Change for Chompers, help buy teeth!

A dear friend who lives on the hard streets of Atlanta needs some help. He loves the trombone...and that's how we met . I heard him playing on the streets downtown some years ago. Calls his trombone "my Lady" and adores it more than anything. A few years ago, a fantastic instrument repairman did a beautiful restoration for this man...and he wept, pretty hard, when he saw "her." He struggles, it's obvious. But, it's also obvious he has a tender soul and a real need to play Music on his Lady. We meet every 6 months or so for a lesson and duets in parks, parking lots, wherever he happens to be. He pays for lessons with sweat. He paints, quite well, he hauls, he lifts; he works hard when I've needed his help. I am thankful for his friendship.

Well, poor J has lost all his lower teeth. It was difficult to understand him, but the thing I heard clearly from him was, "Doc, I can't play. (very long pause) and.... I think it's gonna kill me. I'm for real." The one thing he loved most in life has been taken from him. My heart aches for him. I could hear how REAL he was feeling. We will get him some teeth, I promised, and he will soon be back with his Lady....