Well, I did it. I broke my rule about social media and visited one of 
those websites that I revile. If you know anything about me, and I hope you do after reading my blahgs, then you will know that I prefer anti-social media. That means I’m on nothing other than my blahg. My daughter Abbie is the same way and we constantly joke about “Twitter is for twits” and “if you want to find me, I’m in the phone book…not on Facebook.” I know someone else has probably made those jokes before but I’m sure I originated them. Moving on, I visited Facebook.
Before you start condemning me or lauding me, depending on your social media viewpoint, let me explain. You should know from past blahgs that I’m a fan of The Weepies and the work of that musical group and their husband and wife team Steve Tannen & Deb Talan. I’ve posted a few songs here and how moved I am by Deb Talan’s voice. “Be My Thrill” was their last album back in 2010 and I try to check and see if there is anything new from them. I constantly check out www.theweepies.com for information but there hasn’t been any news updates for them in a while. So, last week I decided to search the internet for news related to The Weepies or Steve or Deb. Boy did I get a shock. I found a news story that stated that, back in December, Deb Talan had announced she had been diagnosed with stage 2 Breast Cancer. Insert shock or mouth wide open picture or very sad face.
From past blahgs, other than those that mention Deb or The Weepies, you will know that I lost my friend Roni Summer Wickens last year to breast cancer and learned that an old acquaintance, Sherry Cornwall, also lost her fight to a rare form of cancer. I didn’t want to post too late here my admiration of Deb Talan and begin offering up my hopes and prayers that she’ll beat her cancer. The news article that I read about Deb’s announcement also linked to The Weepies Facebook page. There, I learned more about Deb’s brave struggle and saw some updated photos of her going through her chemotherapy. On the Facebook page there was also a mailing address where you could “send Deb a love note or care package or a few words of encouragement via snail mail.” I’m quoting that last part from their Facebook page. Of course, I wanted to send Deb a letter. I wanted her to know how much her music means to me but more importantly that I’m pulling for her. Here’s the text of the letter I wrote:
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Dear Deb,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits and better health. It was with great shock last night that I read online that you were undergoing chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer. I frequently check out www.theweepies.com looking for news of The Weepies but had not read any updates on there recently. Yesterday, I decided to google any news of you or Steve and I found an article dated before Christmas about your cancer diagnosis. I do not participate in social media sites like Face Book so I did not know there had been postings there about your diagnosis and your ongoing struggles with chemotherapy. I broke my rule about visiting Face Book and read some of the postings and viewed some of the pictures. My hopes are that you will persevere and you will beat your cancer. I did not sleep well last night thinking about you and Steve and what you must be going through; you especially. So, that’s why I’ve decided to write you this letter.
I am sure you have received letters from other fans and well-wishers but for me, this is a first. I’ll be 52 this year and I live in Demorestville, Ontario, Canada…about two and half hours east of Toronto. If you ask anyone, they will tell you I have very eclectic tastes in music. I don’t listen to the radio much because it’s all top 40 around here from artists who might have some talent but their music is over-produced and their songs have no meaning. On my Ipod I have a strange range of music from Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Judy Garland, Blossom Dearie, some Dixieland bands and the odd rock tune from John Mellencamp or Billy Joel and of course every Weepies song I could find. I grew up on Billy Joel and when he stopped recording that was the time I stopped listening to conventional radio. Luckily, Billy Joel performed in Toronto last month and I took my three children to see him. I had not seen him perform in more than 20 years. Let me tell you, I’d drive twice that far to go see The Weepies and I hope that will happen someday.
So how did a guy like me, with such varied tastes, become a fan of The Weepies? It started with Stargate. You are no doubt aware of the movie that spawned three great television series. I particularly enjoyed Stargate Universe and during one episode, heard you on the soundtrack performing “Comfort.” I enjoyed the song so much that I just had to research you more. Thus my fascination with The Weepies began. No local stores around here carry your CDs so I’ve either had to order them online or download from Itunes. I began gathering all of your music and the music of The Weepies that I can find. I even enjoy listening to “Gravity” and “Navigation” from PBS Kids when they randomly get played on my Ipod. Sometimes it amazes me when one of your songs is played on television or in public. I frequent a thrift store called “Value Village” in Belleville (25 minutes from my home) and they have piped in music. One day, I was surprised to hear “I Was Made For Sunny Days” coming over the store’s speakers. I remember saying, “Hey it’s The Weepies” out loud and getting looks from other shoppers. The looks and stares continued when I began to sing along with the song. Recently, I heard “Big Strong Girl” played at the end of a “Psych” television episode and I said aloud, again, “Hey, that’s Deb Talan.” I like those moments. I sang along during that song, too.
