Fri Oct 19

This leg of the Styx tour started in Nashville.
The IEBA Awards and the WILDHORSE gig two memorable evenings.

The Hard Rock Casino ROCKED and today were off too Pensacola.
On the 21 Styx is at the Sound Advice Amph. Lots of friends from
Lauderdale
will be there .....

Chuck

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Comments

[Connie Powers]

Hi Chuck,
You are so right, the Hard Rock show in Biloxi ROCKED!!! Thanks so much for signing my book and thanks to the entire group for a night to remember!!!
Love you! Connie

[margaret]

Starting an email to a person who has been a lifelong hero, is a daunting task at best...however I am just going to do it.

Let me start by saying, I am not a weird-o, a stalker, an overly obsessed fan..I am simply writing this, because, after all of these years, and reading and re-reading your book, I have come to the conclusion that we have many commonalities , and that they really took me aback.

I am female, so I can only give you the female perspective on this, but maybe you can see the common points in our lives.

I was born at cook county hospital in 1965. I was adopted at birth however my adoptive parents, to me, have always been my biological parents. I spent the first 7 years in chicago, roseland, cicero, mt. prospect, harwood heights. My parents were devout roman catholics, and remain so, and belonged to St. wenceslaus Parish in chicago. I had 2 uncles that were priests, (they were raised the same in the belief).
I attended 12 years of catholic schools, and the things that the nuns did were just as outrageous as the priests.
In high school, I went on a retreat with my class, and a priest who shall remain nameless, molested a friend of mine.
So, needless to say, I am not an active participant in the catholic religion. Still love GOD, just don't get the religion to this day.
The hiprocracy of it just cannot wrap my mind around it.
I have had my share of having to hide my life...I met a man when I was 18, proceededto have 3 kids with him, and they are all of mixed heritage. Imagine 22 years ago, the looks, stares, judgements, I received because my children were darker than me. My mother, at the time, was EXTREMELY unaccepting of my choices..even going as far as to say she did not want "black"(for lack of a better term) kids in her family.
I suffered Years of abuse at the same hand that "loved" me enough to have kids wit. 2 broken noses, a permantly broken cheekbone...etc.
I was the good little polish catholic girl...2.3 kids, a husband, white picket fence, all the trappings that I should have had, I went the complete 360 from. Single mother, mixed kids, abusive relationship, black boyfriend...wow what a shock to my family hey?

I now have a sister who is 23, and last year she came out. To me first then my parents. She chose to tell me first, because she said I was the one who could understand her. She was right. After all of the judgements I went through in life, I have learned to become a stronger person...A person who does the opposite. Does not judge.
Though all the hard crap, I found the secret to happiness.
Truth within yourself, will let your heart be free. Free to love who you want, free to be, free to believe.
Needles to say, time healed all wounds for my parents, the ignorance they were raised in 22 years ago, kept them from loving..now its completely different. I opened up there hearts to realize that everyone in there own way is different, and free to be whomever and whatever they choose.
They accept my sisters choices in her life and realize that its her life to live and regardless, they will love her.
The fact that I am sharing this tidbit of my story with you, I am sure is common with fans of yours. The difference is that I do not want anything from you except, your friendship.
In the tight reins of were we lived, It surprises me that growing up we never crossed paths, but all these years later, we do.
You are an amzing person, and I would love the priviledge of knowing you outside the world of styx.

Thank you,
Margaret a Duty