Christopher Van Name

Autumn. Chill in the air. A time of aging. New things wear old, flowers dry up and fade away, leaves fall and hearts break. The cold winter looms ahead. The North Wind blows the winter hard and cold. The winter blues can take a good love down.

Sitting alone one stormy winter night in the old family shore house. Looking up at an old picture on the wall of my wife, three children and myself. I could feel that younger man staring down at me. Was I the man he thought I'd become? I spent that night with a bottle of sweet Grenache and my memories, demons and higher angels, as a raging Nor' Easter howled through the eaves. By midnight, the bottle was drained, I was a bit weary and bleary eyed, and I had jotted down this bittersweet, self-analytical piece about life, love, family and redemption. In the end, it confirmed what i already knew. My darling wife, my lover, my friend and my heart and soul, has been along for the ride through thick and thin, strikes and gutters, ups and downs. T's been my privilege to have her by my side as we walk through the human comedy. As long as I can breathe, I'll pick her up if she falls down. Always. Forever.

Part of a "work in progress" musical, titled "Ninth Street". Boy meets girl in the BIG CITY. Love, life and dreams come together. That magical time of sleepless nights, day dreaming, tender moments that you hope last forever, self-doubting, jealousy and mystery. She's now knows she loves him. But does he love her? Does he know how she feels? Do they both feel the same way. He knows. She knows.

Love and relationships. Ecstasy and pain. When love is gone, it never truly leaves. The wounds never heal. We learn to live with them and hope our heart remains open. Then one day, if we're lucky, the wounds stop festering, and the scars become a reminder that love can be painful, but is still worth searching for.

Wayward youth. Running ahead. Searching for some unknown. But sometimes the search becomes reckless. Self serving. Loved ones get cast aside. Sooner than later, we have to step back and let life takes it's course. We can make our choices, but we have to be willing to live with the consequences. -For Julian