ICU
You're all familiar with the acronym. Intensive care unit.
ICU can also mean I see you.
I see you. I see folks here who bring intensive care to this forum. I see folks who try to apply healing balm to the wounds this life brings. I see folks always at the ready with kind words intended to ease suffering. I see folks comforting the bereaved. I see folks who try to lighten heavy situations. I see folks who offer a hand up. I see folks, many who are carrying their own heavy load, who share others' burdens.
Joys shared are doubled. Sorrows shared are divided.
I see beautiful Shining Spirits who walk the walk, who bring light and hope to this road we travel together. Who provide intensive care in this looney bin of life.
I see you.
I thank you.
Truly.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Are you familiar with Svengoolie, who hales from Berwyn, IL?
And thanx 4 the welcome.
very insightful Higherarky, looking forward to your posts/comments. And welcome to DU!
Thank you! 
live in AR, on a mountaintop, about 30 yrs. I've lurked here since the beginning, but due to the confidential nature of my employment in the medical field and the fact that I worked remotely throughout the US, using a variety of on-line platforms, I shied away from getting involved here, on Facebook, or any other such venue so as not to put confidential data at risk.
That was my day job. My other job title has been musician.
I've recently retired, and I'm pleased to jump into the fray, as it were. My thanks to you and others who have welcomed me.
Hi.
that you've retired from your day job, not from playing music. And I also wonder whether you write music as well as play it?
And Hi right back.
Sounds like you've had an excellent adventure so far, and I hope it has brought you much joy and satisfaction.
Would you care to share any recs on new authors? I'm always on the lookout for good reads. TIA!
As promised, a couple tunes featuring flute.
"What The Future Holds"
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KueEksYcUd4zGcW73UHl2Ph3PxM3ogAP/view?usp=sharing
"Talkin' 2 You" (Trivia: My son is playing drums on this song. 
)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N6hIR7etqTfHt4RiQqZIIceFoWV3362m/view?usp=sharing
And, just because I like to share this one,
"Hazy Mountains"
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KuPFv80OmvlFzm3UpNAoADZHCVAQoe7M/view?usp=sharing
I think I've thoroughly hijacked my own thread. 
It's a pleasure getting to know you. 
P.S. Reminder: Book/author recs, please.
It is harder to recommend books for people than you might realize, because you don't know their tastes immediately. So here are some enthusiasms. Most of what I read is genre fiction, which means some critic has put it in a box so it can be easily dealt with. The best writers accept the constraints of the rules of a genre,, and thrive anyway. So, here goes: The thrillers about Jack Reacher by Lee Child, who always clearly explains the physics of anything Jack has to do, plus the magnetism of a hero who lives free by carrying only a toothbrush with him while he wanders. Everybody now is down on J.K. Rowling, because she thinks something or another about trans people, but I think her novels for adults, writing as Robert Galbraith about detective Cormorant Stryke (Strike?), are an excellent exploration of two people growing up together as they solve crimes. And my most favoritest "Steam Punk-Time Slip" writer is Natasha Pulley, whose books defy genre altogether. "The Watchmaker of Filigree Street" is the first of them, and is about a man who can foresee the future in massive, but not exhaustive, detail. And what it's like to be his friend.
I desperately need you to respond to any of these authors eventually, so I can get a clue about what constitutes a good read for you.
I think hijacking your own thread is actually allowed, as nobody has locked it yet.
And I'm off now to listen to flutes and drum-playing sons. Thanks! And well met.
could not think what to say. (Elvis Costello, I think: "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture."
Today I can think to say that the energy and elation of the flute match the energy and drive of the song.
"Talkin' 2 You": The drums create a really solid foundation for the song without stepping on it.
"Hazy Mountains" and all the others: really musically complex arrangements, and songs which are about wearing your heart on your sleeve 24/7. I feel vaguely that life has shot you down regularly, and then you get up and sing it a song.
Also, just how many instruments do you play?
Cheers,
pc
