JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Thanks To A Special JPF Member - John Daubert

As yesterday was another of many setbacks of hope for a diagnosis, (but we'll keep trying, that's for sure), we got back to his house mad and frustrated at the no new news office visit. The thing is though, Mike can STILL be upbeat through most of it, as our talking on the round trip ride to NY Queen's Chinatown was filled with many discussions and laughter.

Marc is right. I see and hear him, and I don't know how he does it. I know how I would be, and how many others would be. To have such optimism while in the throws of such a devastating illness and doctor dead ends is humbling for me, as well as inspiring. I imagined having his symptoms for just a few seconds, and it was overwhelming. Good thing my panic attacks are now blocked, or I would have been the one needing to see a doctor then.

Getting back to when we got to Mike's place, and studio downstairs, he brought attention to the three violins that one of his friends dropped off, who owns a music store. Well, Mike turned ALL of his madness and frustrations, and even his instability and weakness to show me how he make notes come out one of the violins! So,,,naturally, I had to grab one and try to play some noise that might go with what he can play. Well, if you ever need to laugh in the midst of feeling very bad and ill, as Mike sure was, have a friend and you play violins, with at least one never had played one before, (me). Mike just has two weeks of trying to make decent sounds. As he showed me in five seconds of what to do, (as if), we proceeded to JAM on violins! Oh brother! You want to hear sounds to either run from, or laugh your ass off, then you should have been in his studio yesterday. It was the opposite, fun wise of the no news after the doctor visit. For a few minutes, (as he nor me could "play" much longer for our own reasons, (my Tinnitus, and his instability and weakness), we were violin jamming fools! Once I got the feel to make a decent note for each string, we played just a few bars of each of these: Mary Had a little Lamb!; Smoke On The Water; Peter Gun; Opening Day (a Scott Campbell song); Louie Louie; And MIKE did some of The Godfather Theme, as I just watched in disbelief.

Should have videotaped it, as it could have been one of the funniest Youtube showings of the day. Mike soon became too unstable to continue, but the smile was still there. Then of course, reality would soon creep back, not forgetting how much he and I hoped for some news at the docs just an hour earlier.

And get this, he gave me a gift. (The Woodstock special release Bluray edition loaded with extras). How does someone think of someone else in times of feeling so ill and frustrated, and angry, and just about hopeless? His smile was bigger than mine. I can't remember any time where I was ill and yet showed that care and happiness about others in such ways.

Mike is one of a kind. His heart and character surpasses his music abilities, if you can imagine that. I wish that you all someday get to met Sub and witness someone very special. JPF is lucky to have him on these boards. But I am luckier to know him personally. I should be giving him gifts.

We'll keep on going to doc after doc, looking for someone to give a diagnosis and treatment. All so far have just wanted the office visits and testing of this and that, which leads to other no news office visits. I suggested Lou Gerhig's disease, but Mike noted his non weight loss, and just the opposite. So, I said he might have Babe Ruth's disease instead. This was coming out of the front doors of that office in Queens. He laughed and got enough steam behind him to walk to the street, to the car. It's his ability to laugh and smile and TALK things though that allows him to keep going.

Just keep going Mike!