Let’s talk about Patty Griffin

It’s more than challenging to talk about how I love Patty Griffin. A few years ago I made some new friends and happen to discover that they were rabid Patty Griffin fans. And with one exception, the only people (up until that point) I’ve met who had even heard of her. They all know the all the words to all the songs and I’d even bet that their partners know more words and songs than I do.

Yet, she’s my favorite.

Perhaps I burned myself out on 1,000 Kisses? That wasn’t my first Patty album discovery. I found her all out of order and hopscotched all over her catalogue. Kind of how I’m going to hopscotch over this post. My first listen was Up To The Mountain, a song I caught on XM Radio, waaaay back in the day. I was transfixed. Joy sprung forth from my heart as I realized she had quite a catalog to explore.

(Don’t you just love that? First-time discovering an artist who has been around a while and theres albums and albums for your listening pleasure?)

Downloading began and I found I connected most with at the time was Children Running Through and 1,000 Kisses. Whew, boy. That last one is a doozy. The songs are so visual and visceral. In fact, I had to put 1,000 Kisses away for a couple of years after it carried me through some of the worst times of my life. I could hear all of my own sadness in her songs. Because they were my songs. My wooby. I can thoroughly enjoy them again nowadays and even though they remind me of that time, it’s more like a faded scar than a gaping wound.

Today I woke up in a bad spot. I’m in the middle of a nutritional detox and my easy coping tools are on a shelf right now. I can’t slather some tahini on a toasted piece of artisan bread and chew my way through the difficult times I’m in. I can’t pop a cork and have a couple of glasses keep me company with my worries. Nope, I’ve got to Deal With Things. Yesterday was difficult and today when I awoke, that monster was still sitting on my chest. After I flipped out on a tailgater this morning, pulled into the parking lot of my office building and cried for 10 minutes, I figured I needed to act quickly if I wanted to salvage the day. I want to be successful with my detox and only one vice would be able to help me. Music. Patty!

I started with Living With Ghosts then proceeded through Impossible Dream and came to rest at 1,000 Kisses. And now I’m *this close* to quitting life to runaway with my guitar that I don’t know how to play. Minor detail.

One time I even got to meet her. I may have cried just a little (and told her I loved her….and meant it), but I think that’s fair. Her music is what helped me heal myself all those years ago and it sure as heck got me through today.