Street Jazz

On Broadway, they dim the lights whenever a luminary dies. We don’t yet have that sort of tradition in Fayetteville, though with the passing of Brenda Moossy, perhaps it’s time to start.

I first met Brenda a long time ago, when I was lucky enough to videotape her at the Women’s Festival and Conference, which was held yearly at the UA. She later appeared on my show a few times, and recorded poetry at the C.A.T. studios, which will continue to be played long after her death.

I have another, more personal connection, as well. In 1995 a good friend had AIDS, and she was his home heath worker. She helped make his final days more peaceful and comfortable than they might otherwise have been.

I had two encounters with Brenda in the past year. I traveled to her home to interview her for an article, and a few weeks later ran into her on the Fayetteville Square. As ever when I have been around her, these occasions filled me with an unaccountable joy.

That’s not how I feel tonight.

In my heart I have dimmed the lights for Brenda, but maybe our city, with its fine tradition of supporting the arts and nurturing creativity in all of our citizens, could do the same?

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Quote of the Day

People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind. - J.B. Yeats

rsdrake@nwark.com