My Resolution

In 2009 I think I'm going to adopt WWBD as my resolution. Brian had a way of interacting with people, all people, that was outstanding. Everyone was a friend. As I make my way through 2009 I hope I can keep that spirit alive.

Happy New Year to all who read this Blog. Thanks again to Tim for giving us this forum. Thanks also to everyone who has posted. It continues to be a comfort to me to see the impact that my "Little Brother" has had on the lives of others.

I just have to smile when I think about Brian taking my dog Maggie for a walk in the clouds.

Mike

Hail and Farewell

Thanks Tim for the show information...we will attend!
Thank you Mike for letting us know where Brian is resting.
Yes, we are all thankful for the gift of knowing Brian and it is especially nice to hear how he brought music into your daughter's life. Passing it on is the greatest gift of all!

Hail and Farewell 12/30/08:
I was watching CBS Sunday Morning this weekend and they did a review of who left us this year. Charles Osgood’s introduction to the piece was, “They gave us their best and we give them our thanks.”
Then he showed clips of those who passed away. The list included Paul Newman, Robert Rauschenburg, George Carlin, Bo Diddley, Don LaFontaine, Jim McKay, Tim Russert, Yves Saint Laurent, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Johnny Griffin, William Claxton, Isaac Hayes, Eartha Kitt, Heath Ledger, Charleton Heston, Eddie Arnold, Estelle Geddy, Bernie Mac, Suzanne Pleshette, Harvey Korman, Dick Martin, Betty Paige, Sidney Pollack, Sir Edmond Hillary and 500 service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. I thought of Brian Casey, my friend Tim’s mother Jackie Craig and Rob Brumfield. The three people I knew who passed away this year. And I thought that hail and farewell is a lovely sentiment and so appropriate.
Accepting death as part of life has been a meditation I’ve worked on a lot because I’ve had a problem with death since my early twenties when my high school sweetheart and very young husband died in a car crash. I think that sort of set me up to be anti death for the last 18 years. When Brian died this year I was especially torn because he was connected to a part of my joyful youth that somehow became more distant with his passing. That’s kind of a selfish thing to feel because losing your youth is totally normal and is actually an honor, but I felt it. I also felt regret that I didn’t stay in closer contact with Brian through his less joyful times when he was struggling. I’ve also been thinking about the greater tragedy of losing someone young and being the parent of that person. I’m especially sympathetic to Brian’s parents because I know that no parent wants to out live their child. They seem very strong in their faith so I trust that this will guide them through.
The holidays have been both hectic and reflective for me. (Maybe not the best combination). I’ve been thinking about Brian and enjoying some of the musical gifts I have of his from his parents. My exploration of his CDs continues and I became fixated on this “Spellbinding Piano of Burma” CD. I’ve listened to it over and over again while I work in my studio-the title does not lie- its spellbinding! I also put in Madonna’s “Ray of Light” CD that he had and it is so good! I would never have thought to get that CD but its so positive and spiritual. Thanks Brian!
There are plans for a celebration of Brian’s work at Comfest this year too. Its not clear what exactly will be done and whether it will be one set or more, or what it will involve but there will be something musical in his honor. I believe Daryl from Monkeys Retreat is open to suggestions and will be working this out with Steve so if anyone has an idea and wants to participate I would suggest contacting Steve Perakis.

Wishing everyone a thankful, healthy and happy New Year.
Michelle Lucey

Two Upcoming Shows

Just wanted to let everyone know there are two performances featuring Brian's music coming up soon:

Friday January 2, 2009
Honk Wail & Moan
Rumba Cafe
2507 Summit St.
10PM-2AM
Featuring Brian's music (of course!) as well as that of Sun Ra, Charles Mingus, and others.

Thursday January 15, 2009
OSU Urban Arts Space
50 W. Town St. (the former Lazarus building)
7:00-8:00PM
A performance of several seldom (if ever) heard chamber music works by Brian.
Free Admission

Please come out if you can - Happy New Year!

Warmth of the Holidays

May everyone who knew and loved Brian feel warmth from the memories of him and his music this season.

