9 Comments

I remember that Ryman show. Didn’t you close with a barn burning version of ‘Sweet Virginia’?

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Every honest person I know who survived childhood trauma has numbed themselves at some point, including myself. Given the impact trauma has on the brain, it seems only natural. You made your way out of it and even while you numbed yourself you made good art. Well done.

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I’m still numbing myself. I feel like it’s too late to stop now, anyway. Childhood Trauma is sometimes near impossible to survive without doing so, at some point, if not always. I’m trying to just do my best in what time I have left. I can’t go back and change anything I want to. Whereas Allison took that Trauma and gifted us with her Empathy. Even when she was numbing herself. We are blessed to have her.

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There is always healing. It is never too late to enter the recovery process. I'm 50 and I'm recovering from trauma. We can thrive beyond trauma. I highly recommend trying tapping with The Tapping Solution app. It has helped me tremendously. I went from having severe anxiety two years ago to mild anxiety now.

And yes, the world is blessed because of Allison.

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“The only way I knew how to live was with a middle finger up to the world.” Sounds so very familiar.

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Don't let it become a motivation, but this series of time line glimpses has the makings of a great autobiography. The journey is a process.

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"I think there’s a way to co-exist without flipping a middle finger to those who are unlike you"...Holy Shit, did I ever need to read this right now. You are a wise WISE woman. Thank you.

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So how do you feel about the saxophone part now? As an outsider listening, it's fun. I remember seeing a show in NYC at the Mercury Lounge sometime soon after Miss Fortune came out, and as I recall you finished "Going Down" by sliding into a killer version of "Sweet Virginia." It was the Stones, but cooler and with a better singer. Has the passage of time changed it for you, or did the way it was done ruin it for you no matter how it might sound afterwards?

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Allison, I’m really enjoying these posts. As someone who only now (at 64!) has the time to develop my lifelong love of songwriting, I’m fascinated to hear about your experiences doing what I used to dream of, and appreciate your honesty & detailed stories!📝💜

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