Helene June Mollison.

December 16^th 1958 to December 2^nd 2008.

R.I.P.

There is no way to announce something of this nature without sadness and despondency lurking in every corner. Helene Mollison past away on Tuesday morning at 7.05am US EST at the Doctor Phillips Hospital in Orlando, Florida.

She was diagnosed with colon cancer on the 5^th February this year but it turned out to be one of the most aggressive and vociferous of its kind and although Helene fought one of the bravest and dignified battles to try and save herself, it was just too strong for her. She is now in a far better place then where she was led to by this terrible disease

Many of you know Helene as one of the most kindest, loving, nurturing, compassionate and funny people to work within the Music industry in recent times and I was fortunate to have spent many years in her company along with our daughter Storm with whom I share the feeling of total devastation at her passing. If there was one person who deserved longer on this planet it was "Bells". The woman was special for so many reasons and I owe so much to her for so many other reasons. I would never have been able to achieve a fraction of what I was able to without her love and support and the thought of her not being on the other end of the phone is simply incomprehensible to me. Our small world will never be the same for us and many other people.

Helene had two very hard years in 2003 and 2004 but bounced back in true "Bells' fashion and forged herself an excellent career with one of the nations foremost building companies, making even more friends and touching even more people with her sweet disposition and her caring ways. She was able to allow herself to indulge in feelings of new love with an outstanding individual, AJ.

Leading up to her diagnosis she was very much in love and you could sense in her a wave of optimism and joy in finding someone who she could express true love with once more and not sacrifice anything from her dedication and love for Storm. What is even more tragic is that Helene and AJ never got to sustain their relationship without the specter of cancer hanging over them both when they deserved so much more time without fear. AJ showed her the care and love she deserved right up until she past away and all through the nine months that she fought the great fight.

Helene wasn't one for grandstanding; she was a very private person and gave very little away right up to the end as many of her close friends now know. She just wanted to fight and win, then return a little frayed around the edges but a winner, yet it wasn't to be unfortunately.

A memorial service is scheduled for this coming Sunday the 7^th December 08 and the details are below. Any cards, flowers or people wishing to pay their respects are warmly welcomed at a service where the "Freedom High School Chorus Choir", which includes Storm, will be performing in her memory.

Helene's legacy is simple; she has left us with the undeniable fact that "There is never enough time" for all of us to be everything that we can be and to deny ourselves living without pain in our hearts is just plain "silly" as she would say…

God bless you "Bells' and forever Rest in Peace,

My love for eternity,

Sam.

Helene June Mollison Memorial Service,

Sunday 7^th December 2008

3.00pm EST US.

@ Family Funeral Care

13001 South John Young Parkway

Orlando

Florida,

32837.

Tel No: 407 812 4200.

Forgive me father for it has been six months since my last Blog!

No, I am not a Catholic convert, just that after six months and not a peep I had to start the next one somehow…

In truth, I have put more production hours into the last six months than I have the past two years. Two years engulfed in change. Change of day, change of night, change of life speaks, everything. Tough, tough years on the back of even tougher years the previous five, only I was too afflicted to know that at the time so we won't dwell on them at all. Having someone to hold your head up for you while you get it all together has been essential and Lj hasn't flinched once, well maybe a couple of timesJ

It's Lj who needs the support now from me after hearing of her father's passing last week under quiet bizarre circumstances and without the chance to say a proper goodbye. The pain, hurt and confusion is written all over her face and it is my hope that the people who can most help change that face, read this and begin the healing process soon.

I just got back Monday morning from a 12 day vacation to Georgia and Alabama and the roots of it all was very good for the soul and was much needed as I finished another production two hours before we left (thanks to Mark and the loaning of his BX8's) and needed some level of recuperation as I'm attempting to fit in the album in amongst helping Storm write and produce material for herself. (Yes! Storm is singing and writing, even performing live..) Musically everything feels in the right spot and I have no intention of letting up at all. At 42 you come to realize that everyday is a blessing and you take nothing for granted and I just don't want to waste anymore time not doing what I do best.

I am most definitely in a writers vain, not just music but I am writing on many topics and issues and loving the response. I am no longer staring into the abyss and letting my head implode with the thoughts it generates, I am now allowing my mind to be fearless of its expression and uniqueness and follow its desire to have its say without ego or bias getting in the way. I love it!

