Welcome to September!

Fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I felt the air change as Labor Day approached, and have reveled in the cooler mornings and evenings, and watching the Mums come out and leaves begin to swirl down from the trees.

I also celebrate September with some exciting live music events, including a solo performance with Amy Grant and the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on September 10th. It is an honor to be a part of this opening weekend celebration and it will be an indescribable thrill to perform one of my favorite melodies, Ashokan Farewell, accompanied by Amy and our fabulous Symphony.

Speaking of indescribable, our August Davis Kidd performance was a night I'll always remember, with overwhelming gratitude for my friends, family and community. It was a great gift to have so many of you there, and to hear from so many of you who wanted to be there.
 
As I wrote in the August newsletter, my life and this newsletter will continue to be focused on living as I go through treatment for cancer. But as time has passed, I've realized that the great gift of cancer is that it completely unveils the beauty of being alive. The Music of My Life; Journal Entries from my Season with Cancer shares insights and experiences I am having as a cancer patient as a new feature of this newsletter, located near the bottom of the page.

You may have noticed that the newsletter has a new look! We have switched formats to service by Myemma, with a template that reflects the look of my soon-to-be-launched website, where we will also post and archive the newsletters. We will continue to feature a recipe of the month - and you don't want to miss the Chocolate Chip Whole Wheat Brownies courtesy of my sister Erin!

Our poetry link this month features a lovely short piece - A Spiritual Journey - by the great poet and writer, Wendell Berry, who reminds us that the spiritual journey is "arduous and humbling and joyful."

I wish you much joy during this special time of year, as you vibrantly live the day in front of you.

Are you interested in booking Ruth and The Acoustic Trio for your private event? Please contact us at info@ruthmcginnis.com   ****   Ruth's Acoustic Trio is Karin Simmons - Keyboards; John Pell - Guitar; Dennis Solee - All things wind!

LIVE: Ruth and The Acoustic Trio

September 2006 Dates

Appearing with Amy Grant with the Nashville Symphony

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Sunday, September 10th

8:00 pm

Ruth is thrilled to be a special guest artist, performing "Ashokan Farewell"

with Amy and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

International Justice Mission Nashville Benefit Dinner

Nashville Convention Center

Thursday, September 21st

6:00 - 9:00 pm

Ruth and the Acoustic Trio have performed for this annual event and great cause

for four years. IJM has worked to secure justice for victoms of violence and

oppression around the world for nearly a decade.

If you would like to attend, ($200 per person, $125 of which is tax deductible)

you may register online at www.ijm.org, or call 1-800-456-4499 

********

David Kidd at the Green Hills Mall

Saturday, September 30th

7:00 - 9:00 pm

Our favorite spot to play in the Nashville scene!

Come and check it out ... it's free!!

Tips for Healthy Living

September's Recipe of the Month 

Chocolate Chip Whole Wheat Brownies 

Combine the following and beat until creamy:

1 cup softened butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. water (if needed)

2 eggs

Sift together or mix well before adding to creamy mixture:

1 cup white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Stir in:
1 12 oz. pack chocolate chips
1 to 2 cups chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

Spread into a 12x8 greased pan
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes ... ENJOY!!

Celebrating the Imperfect Life!

Seminars and Workshops on Well-being

After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Ruth is even more inspired and commited to share her message of well-being, life meaning and balance, to encourage audiences of all ages to Celebrate the Imperfect Life. 

Ruth is scheduling events around her chemo treatments this fall.

If you are interested in booking a "Music of Life" or workshop event,

please contact Karin at info@ruthmcginnis.com

The Music of Life;

Journal Entries from my Season with Cancer

A friend of mine who has been through breast cancer, told me I would feel relieved after getting through the first chemo treatment, and she was absolutely right. Chemotherapy is not something I'd sign up for, but my first experience was less unpleasant than I'd feared. My main symptoms were fatigue, dizziness, and one day of feeling nauseous. I was able to ride my bike (al la Lance Armstrong) on the indoor trainer every day except the nausea day, and by day five I was able to get out and about fairly normally.

I have since enjoyed my usual routines and activities, at 75% of my normal energy level. I am gaining weight and am slowly building back the muscle mass I lost after surgery. I know things could change as my treatments continue, but at this writing, I am feeling blessed by my otherwise good health, the support of my community and by the countless prayers for my healing.

One of the most powerful insights I've had as a result of this unexpected detour in my well-planned life, is truly understanding that the value of my work - the books I have written, my instrumental recordings, and the speaking and performing I've done for countless years - has nothing to do with commercial success. I always thought that in order to be "successful," I would have to register in the marketplace with some measurable impact - like making the NY Times Bestsellers list.  As a result, even though I've enjoyed a rewarding career as a creative person, and have tried to reframe "success" in my own mind, I've always felt that somehow I'd never quite arrived - that my life was incomplete.

Having cancer has forever changed this. The cards, letters, gifts, phone calls and emails I've received from people I know - and many I have never met - have revealed to me that the reach of my work, and the value of my simply being here, is greater than I ever could have imagined.
I am convinced this is true for each one of us. That we all tend to be hard on ourselves and measure our achievements against harsh standards. We fail to appreciate our own contributions...and we forget to acknowledge the gifts, beauty, and efforts of others.

I will never think of success, fulfillment and contentment the way I used to. Cancer has swept the veil away from my eyes - has given me a new way of looking at life and rethinking everything.

It is an unexpected gift.