Christmas Gifts

I think Brian understood the true meaning of Christmas. We all get caught up in the material aspect of the holiday. Brian had a way of making his niece and nephews feel special. Our daughter Emily was born on 12/7/01. For Christmas that year he gave her a song. Framed the sheet music with a nice yellow background that matched her room. He played the song on my Parent's piano when we all got together. A few years later when he was at Ballet Met he got her (and us) Nutcracker tickets and took us to the show. That little 3 year old girl was queen for the day in her "pretty dress" and "shiney shoes".

That was Uncle Brian. He introduced the arts to the kids in his life and they responded.

We saw good friends of ours this past weekend. Their daughter was Gladys Herndan in "The Best Christmas Pagent Ever" in Marysville. Emily loved the show and the boys had a great time as well. I think Brian would smile at that.

Three years ago we moved and brought the framed music with us. Emily wanted her new room purple so that was the color! I asked Brian at that time if it would be OK to change the background of the picture to fit the new room. He of course said it was OK. I never got around to it.

I'm not changing it now. I think it looks OK just the way it is. The way he made it. It's on our piano's music stand.

Merry Christmas to all who read this Blog. Thank you for all your love and support over these past few months.

Mike

A Great Dream

I had a beautiful dream about Brian last night. We were writing poetry - and randomly passing each other on staircases. In Brian's poem, someone's eyes were like Crown Royal. I guess you know who you are!

Brian told me (as he often did) to forget my little problems and work on my writing. He said to tie ribbons around my words. I will, bro.

Giving thanks.
Anna

Seasonal Thought

I turned 39 yesterday. This was the first birthday I've had since I was 1 where Brian hasn't been here to tell me how I "look" or "smell" or to try take my new toys. This is also the time of year where we traditionally give thanks. Family, friends, health, and even things like food on our table and a roof over our heads are things that make us humble. We also remember those people who have gone before us.

I think I can speak for everyone here that we are are thankful for knowing Brian--I know I am.

The best part about this holiday is we come together with friends and family. For those making the journey back to Central Ohio this week--welcome home, and bring a coat. We have had some requests for this information and are happy to share it. If you would like to visit Brian he is resting at:

Resurrection Cemetary, 9571 N High St.
Garden of Resurrection Section, lot #509
By Station 8 across from the bell tower

For all the thoughts, prayers, cards, stories, e-mails, and hugs all I can say, for the entire Casey family is--

Thank You.

Mike

Columbus and Brian

Can anyone be of help? I will be visiting Columbus and would like to have the opportunity to visit a site--if there is one--of Brian's burial. I welcome any information about possible sites where I might pay my respect to Mr. Casey.

Thanks in advance.

Sara Wookey
Los Angeles

A Coupon From Brian

This is a "coupon" that Brian sent out to numerous friends and fellow musicians via MySpace earlier this year. I laughed when I received it, thinking it was a great idea and a typical "Brian" thing to do (though I don't know if the word "typical" could ever be used to describe him).

Though it didn't seem like he would have needed an excuse or reason to write even more music - among the many other adjectives that could be used to describe Brian, "prolific" was definitely one. There were hundreds of pieces that were written for and performed by Honk Wail & Moan and many other groups over the years, as well as I'm sure hundreds more that were never heard, but are buried somewhere in file cabinets, hidden in stacks of manuscript paper, and digitized on the hard drive of his laptop, waiting to be discovered.

And I'm sure there were many more potential masterpieces that were never fully realized, or even written down at all. Brian struck me as the kind of person who had so many ideas running around in his head that it was an endless, impossible struggle to get them all out where anyone else could see them. He created so much in his lifetime, but I know there would have been so much more to come - we only saw (or heard) the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

Hopefully, in the weeks, months and years ahead, we'll continue to discover more of his musical creations that are new to our eyes and ears. In the meantime, redeeming his coupon will sadly have to be included in the "I always meant to..." chapter of my autobiography - at least in this lifetime.

Wishing Brian were here

I still have not found the right words to place here that will represent the loss I feel from Brian's passing. Someday...
But, for now a quick insert in that I wish Brian were here to witness the election of Barack Obama. I know Brian was passionate about the political sphere and, I think, would breathe a sigh of relief with us now. Perhaps, somewhere, he is.

Ah.....