I told myself to resist Blogging until six months had past when I realized it was Easter already and I hadn't blogged since Christmas. In truth the Music and writing has been quiet relief from many issues of family illness. Mum had heart by-pass surgery in March but her cancer is now in remission. My Uncle Derrick is now fighting throat cancer but doing it in true Mollison spirit. Storm's mother is also putting up a strong fight against Colon cancer with Storm truly stepping up to the plate to help her mum. God bless you all…. Yea, as they say, life comes at you fast. My advice is don't waste a day of living and breathing unless you are Sitting in a Rocking chair on a front porch in Georgia doing nothing but shoot the shit, or something similar.

I've updated the First in Flight website and you can now access the Discography with all the nostalgic mp3's a lot better than before. Just click 'Downloads'. Won't leave it so long next time.

Peace.

The build up to this Christmas hasn't been so immediate due to the amount of work that has been in front of me. Quinco annual Christmas bash and Storm's chorus High School event apart, there hasn't been a lot for me to jump on the band wagon about, not that the birth of Christ should be acquainted with any sort of band wagon except that of faith.

Lisa however has busted her arse putting together a Christmas that we will all remember and right up until this morning it wasn't truly evident to me how much effort she had put in because I hadn't switched off at all and embraced the Chrimbo spirit in any consistent fashion. I know, I suck!

We have a tastefully decorated Oak tree outside our house by the walkway / pavement which lifts the spirit of passers by. An authentic 8-foot Christmas tree augments the Oak, also outside, well lit and festively decorated adjacent to the living room window. Inside we have another 8-foot tree, though this time artificial, once again tastefully decorated with presents in abundance beneath the tree. Stockings hang from the fireplace, and yes we burn logs regularly, candles arranged strategically meet and greet you throughout the interior of the house and I am thus gripped to now go hunt down some egg nogg.

Now, nobody who lays out such a Christmas welcome deserves to be sick over Christmas yet she finds herself just so with a nasty bought of winter congestion. Nyquil and Christmas aren't supposed to be synonymous but the last few days they have been just that for her. I kinda feel like my initial irreverence to it all has helped bring on the condition so this blog is as much to exorcize the bug and free her sinuses so She will be able to part-take in the beautiful Christmas atmosphere she has put together for us and the girls.

Storm arrived about an hour ago, Chelcey and her best friend Annie will be here any minute now and Lacey will be here later this evening. It is the first Christmas where we have all the girls together with us so it is very special and memorable time.

Now, I haven't been grinch-like at all, just not in the Christmas spirit, meaning I forgot what we were celebrating which in these times can be easily done. We celebrate the birth of the most important individual this planet has ever produced. I say this because of the love that Jesus has manifested in us for centuries now. We can debate all day long his attachment to the Devine or even if he existed at all but we can't deny the love that his name proclaims.

This love I send back to Lisa, the girls and our vast family along with our friends and the whole planet.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you all.

Now, where was I? Oh yea, Egg Nogg!

When you think that you know everything there is to know, life tends to come at you proving that statement wrong. When you are overly blessed with knowledge of an empowering nature, invariably we wish we knew less due to the responsibility that comes with such knowledge.

I struggled this week with just such a dilemma. Though my motivation for life is purely geared for progress and the challenges we have to face in order to achieve such progress, the 'bottom line" reality is that I want a smooth and easy life just like in the movies, whatever!

Everyday that I am functional I can categorically state that "understanding" and "pro-activity" line the walls of my day alongside the ever weaving trail of miss- information, false dawns, lies and maneuvers that life's curve ball throws you as you brush your teeth in the morning, sit at your desk throughout the day or even as you are preparing to sleep.

This week I learned that empowerment and reality come hand in hand alongside responsibility and only the weak hearted will refuse to acknowledge this with their actions or a reaction. Or are they actually the smart ones? Staying the course of ambiguity just to facilitate the status quo sounds just as much a movie as reality speaks.

A bucket of popcorn, Gummie bears, Sprite and a Hot-dog anyone?

Sean Davis has been a breath of fresh air to me.

Not only as a friend and confidant but also as a serious musician and radio show host. He's always smiling and attempting to put a positive and funky take on things whilst trying to leave his own House style ringing in your head for days.

