Alive Hospice. Somehow those two words struck a chord in me the first time I heard them, like I knew what it was about before I even knew what it was. That was maybe 15 years ago, and around that time, the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville started donating all the money from shows in January to Alive Hospice. I’ve played one of those shows in January for a long time now.

Alive Hospice. What a great idea, to allow folks to die with dignity. The nurses that work with hospice are truly angels. Their caring, love, and support are amazing. I found that out in 2008 when Alive Hospice Nurse Dottie Campbell came to assist my wife Sharon and me as Sharon moved into the final months of her life. Dottie made the journey so much easier for us and was there with me when Sharon passed. I played in a 2009 Alive at The Bluebird show on January 3 and Sharon passed on January 19.

Dottie came to Sharon’s memorial service that was held in May, and once again, her smile and hugs brought comfort to me. I knew from the first time I heard about Alive Hospice that it was a gift to Nashville, and now I know firsthand the gift is far greater than I could have ever imagined.

Bless you all.

Kent Blazy is an award-winning songwriter and a long-time participant in the Alive at The Bluebird concert series, which helps Alive Hospice provide care to all who need it. Mr. Blazy’s 2010 Alive at The Bluebird show is Jan. 15 with Marv Green, Cory Batten, and Steve Bogard.

Jan Jones

It is hard to believe that 2009 is behind us. It seems the years just fly by. I don’t know if it’s my age or just that everything happens so much more quickly these days.

We have IM and Facebook and Twitter (do you tweet?) and it all just runs together after awhile. It is wonderful to be able to be in touch with so many people so easily. On the other hand, I sometimes feel that there is no room to breathe or stop to ponder before answering an e-mail or a tweet. If memory serves, it used to be valuable to stop and think about something before responding. Isn’t that called wisdom? Whatever it’s called I miss it! 

Stopping to ponder is a lesson we are fortunate to learn, if we are paying attention, from our patients and families every day. What a blessing it is to learn from them the art of presence. I have observed over the past 20-plus years of hospice service some of the most precious exchanges between loved ones: a tender touch, a beautiful smile, a kind and loving word. These are treasured and held close for many moments, days, and years by those for whom we are privileged to care.

If only I could better savor these things in my everyday life.

I have not been a New Year’s resolution kind of person, but I truly do want to start out the year by taking this wonderful lesson from our families and try to stop and smell the roses more frequently and allow the hustle and bustle to take their rightful place — not up front all the time!  

My hope is that you will do the same. What a wonderful world if we could all put things in their proper perspective. Having moments to ponder and be present with oneself and others goes a long way toward allowing that to happen.

Jan Jones is president and CEO of Alive Hospice.

How quickly a year passes by! January 6 marks the first anniversary of the launch of the Alive Hospice Blog, and what a year it has been. We’ve covered a variety of topics in that time – stories of how some of our caregivers came to Alive Hospice, their thoughts and observations about their work, how they help patients and families, lessons they’ve learned from those they serve, loss and coping with grief, charitable giving, special events and happenings, volunteerism, advance directives, self-care, and health-care reform, to name a few.

We’re proud of the fact that the Alive Hospice Blog was one of the topics of a presentation at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s 2009 Management and Leadership Conference. Closer to home, the Alive Hospice Blog was spotlighted at a Center for Nonprofit Management seminar in Nashville as a best-practices example of how nonprofits can use blogs to further their missions.

A special thanks to our blogging team, and to you, our readers, for making the Alive Hospice Blog a success in its first year. We hope you’ll continue to visit, share your thoughts with us, and tell others about what we’re doing here.

We look forward to what 2010 will bring!

Jeanna Kinnebrew

2010 marks the 17th annual Alive at The Bluebird concert series, one of the most unique happenings in Nashville –- and the Alive Hospice fundraiser most dear to my heart.

Over 21 nights in January, nearly 70 of Nashville’s best singers and songwriters come together to perform at the Bluebird Café. Participating artists donate all proceeds from shows to Alive Hospice. Event proceeds, including sponsorships, totaled nearly $40,000 last year! Money raised from the series helps Alive Hospice provide support and care to patients and families in need.

What makes Alive at The Bluebird so special to me is the sheer amount of love that goes into it. Love from the performers, who give their time and talent and ask nothing in return. Love from the Bluebird staff, who welcome us into their “home” with open arms. Love from our sponsors, who make the event possible. Love from our supporters and volunteers, who brave the coldest nights of the year to attend. Each person gives what he or she can –- a song, a stage, a smile –- and together we make something truly beautiful.

The women, men, and children we serve may never see one of our shows, but they will experience the outpouring of love from this concert series through the services the proceeds allow us to provide.

I encourage each one of you to join us for one (or more!) of the Alive at The Bluebird shows this year and experience this amazing series for yourself. The show calendar is available at www.bluebirdcafe.com. Artists appearing this year include Kathy Mattea, Suzy Bogguss, Amy Grant, Matraca Berg, Peter Cooper, and Benita Hill. Shows begin January 2nd and run through January 30th.

Best of all, tickets start at only $8 for many of the shows – a small price to pay to be part of such an immense act of love.

Jeanna Kinnebrew is Alive Hospice’s annual fund manager and coordinates the Alive at The Bluebird concert series in conjunction with the Bluebird Cafe and Nashville Songwriters Association International.