If I could have fifteen minutes of my pre-ALS life back, what would I do? Perhaps a game of catch with my dad. Or maybe keeping score with my mom at a Giants game. Or a lively conversation with Fehmeen over a warm-bread salad at Jardiniere would be the ticket.
As tempting as those options would be, I would elect to do something completely selfish with my “Mulligan” time. I would lock myself in a room with a piano and I would play and sing an abbreviated set of the following four songs:
- Wonderwall by Oasis
- Tangled Up In Blue by Bob Dylan
- Imagine by John Lennon
- A Long December by The Counting Crows
I used to perform these tunes — as well as about a hundred others — in my classroom once all of my students had left for the day. Although you would never mistake my crooning and noodling for an audition for Carnegie Hall, the place that the music took me was much more idyllic–at least in my mind–than any fabled concert hall could ever be. In the short span of time that it took me to complete the brief set, not only was I able to drift away from the trials and travails of the teaching day, I also allowed myself the opportunity to submerge my spirit into some of the most beautiful music ever composed.
One piano, four songs, and full functionality of my hands, fingers, and voice for fifteen minutes. My Mulligan.
Getting my groove on. Photo courtesy of ALS Boy's private collection.
Typed by Robin.
The Adventures of ALS Boy 
with tears streaming i wish that also my sweet nephew.
you continue to amaze and inspire… makes me want to pick up that guitar or piano in your honor.
love a.n.
My Mulligan would be to stop by your classroom while you play, take a seat and listen. When you used to play, I would linger occasionally, but I was always off in a rush to get to a meeting, grade papers or take care of other school business that seemed so important back then. I really wish I had taken more time to stop in when I heard the music drifting down the hallways on campus. Just to hear your voice again would be music in itself.
Here it is!! I feel some weird kind of proud ownership, like being a midwife to your words. So happy to be part of this process, Jason. Thanks for letting me into your creative mind and process…MY MULLIGAN?
I love A Long December – Because of this post, I played it yesterday and thought of you!
I really wish you could do all of these things.
I would give anything …………..