What is it about your songs that I enjoy? First, you can understand the lyrics and the lyrics have meaning and connection. I guess it’s not that easy to describe but I’d rather listen to your songs than anything else played on the radio. I don’t want dance tunes or fluff but something that touches me or makes me want to sing along out loud and get stares. I keep a personal blog on my website www.falseducks.com and a few times I’ve posted about your music or linked to a video on YouTube of some of your performances. I’ve particularly enjoyed the slowed down ballad version of “Be My Thrill” that you’ve performed in concert. I have too many favorites to mention and I always find a particular song to suit my mood. Right now, I’m listening to “Same Changes” and next up it’ll be “Painting By Chagall.” Steve’s well represented as well, as I enjoy his vocals on “Dating A Porn Star” “Love Doesn’t Last Too Long”, and “Living in Twilight.” The “Be My Thrill” album was brilliant and I can’t wait to hear what comes next.
I just wanted to let you know how much your music means to me. I don’t know how many 50+ year old fans you have but believe me, you’ve got one here. I’m pulling for you Deb. I wish nothing but the best for you and Steve and your children. I know you’ll be back and my hope is that you’ll get up here to Canada. And if you do, you’re welcome to come out to my house in Demorestville. It’s rural and we have a great spot and the above ground pool will be open in a couple of months.
That phrase “The Music of Your Life” is so true, your music is the music of my life. You’re going to get through this and the music will keep on coming. I’m ready for it.
A Huge Fan,
Scott Henderson
I know I could probably have written a better letter but it says what I want it to say. I’m pulling for you Deb Talan. I really mean that. We lose so much in this world and it would be tragic to lose such a wonderful voice. I might have been a little forward in writing the letter because I really don’t know anything about Deb or Steve or The Weepies but it doesn’t make my admiration any less genuine. In fact, Deb sings a wonderful song called, appropriately, “Nobody Knows Me At All.” Give it a listen:
The lyrics are so true. Nobody knows me at all. If it wasn’t for this blahg, nobody would know about my musical tastes. I’m not ever sure how well I really know my musical tastes. This morning, I was reminded so much of what I wrote in that letter to Deb about understanding the lyrics and the lyrics having meaning and connection.
I have my Ipod on shuffle when I’m shaving and this morning a song by Fred Eaglesmith came into the rotation. The song was “Crashin’ & Burnin’ ” from his ‘Drive-In Movie’ CD. I highly recommend it because all of the songs are great and there’s a train theme running through many of the songs. Sorry about that running through pun. I know it was a bad pun but listen to the song, it’s very good:
That’s what I mean about songs having meaning. I still remember when I first heard Fred Eaglesmith. I used to listen to a radio comedy show on CBC radio (that’s the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) called “Madly Off In All Directions”. It’s usually a remote concert from some Canadian location hosted by Lorne Elliot. On this particular show, they had Fred Eaglesmith as one of the artists and he sang a very funny song called “How’s Ernie?” It’s a funny song about a guy reminiscing about his old girlfriend and the fact that he misses her father more than her. That started me on listening to Fred’s music. I’ve seen Fred Eaglesmith in concert a couple of times and the last time, at The Regent, in Picton, he performed “How’s Ernie?…much to my delight.
I like music that has lyrics that I can remember or sing out loud. If I had to think back to when it really all started then I’d have to say it began with my brother and Harry Chapin. 
My brother Tim had the Harry Chapin record, “Greatest Stories Live” and he played that record all the time until I was almost mad. I had to trade him for that record to get him to stop playing it. Fortunately, for me, the record began to grow on me and I eventually purchased every Chapin record I could find. Chapin’s songs were essentially stories set to music and you could understand the lyrics. As I’ve grown older, most of his songs take on more meaning for me. Here’s a particularly endearing song that reminds me so much of my daughters. It’s Harry Chapin’s “Tangled Up Puppet.”
There aren’t that many artists who can write great songs like that or even sing a song that will move you. Harry Chapin and Fred Eaglesmith are among my favorites in that category but now I add Deb Talan to that list. We lost Harry Chapin far too early and we just can’t lose Deb Talan. Her talent and her voice is so rare these days that we should all be pulling for Deb. Recently, as I mentioned in my letter to Deb, I heard her song “Big Strong Girl” played at the end of a ‘Psych’ television episode. It was so moving and I want to close with that song.
Deb Talan, you’re a big strong girl, you can get through this. We need you to get through this. I need you to get through this. I’m pulling for you Deb Talan.
Tags: Deb Talan, False Ducks, Fred Eaglesmith, Harry Chapin, Scott Henderson, The Weepies