PERFECT are moments I have wanted to simply experience, metabolize, STOP! and hold. Moments of Perfection-swimming at Lake Ariel with our kids, singing in the midst of beautiful musiq, an afternoon of sunshowers and scents of grass & leaves. I tried to capture such feeling in a new song, “Perfect” and our Thai guitar virtuoso took my basic melody and made it near-Perfect. Thank you, Kong. Thank you, Johnny Nova, Nan, MJ, Jerry for playing tonight. Thank you, Rob for 21 years of creative sharing here. Thank you Phish for the STUFF of SOUND. Thank you, Christine McVie for beautiful songs, stunning melodies and those moments of perfection at the end of Fleetwood Mac concerts when you would sit alone at the piano and sing Good Night with Songbird. Thank you, Lauri, my sister, my friend, my partner in running a home. We began to share the stage together in my father’s American Young minstrel group. I was 5. We would still be sharing and inspiring each other 50 years later, up until a night of perfection-Thanksgiving 2021. That night, after 30 family, friends & loves had gone home, Lauri & I shared a last hug and agreed the day of “Thanks & Giving” had been pretty much perfect. The next night, Lauri would be gone. A bug, a virus? When she was declared “deceased”, I spent 2 nights at her bedside as she was prepared for the “harvest” of her organs to give life to others. Her funeral was held at St. Paul’s Church December 6th, 2021. I wrote an obituary, gave the eulogy, celebrated her life with family, friends, wonderful human beings ALL colored by Lauri’s wand of love and support. She lives in me and so many others. As we bask in this season of hope and rebirth, let us believe in the Perfection of Moments, breathe deeply and suck them in as they are fleeting. I am honored to be alive and allowed to use these phenomenal gifts given to me to entertain, inspire and create NEW moments with you. The stage is my home. Love is my source, fuel, mentor, ultimate goal and reason to be. PERFECT, in peace and grace. Todd Tongdee Lavelle
