14 Comments
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Deborah MacPherson's avatar

What a beautiful love letter and tribute. Happy Valentine’s Day you 2

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Kathleen's avatar

This is my favorite of all your pieces I've read. Not only is it a beautiful tribute to your wife and your love for her, it holds many life lessons for me. Thank you so much. Please tell your wife "Thank you" for me for being true to her heart and her gift in the face of the entropy you describe so well. I really needed this today.

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John Crumb's avatar

There is nothing more beautiful than watching someone re-ignite their passion. When that person is someone you love it’s miraculous. Thanks Greg.

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Gail (Chicago)'s avatar

Thank you for sharing your history with us. The ups and downs of your wife expressing her talent. And now finding the right fit - so fulfilling. Love “Blah Blah Blah” - it says everything!

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Christine's avatar

A beautiful tribute to your wife! I enjoyed this piece as much as I did the one you wrote about your dad last Father’s Day. I understand your wife’s frustration as my husband is a pianist and he plays every day. Cherish your love 💕

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Barbara's avatar

Whoa, such talent. I went back and listened to Cinderella’s Dead - the beauty and range of her voice is inspiring. A hint of Joanie Mitchell, but all her own. Thank you for blessing us with your love story and Stephanie’s talent on this Sunday morning. May her voice, and your love, continue to soar.

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Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks. She is indeed a big Joni fan. We even had a cat named Joni, even though he was a boy cat!

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Karen Bennett's avatar

Happy Valentine’s Day to you both!

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Ellen's avatar

This is truly a sublime piece on so many levels - Stephanie's richly layered music, your love story, and your chronical of entropy as it impacts artists. As an actor and musician whose "pilot light" went out during the pandemic, I have been searching for a word that describes what happens when your world unravels and the very things that keep you going seem to be gone forever. This is an inspiring story and gives me hope. Happy Valentine's Day to both of you!

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Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks so much, Ellen. Here's to your pilot light reigniting!

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Steve B's avatar

Sometimes, as I get older, even little things will make me tear up, and not that this week's tribute to your wife is a little thing because it's not, but here I was tearing up over it, and I don't really even know you two! I'm a little ridiculous!

Great song in "As Long as I'm with You," but I also loved the song, "When This is Over," and have played it an embarrassing number of times today. It has a Go-Gos flavor to it, and I hope that Stephanie takes that as the compliment it's meant to be. I'm always happy to hear new music, and not, "this noise that these damned kids play nowadays!" HA! My dad, may he rest in peace, once called Fleetwood Mac, "noise," unbelievable as that may sound, and I feel the need to carry on the tradition. But, seriously, some of it really IS noise! Oh, boy...

Happy Valentine's Day to both of you!

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Erin O’Brien's avatar

Great love story here. Music gives life to me as a listener and I have mad respect for its creators. Looking forward to listening to the rest of the album.

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Chris (MN by way of WI)'s avatar

Thanks, it is so cool when something on the back burner gets relit, go Stephanie!

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Sharon Dymond's avatar

Oh Greg, thanks for sharing this. I will listen.

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