The Head and The Heart Vol. 11

Fargosrose Lives On + MLK Day

A part of this journey I’ve reflected on often is amazing and incredible care I’ve received throughout this recovery process. During one of the hardest days during my ICU stay, I had one of the most incredibly kind, thoughtful, and diligent overnight nurses. She held my hand, rubbed my back, and got me dozens of cold wash clothes all through the night. This was during a timeframe when my pain was high and tears were frequent. The blood that rushed to my brain needs to drain back to where it belongs. The neuro team described this process as ‘very normal’ and ‘very violent.’

These episodes would happen over the course of a few hours then would subside (thankfully) for a few hours so I could get a reprieve.

During one of those hours of reprieve, my night nurse asked, “Do you ever go to Fargo? Or have you ever spent any time there?”

Really confused by this question but also excited to make a connection, I shared that I was from Fargo but had lived in Minneapolis for a decade.

Then she asked, “Are you a musician? Do you sing?”

My eyes got big. I confirmed. Yes!

She said, “I saw you perform at an MLK Day event at the Fargo Theatre. That was you right? I loved your MLK song.”

I am now shocked! This kindhearted person who had been caring for me for the last 10 hours had crossed paths with me before, 10+ years ago.

We talked about that event. We talked about being Black women in Fargo. We talked about going to college at a small school. We talked about what drew us both to Minneapolis.

This photo is from the MLK Day Celebration performance at the Fargo Theatre in 2012. Fargosrose was my username I used to share all my upcoming gigs and musical adventures!

To close Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I’ll share lyrics I wrote a song for an MLK Event in 2008, based on a few of his speeches and Letter from Birmingham Jail.

We’ve been broken loose from Egypt
And we’ve moved throughout the wilderness
But freedom’s not some lavish dish to furnish your appetite
Before this is done, we’ll have to fight the fight

When evil man burn
Good men must plan
When even men plot
We will build again

Ugly words of hate, just endure this fate and take this suffering
And all the the while, commit yourself to love

When evil man burn
Good men must plan
When even men plot
We will build again

Out of many we are one
But while we breathe, we hope
When we’re met with darkness, we can respond
We will respond

We’re free at last
Free at last
When evil men plot
We will build again