I am a 66 year old child of battling alcoholics. Your “I-5 Part 1” really touched some old nerves. Its shocked and surprised me that those nerves were still there to be touched. Thought I was 100% over it. But no, guess we never truly are.
My trauma was deep and affected my path as I became a happy wanderer / achiever who could never really let anyone close, but never realized why. I would get invited to spend Thanksgiving with friends all the time but would find an excuse to cancel or would leave as soon as the meal was done because, I realized later in life, that in my childhood , thats when the horrible fights would start. They’d both be turning into their mean drunk selves and the whole extended family would scurry away before it got ugly leaving us kids there to watch the horror show that followed, or if we were at a relatives our folks would go outside and get in a fight and then the car ride home was like walking to the electric chair before execution because we kids knew what was coming.
Sorry if this is TMI. Anyway, what I want to add since I’m 13 years further along in the journey is my life from 50 to 66 has been incredibly happy and joyous. The pain FINALLY went away for good. And once I was free of it, I really have not sabotaged my own success the way I had all my life. The cycle was broken for good.
I have no idea if any of this relates to your life or not, but I do know the feelings you described in Part 1. I felt that profoundly while reading it, so much so that I couldnt comment. That surprised me, I thought that pain was all gone, but it bubbled up reading your piece. In my 40’s that might have triggered me, but that left 15 years ago and this time I was able to simply process it as my past and not let it affect my present.
Neko, thanks for the music and this blog. I hope your big change thats coming up is truly magical and long-lasting.
Neko. Your thoughts on clearcutting, the river, and the tribes and the sturgeon really touched me. I also think of things like this. Washington is so beautiful and where I live on the peninsula is a special place, but everything is often tinged with that type of sadness. These trees, those orca, that river, the Sound. It all feels so fragile. I am at once witnessing so much beauty, yet with it is the observable abuse of this beauty. What awful and wonderful and perplexing creatures, humans are. It does hurt though, both the beauty and the destruction of beauty. And caviar can fuck right off. Anyway, I always enjoy your writing and I look forward to your book. Preordered!
We were friends when you were living in Tacoma during our late teens/early twenties. If you find yourself in a jam again in Seattle, you're welcome to stay with my family.
I've probably over wished you on your birthday, is there a limit. The drudgery of travel and the joy of performance seem a back and forth balancing act. I hate to think of artists maxed out while absolutely vile folk get wads of cash for being rectums.
We are trying to decide to sell our home and downsize, next stop a room in an institution I guess. We love our seaside suburb on Kaurna land but we need to use the $ to help fund my addiction to eating
I send my final best wishes and warm thoughts sailing on over the Pacific to your beautiful home
Happy birthday, and thank you for all the beauty you bring into the world and help us all appreciate. And screw the Graduate — thank you for the PSA so I can avoid the next time I’m down in Seattle.
Happy birthday Neko, may I take this moment to say how much I appreciate the lung, I have been struggling so much with anxiety recently I feel this is a place to catch up with a friend; as your music is to me, and it stops my mind for a moment and it's that welcome time to catch up with Neko, take care
I'm sorry you had to fight through all of that garbage at the hotel. I hope the overdraft gods are merciful and that you get a full refund from those jerks.
Belated Happy Birthday Neko ❤️ Sending you lots of love. I’ve also spent many birthdays alone and earlier this year I told myself I would enjoy it, but similarly I did not…Normally I go for a walk by myself and these walks always seem special, the feeling that I made it kind of? This year I could nt go for a walk cause I was ill , and I had that feeling you described but for some reason I reached out to a musician whose work I love, about taking some classes even though I didn’t feel prepared, so the day sucked but I started those classes and they’ve been a huge silver lining for me… even if I’m paying I ve been heart warmed to finally be in a space where people are so kind and understanding … so I wish you many silver linings and I send you many thanks for keeping me going all these years. Lots of love x
It's funny you telling about giving a concert and people don't know who Neko Case is! And then the ma'am Jerk, he doesn't either I guess! Of course there's got to be people not knowing you, it's just knowing your music all these years makes me think of you as a household name (well you should be) ;-)
That's exactly what I was thinking, I guess I have been listening to her for so long, I just think it's rather strange to imagine so many people not knowing her. 🖤
I would’ve LOVED to have seen you at the gorge! I was fortunate enough to travel there from AL for Brandi Carlile’s Joni Jam weekend and it was truly the most magical place I’ve ever been. I sobbed almost the entire weekend at the beauty and what I think was the beginning of my healing journey. Now I have a new goal! Seeing my absolute favorite artist at my favorite venue… also, I love that you walked out of that hotel and away from that shitbag at the desk. 100% would’ve done the same. I saw on instagram that you took yourself to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice for your birthday and it honestly sounds like a perfect birthday to me. I took myself last week and fully plan to go again. I had a huge smile on my face for the entire movie. Catherine O’Hara and Winona Rider and Michael Keaton Douglas, oh my! 😍🤩
Neko, be well; be safe; be strong. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Happy birthday to you. Hoping it was positive. As you know, our pets/friends, even though they leave a hole in our hearts when passing, never leave us. Happy memories from them to you.
I am a 66 year old child of battling alcoholics. Your “I-5 Part 1” really touched some old nerves. Its shocked and surprised me that those nerves were still there to be touched. Thought I was 100% over it. But no, guess we never truly are.
