It has been a Swell Season

It has been about 7 months since Terese has updated her blog. I think it is appropriate to do now since she is current in surgery. It is a long surgery (10-12 hours) and she will be in Mayo hospital for 5 to 7 days. Of course, we are hoping for 10 hours and 5 days. Please pray for her and the surgeon. Pray for a quick recovery. Also please come back here for any updates as it is difficult to update everyone by phone/email/text. We do covet your prayers more than you can know.

A very encouraging event happened to us a few weeks ago that I would like to share. Caleb introduced us to band called “Swell Season” a few years back. We got the movie “Once” and loved it and in turn, fell in love with the band. They won an academy award for best song in the movie “once”. It is definitely our favorite band not only together but also as individuals. Last October, we went to Tucson to listen to them in concert. It was so AWESOME for us. We thought we would never get an opportunity again to hear them in a setting like that (We were very close to the stage). It turned out that Caleb let me (Bruce) know that they were coming in November. I immediately bought tickets and their newest CD and a few days before the event, I surprised Terese with the CD and the tickets.



There is a song on their first CD called “Leave” that is very significant to Terese. It is really about a guy listening to his girlfriend break up with him and then he tells her thanks for the info but now it is time for you to leave. He sings it with such passion. It is really amazing. Terese would play this song daily as she would go into her radiation treatments and just belt it out. Of course, she would be talking about the cancer. Basically, you have taught me my lesson (cancer) now LEAVE!!!!! It was very powerful and emotional for both of us.

Unbeknown to me, Terese emailed their web site and asked anyone if they could pass along her letter to the lead singer (Greg Hanson). All the letter said was that she went through some cancer treatment and that the song LEAVE meant very much to her. She didn’t ask for anything in the email but only that if he sings it, there will be a gal with very short hair singing along with him. She got kind of a form email back from a producer that said he was going to sing that song during his solo time. Well, she thought nothing of it but was happy he was going to sing that song since radiation was not that far from her memory. They played for an hour or so and then the band left and he said that he wanted to dedicate this next song to “Theresa” and thanks for the lovely letter. Terese turns to me and says “That’s me!”. I just laughed since the name was not right and I didn’t know she send any email. But when the song started (LEAVE) and tears were swelling up in her eyes, I knew that the song was dedicated to her. I just hugged her and enjoyed the music. At the end of the song, Terese yells out “Thank YOU!!” and Greg responded “No, thank you!”. It made the night so very special.

Well, it didn’t end there. About 30 minutes later, he stopped again and this time said “I have another song that Terese would like” He asked if how to pronounce her name. The lights went on in the auditorium and he asked her to stand. They had a little dialog and then he sang this new song (dedicated to Terese) that we both have not heard but it was appropriate and wonderful. It was a great night!! We didn’t want it to end.

Thanks God!!