color purple. Contact her at dbandstefery@comcast.net.

Lorraine Hart
…was born a nomadic mutt. She spent her life observing, writing and making music. She’s an unabashed carrier of the titles “hippie,” “feminist” and “liberal.” She’s resided in the South Sound since 1996 and is currently living above Joe’s Bay in Home. She juggles her time between being a caregiver, a writer, an artist, a musician, a minister, a wife, a mother, an advocate, a friend and a pilgrim – not necessarily in that order. Contact her at matlox@cablespeed.com.

Jaynie Jones
…is a Tacoma resident with diverse career tracks in broadcasting, journalism, teaching, health care, desktop publishing, floral design, special event planning and photography. She’s best known as long-time KOMO radio personality Jaynie Dillon and was once a familiar voice on Tacoma stations KTAC, KBRD-FM, KTNT and KNBQ-FM. Formerly a resident of Tacoma’s East Side, she’s volunteered in the Eastside Substation and with Safe Streets. Contact her at jaynie.jones@gmail.com .

Tracy Lebenzon
...is a blog contributor from Greenwater. Greenwater is the last stop before Crystal Mountain, Mount Rainier and the surrounding wilderness areas. When not exploring the next mountain peak or forest trail, Tracy also contributes to the Greenwater Community Council and the Explore-Greenwater.com web site. He writes about topics ranging from favorite foot, bike, and snow trails to community events, local merchants and politics. Contact him at dmountains@explore-greenwater.com.

Joseph McGowan
…is a chaplain who supports patients, families, friends, nurses and doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Being 67, he’s learned this about living: Meet people on their own ground and you will discover that this Earth is our special place to meet and support each other. His motto: Live now. Share yourself now. Every living thing you experience is a pure gift. Love all life unconditionally. Contact him at mcg9940@yahoo.com.

Mizu Sugimura
…is a third-generation Japanese American living in Federal Way. She’s married and a parent of one adult child. A lifelong resident of the Puget Sound area, she graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Washington School of Communications. and served on Federal Way’s Diversity and Art Commissions. Her interests are politics, art, the history of minorities in Washington and family history. She’s written a self-published family history about her paternal grandfather. Contact her at mizusugi@yahoo.com.

Kim Thompson
…is a Grit City native who was born and raised in Tacoma’s Old Town neighborhood by the gulch. She boasts that she’s a former Lowell Leopard, Mason Mustang and Wilson Ram, a short-time PLU Lute and a longtime UW Husky. This former corporate businesswoman is a wife, a mom, a school volunteer, a substitute teaching assistant, a writer and a born-again distance runner. She has convinced friends from Bellevue that Tacoma is worth the drive. Contact her at kimricksy@comcast.net. ugi@yahoo.com.

In Your Neighborhood

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Musical Moment From The Gala Celebrating The Opening of St. Anthony's Hospital

6 comments:

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