Everyone had lost someone close to them in their lifetime. I wrote this after losing my first husband in a tragic accident.

This Season Of Grief

It hits like the first blast of winter. Icy fingers spreading within, numbing, the mind, heart and soul. Shrouding us in a protective haze. Seeing, but not seeing Knowing, but not knowing Here in this season of grief.

The first hint of spring arrives, and the tiny seeds, well planted, begin to stir. They take root and begin their journey of growth, spreading throughout. So begins the seeing and knowing this season of grief.

The heat of the summer brings with it the storms. The raging, the floods, the calm before. All that was growing is entangled with weeds Slowly suffocating all that it needs Here in this season of grief.

The coolness of autumn settles within Silently taking all that had lived. Winter creeps slowly, exposing wounds not so old. The garden lies empty, barren and cold. No place to hide For now we must know Now we must see… That we have become this season of grief

The spring bursts upon us The untended garden no more For we have come through the winter We let grow all the seeds We weathered the storms and let ourselves bleed For we began a new garden without even knowing The scars on our soul no longer openly showing One day we look back and sigh with relief… For we have survived the seasons of grief. by: Kathie DiNorcia © 1997 Jim (1-21-97)

While I am still very sad that I have lost so many good artists and friends, I realize that I signed on here to listen and judge music. I still take that task seriously and will still give it my all to listen and judge honestly and fairly to each and every song, and I believe that those that have come to know me, know that I will do my best. I am thankful that some of my friends have found new channels to place their work on. After all is said and done…it all simply comes down to the love and appreciation of artist and the music. Kat

A Lot of good music died today. We lost many diverse channels. There was no warning, no polling to ask for suggestions, just a quick note “These channels will be cut” Gone…how very sad. So many artists GONE. So much talent GONE. I am ANGRY.Kinda makes your wonder why this called “OUR STAGE”. I totally get the business end of things, but you would think that you would at least give the artists and judges you lured here a chance to speak up on how to make things better for everyone. I lost my Gavel God status along the way of voting. I also know of quite a few others who did in the middle of voting. I thought this was supposed to be on HONORABLE voting not POPULAR voting. I vote for what I BELIEVE is the best song NOT WHAT EVERY OTHER PERSON is voting on…to me that is about honorable judging and I have been told that you lose your status because if you vote HONORABLE for what you truly believe is the best song (which silly me thought that was the whole idea of honest voting) but if that vote turned out to be not what “everyone else” voted,you lose status as a judge. And to top off the flippin month I get on today, I have a useless gavel, I have no judge icon as many still do and they took my connect 5 icon off my pic too. NICE GUYS!! Sure does pay to be an honest judge here. I am still furious about the channel cuts. Judging now you cant even see how many entries are in the channel, doesnt really matter, the same songs from last November are still coming up.I voted close to 4000 votes in June. I am really rethinking if my time and efforts here are worth it. A lot of things died today, including my naivety. Kat

At first glimpse you may think, heck this is a cake walk. HA! Think about the people that are putting themselves out there and asking you to be honest, fair and really listen. Not as easy as you first thought huh? I try to listen to the music, the passion in the voices, the passion in the playing of the instruments. Does it all come together, are they hitting the right notes both vocals and instruments, is it something I would listen to more than once? Everyone has favorites, but you really have to listen to each and every one you judge. I have found some wonderful suprises. Music is part of my soul and always in my life. I love this site and feel priviledged to be allowed to participate in the judging. Thank You!