Sean plays exactly the type of music that the masses love. Rump shake! He does it with effortless ease and it has been a pleasure working with and getting to know him this year.

Today's his birthday and we celebrate in proper O-town fashion @ the Bayou tonight.

Don't wait up!

(TFIFriday's on www.pure.fm)

It creeps up on you when you are least expecting it. You are least expecting it because you are knee deep in busting your behind in an attempt to progress. Expecting what? Momentum, that's what.

Today I can announce that I have been offered the position of Head of the Dance division for Fiberlineaudio.com to which I accepted. I don't want to go into too much detail about it other than I can guarantee a new approach to building one of the most influential digital resources available. I'll keep you posted…

Our weekly Friday radio show, TFIfridays which is aired on www.pure.fm (House stream) is also now into its second month. (On right now and will be until 5. 00 pm EST. I do believe.)

Momentum.

I don't normally do the political rant and rave thing. I don't know if this is ranting or raving but this past week has set my soul back a little due to images I have seen. Being a human being sometimes means that you have to look your species in the mirror and boy what a reflection.

It is obvious that there is nothing good will and sincere intentions can do to help the Middle East. A wave of co-ordinate Islamic fundamentalism has the region in a vice like grip of blood and death and unfortunately all the American soldiers left on the planet are never going to stop it. One particular image of a child crying with arm stretched hands; obviously looking for someone who he knows, just after a bomb had killed a Lebanese diplomat will remain etched in my brain forever.

Life is cheap if you are a child born in or near the holy land at present. But so can that be said if you are a child born or already living in Darfur or many other parts of the world where children seem to have as much right to safety as an ant has traveling on your average western pavement.

Admit it, most of us do nothing to acknowledge what is going on because we feel helpless. The images from CNN and others have only served to de-sensitize us from what is a human problem and as I suggested before, we have to start learning to look ourselves as a species in the mirror.

Whatever we can do as individuals to heighten awareness, we should do it for our species to ensure our children of the future don't have to dodge the intense heat of the magnifying glass as they zig-zag across the pavement trying not to get scorched alive…..

This past week saw the person most dear to me reach a certain milestone. Aint so bad as was expected and I would go as far as to say that sh*t has got itself off the Richter….

I have been working so hard to deliver music to you all at a decent pace, in fact we both have. Please, please listen to the show when you get the chance.

 SM.

www.firstinflight.com

Another year older. To be able to say that within the context of life and its hazards is only a good thing.

I know, life isn't just about circling the wagons and protecting yourself, although in my case its more about getting back on the wagonJ, it's about savoring what you have and the fact that you have a body that breathes while also nurturing your dreams for the future so that others can share that air.

I am fortunate to have someone beside me who sees me as a conduit for life itself. Unpredictable "artist types" need caring souls who wield a firm stick to protect. My lows equal my highs but my constant is she of "chicken and dumplings" fame.

Our girls keep the years off in a very robust and special way. Tell me I am not a teenager at heart and I will show you a man who can drop to the "two step" Orange County style!

T.Pain is just as much my discovery as theirs, nana nana boo boo! The future is the key and I hang on their every word and action as my way of protecting and knowing where to go next.

Family and friends are there when ought to be and so am I. At least we are all there….

Though another year older, I am blessed with so much more than the average man and for that I am eternally grateful.

Sniff, sniff, time to sing for my supper.

Savage Surface...

I lay between a rock and a stone face.

Consciously or subconsciously amongst a torrent of affable maybes and ill requited circumstance disguised as sanity.

This while the world turns in the opposite direction, pulling faces at me.

I'm too scared to poke my tongue out at a rain filled sky,

Certainly not going to try and speak with a childlike perspective

As that just seems to bring out the playground bullies.

Need to find a Teacher with some wisdom and good grace,

To help me smooth down this savage surface.

I smile alone looking for laughter in an empty case.

Suspicious of being conspicuous in a week that demands I give my all without using metaphors and profanity.

This while the clique gives me the bird and then proceeds to moon me.

Hell yea I'm too scared to poke my tongue out at a bunch of bare ass!

Certainly not going to try and reason with obtuse introspective

Without a considerable amount of 2 ply Scotties.

Have to find a person of understanding with a shovel and mace,

Help me smooth down this savage surface.

I lay between a rock and a stone face.

Take a swing.