Buzzy has become an unofficial mentor and teacher to some of the young musicians. In his last song he wondered what he could do to give back for all that's been done for him. Well, he's found out. The music advice he's giving out is free of charge, and the life advice is as well. He's especially good at advising them about drug use. He approaches it with his first hand knowledge. He lays it on the line:
You wanna do drugs? Ain't nobody gonna stop ya but yerself! Folks try to self medicate with 'em, but it don't work. Get yourself somebody you can tell yer troubles to, professional help if you need it. Damn dope and booze'll make like it's yer friend, best friend in the world, yer only friend in the world. It'll take over, do all the thinkin' fer ya, and it's a selfish bastard. Only thinks 'bout itself. Ain't one to talk religion, but if there is a damned devil in this world, it's booze and dope! Ain't seen nobody but a handful be in control of 'em. Mostly, they control YOU!
Find out what's missin' in yer life! That's what I'm doin'. Physical therapy every day, mental therapy twice a week. Get yerself real, man! I'm never gonna get outa this place what but in a body bag. Cain't hardly walk, need oxygen sometimes, on 'nough medicine to start m' own pharmacy. My best friends now are the nurses and Docs takin' care of me. And I'm lucky! Could be a hunnerd times worst! Be dead, or a goddam carrot stuck in bed with no mind left! And I'm the only reason I'm at this point. A combination of willful ignorance, stupidity, stubbornness, and self pity!But hell, I heard all that too, and I still did it. Like I said, ain't nobody gonna stop ya but yerself. I hope all this sticks in yer mind, at least in the back of it, and someday it pops to the front and you say to yerself, "Damn! That ol' Buzzy was a wise bastard!"
His Doctor has shown up at Buzzy's recording sessions and always fills us in on how he's doing. Evidently he spends most of his time in a wheel chair or bed. Doesn't walk around very much as his legs are about shot. Bad circulation for so many years has caused nerve damage to his legs and feet, and sfter all of the surgeries and heart issues, he's rather frail. But his good days outnumber the bad, and even on days that he spends in bed his attitude remains good. And it's true what Buzzy says, he has a psychologist visit twice a week and they talk. The Doctor says that he was really worried about Buzzy after surgery as he didn't have anything left to live for. But between making recordings and has mentoring, his life has become richer than it was from the first time we recorded him last year. Back then he was sullen, said barely a word when not singing, and was generally disagreeable. Now you can't shut him up, and he's gregarious and pleasant. What a difference time can make!
Buzzy plays a resonator guitar one of his fans brought into the facility for him. he told us he had one years ago, and used it when he played big venues as the sound carried better and he didn't have to use an amp. He can still play it too, as we had to adjust recording levels to compensate. And his voice is still strong enough he could be heard over it!
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