Hi! Welcome to “A Body of Work.” It’s the every other Tuesday space here on “Living in a Body” where I dig deep into Hal history and pull out a musical gem. Don’t miss the Soundcloud imbed at the bottom to hear “Sister, Sister.” Thank you for being here! Hal
Next week, I’ll be traveling to Texas where I get to spend a few days with my three dear sisters — Julie, Johanna and KK. We’re converging in Austin to see my daughter’s post-college professional acting debut. Hallie is playing Columbia in Zach Theatre’s production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. You can get your tickets here.
At this particular moment as I lie here in bed, I can’t imagine boarding an airplane and flying to Austin. But I’m determined to get there. There’s no way I’m gonna miss this reunion. The airline will carry my electric wheelchair for free and I plan to spend the whole trip quietly practicing presence, minimal exertion and next right action. If you see a guy in the airport on a super stylish wheelchair wearing silencing headphones and an eye mask, it’s probably me.
When I get there, I’ll have sibling time with the three women who helped make me into the person that I am. What a gift it’s been to spend my life with these three amazing sisters — the best aunts that a dad could ever hope for for his daughter.
Julia Wyson will travel with her husband Edmund and her son, Charles. Julie’s the oldest. She operates on a whole different level than most regular humans. She’s kind of a super woman. Not only is she a web designer and the executive director of the Shakespeare Youth Festival in LA, but at the age of 60, she started a whole new career. She’s teaching English to 6th and 7th graders in a public school in Historic South Central L.A. Every weekday at 10:20 am, when she’s driving to school, she’s my life coach and advisor. Considering where I am today, she hasn’t always gotten it right, but she does her best and I love her for it.
Johanna is the wild aunt in the family. She’s the one that connected so well with toddler Hallie around the subject of poop. Then, when Hallie and her friends became teenagers, Johanna would take them on late night drives to share intimately about their lives. She’s Hallie’s number one fan and wouldn’t question for a minute traveling to Texas to see her shine. Johanna isn’t afraid to push the edges a little bit so that everyone at the table gets heard. As a public speaking coach, she’s a master storyteller, a deep listener and a champion for your true voice. Book her today here.
I can‘t wait to see Caroline and her twins, Anna and Hunter. The twins are teenagers now and their dad, KK’s husband, was my best friend in high school. If I recall correctly, I think Tod and KK hooked up at my wedding in 1996. 😊 Caroline was the youngest and we grew up calling her KK. (It fits her so beautifully.) She’s a first grade teacher in Denver and I can’t tell you how lucky those students are. I’ve heard that Ms. Walker’s specialty is teaching foundational literacy skills and I know from experience that she does it with deep love and a great sense of humor. Even while KK carries the whole world in her arms, she’s always there to assure me that I’m not alone and that she loves me very, very much.
On a rainy October evening in the early 90’s, I took a walk with my guitar to the Free School above the Zephyr in downtown Kent. I found a nice waltz groove in an open G tuning and I wrote “Sister, Sister.” It’s a heartfelt love song for Julie, Johanna and KK. Believe it or not, the song is about 30 years old now.
I wrote the song on a Tuesday night. At the time, Julie was an actress in Chicago, Johanna was an artist and a poet somewhere in the world and Caroline was far off in Oregon finding her way. I was holding down the fort in Kent. I hope you enjoy the song. I’ll see you in Austin. Hal
Sister, Sister
Sister sister, three times over
In far away places on a night in October.
God is raining all over, all over
I’m wet to the bone and couldn’t be much colder on Tuesday.
With the wind and the water North of Chicago
Is walking the daughter who left home so long ago.
She’s waiting, she’s waiting, so patiently waiting
For the opening night when the spotlight’ll shine
in her eyes… in her eyes.
Oh, birds fly away. It’s too cold to stay… on Tuesday.
She’s the artist and the poet, she was cursed in the middle.
She’s a dancer and a teacher, now she’s learning the fiddle.
She’s waiting, she’s waiting, so patiently waiting
For the passing of night, for the woman inside to be free.
She’ll be free.
Oh rain, rain, rain, rain, it’s a beautiful day… on Tuesday.
The most miles from the mother is the youngest the baby.
Her older sisters and her brother just about made her crazy.
She’s waiting, she’s waiting so patiently waiting,
For the years on her own to allow her to finally come home.
She’ll come home.
Oh butterfly, fly. It’s time for to die… on Tuesday.
Oh Sister, oh sister, oh sister, I’m sorry
But to send you a letter, I’ve been kind of lazy.
But now is the time for the brother to send you
A song for you, a song for you, a song for you to listen to.
A part of me, apart from you, a prayer that you’ll surrender to
The goddess moon, the goddess moon
The goddess moon is watching you on Tuesday.
Sister sister, three times over
In far away places on a night in October
God is raining all over all over
I’m wet to the bone and couldn’t be much colder on Tuesday.
I am regularly reminded how lucky I am. Do you ever wonder what we'd be like if you or I had been the oldest? Julia or Jo the youngest? Julia as the middle? Could've been a shit...or maybe not...
One of my very favorites. It makes me so happy that this song exists. I remember when you sang it at our rehearsal dinner - everyone was gobsmacked. See you in Austin!!