My trauma was deep and affected my path as I became a happy wanderer / achiever who could never really let anyone close, but never realized why. I would get invited to spend Thanksgiving with friends all the time but would find an excuse to cancel or would leave as soon as the meal was done because, I realized later in life, that in my childhood , thats when the horrible fights would start. They’d both be turning into their mean drunk selves and the whole extended family would scurry away before it got ugly leaving us kids there to watch the horror show that followed, or if we were at a relatives our folks would go outside and get in a fight and then the car ride home was like walking to the electric chair before execution because we kids knew what was coming.
Sorry if this is TMI. Anyway, what I want to add since I’m 13 years further along in the journey is my life from 50 to 66 has been incredibly happy and joyous. The pain FINALLY went away for good. And once I was free of it, I really have not sabotaged my own success the way I had all my life. The cycle was broken for good.
I have no idea if any of this relates to your life or not, but I do know the feelings you described in Part 1. I felt that profoundly while reading it, so much so that I couldnt comment. That surprised me, I thought that pain was all gone, but it bubbled up reading your piece. In my 40’s that might have triggered me, but that left 15 years ago and this time I was able to simply process it as my past and not let it affect my present.
Neko, thanks for the music and this blog. I hope your big change thats coming up is truly magical and long-lasting.
Not TMI. Thank you for sharing this.
Neko. Your thoughts on clearcutting, the river, and the tribes and the sturgeon really touched me. I also think of things like this. Washington is so beautiful and where I live on the peninsula is a special place, but everything is often tinged with that type of sadness. These trees, those orca, that river, the Sound. It all feels so fragile. I am at once witnessing so much beauty, yet with it is the observable abuse of this beauty. What awful and wonderful and perplexing creatures, humans are. It does hurt though, both the beauty and the destruction of beauty. And caviar can fuck right off. Anyway, I always enjoy your writing and I look forward to your book. Preordered!
We were friends when you were living in Tacoma during our late teens/early twenties. If you find yourself in a jam again in Seattle, you're welcome to stay with my family.
I've probably over wished you on your birthday, is there a limit. The drudgery of travel and the joy of performance seem a back and forth balancing act. I hate to think of artists maxed out while absolutely vile folk get wads of cash for being rectums.
We are trying to decide to sell our home and downsize, next stop a room in an institution I guess. We love our seaside suburb on Kaurna land but we need to use the $ to help fund my addiction to eating
I send my final best wishes and warm thoughts sailing on over the Pacific to your beautiful home
Cheers Chris
Happy birthday, and thank you for all the beauty you bring into the world and help us all appreciate. And screw the Graduate — thank you for the PSA so I can avoid the next time I’m down in Seattle.
Happy birthday Neko, may I take this moment to say how much I appreciate the lung, I have been struggling so much with anxiety recently I feel this is a place to catch up with a friend; as your music is to me, and it stops my mind for a moment and it's that welcome time to catch up with Neko, take care
I'm sorry you had to fight through all of that garbage at the hotel. I hope the overdraft gods are merciful and that you get a full refund from those jerks.
Belated Happy Birthday Neko ❤️ Sending you lots of love. I’ve also spent many birthdays alone and earlier this year I told myself I would enjoy it, but similarly I did not…Normally I go for a walk by myself and these walks always seem special, the feeling that I made it kind of? This year I could nt go for a walk cause I was ill , and I had that feeling you described but for some reason I reached out to a musician whose work I love, about taking some classes even though I didn’t feel prepared, so the day sucked but I started those classes and they’ve been a huge silver lining for me… even if I’m paying I ve been heart warmed to finally be in a space where people are so kind and understanding … so I wish you many silver linings and I send you many thanks for keeping me going all these years. Lots of love x
My cats would enjoy hosting you in Seattle any time, so you wouldn’t have to stay at the “greasy-ass Graduate” or the overpriced Arctic.
And a belated Happy Birthday to you too.
It's funny you telling about giving a concert and people don't know who Neko Case is! And then the ma'am Jerk, he doesn't either I guess! Of course there's got to be people not knowing you, it's just knowing your music all these years makes me think of you as a household name (well you should be) ;-)
That's exactly what I was thinking, I guess I have been listening to her for so long, I just think it's rather strange to imagine so many people not knowing her. 🖤
Happy birthday Neko, we love you.
I would’ve LOVED to have seen you at the gorge! I was fortunate enough to travel there from AL for Brandi Carlile’s Joni Jam weekend and it was truly the most magical place I’ve ever been. I sobbed almost the entire weekend at the beauty and what I think was the beginning of my healing journey. Now I have a new goal! Seeing my absolute favorite artist at my favorite venue… also, I love that you walked out of that hotel and away from that shitbag at the desk. 100% would’ve done the same. I saw on instagram that you took yourself to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice for your birthday and it honestly sounds like a perfect birthday to me. I took myself last week and fully plan to go again. I had a huge smile on my face for the entire movie. Catherine O’Hara and Winona Rider and Michael Keaton Douglas, oh my! 😍🤩
Neko, be well; be safe; be strong. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Happy birthday to you. Hoping it was positive. As you know, our pets/friends, even though they leave a hole in our hearts when passing, never leave us. Happy memories from them to you.
Happy B-day Neko!! Thanks for sharing your day-to-day grind experiences! You are a treasure... not a ma'am! dj
Happy Birthday dear Neko.
Happy birthday and enjoy refreshing and resting at your peaceful place!