Markus Misery
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My Interview With Markus
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Markus Misery
I think by now, you, my readers, have come to realize I try to bring to you the most interesting people I meet. And I have to say, I have met so many! Some of them I think of as diamonds in the rough. Not someone you may at first realize the potential they have for society.
This next interview I have for you is exactly what I mean, and it took me on a most unexpected journey! A chance meeting in an elevator let me connect with this most fascinating man!
While his exterior intrigued me, never did I dream how beautiful and bright that diamond of his that was hidden, would be so brilliant! Nor how many facets it would have!
Let’s start off with your name, Markus Misery. Since I know you, for many reasons, when I ask you about your name for some reason, I think of Shakespeare: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Meaning, names of things do not affect what they really are while it may have started as such. I think yours may have evolved into something more.
Do you mind telling us how your name came to be?
Markus: We must take a trip back in time, to the late 1900s. My musical collaborative partner, Devlin Bane, coined the name. He does my tattoos, and we have been brothers since about 1989. In the mid-90s, I was at a particularly low point in my life (little did I know how much worse it could get) and he just came up with it. It fit. And it stuck.
You are correct though it has evolved, indeed. Elvis had a song called “Trouble.” “My middle name is Misery. Well, I’m evil. So, don’t you mess around with me.”
It gives me strength. Side note, the great New Jersey legend, Glen Danzig, also said, “I am Misery. I always win.” It took me a long time to learn that. But you bet I do. I always win!
Tammy: Now that we know the background of your name, let’s talk about your image.
The look that you have, can you explain it to us?
Markus: I am Markus Misery… ALL THE TIME. I have “levels” of it, so to speak, that range from a sort of “Misery Lite,” to full on-stage gear. I have spent my entire life soul searching, with little to no support. I no longer hide who I am, or make any apologies for it.
Heavy Metal rules, and it will ALWAYS be 1986 to me. It took me fifty years to truly and fully hold nothing back… to make NO apologies for who I am. Now, Midgard must deal with it. I care not what they think. Horns up.
Tammy: Love that about you, that you are comfortable in your own skin!
Ok let’s talk about your music. Honestly, it’s the real reason I wanted to do the interview, but quickly found out it was only one of the many facets you have. What type of music is it and what instrument do you play?
Markus: I will sum it up as briefly as I can. My band is called Altar. I play bass and “sing” lead vocals. Devlin does some lead vocals, too. Honestly, it is his brainchild. I have been his king’s hand for these 30+ years, when it comes to musical creation. We have done many great things together. Of this, I am the proudest.
For those who know, Altar will appeal to fans of the likes of Venom, Celtic Frost, Sodom, Destruction, and other bands of that era. I scream my head off like a demon. And, I LOVE it!
Tammy: I’ll have to admit that you do! I’m curious, what was the youngest memory you had of hearing something similar to your music? As you got older, what bands did you follow?
Markus: Rock and Roll have been present in my life for as long as I can remember. I love what many would consider “oldies”. I love the Beatles, the Dave Clarke Five… and, oh my heart… The Mammas and the Pappas. Enter the 1970s… a band emerged called Kiss. Ever hear of them?
The “heavy” stuff started there. Later on (80s), someone randomly lent me a cassette, basically saying “check this out.” It was “British Steel,” by Judas Priest. That did it. It was over. Metal forever. As far as what we may sound like, what I currently do is thrash metal. That became my greatest love.
Tammy: I have to admit I knew the ones you started talking about but had never heard of thrash metal.
You already have music released. What is the name of that band and album? You also have a new band. What is the name of it and do you have an album coming out for them?
Markus: I have a band called Grim Legion, which I love. Devlin and I are the core members. He founded it in the 80s. We have a record contract. A new album is coming out any day now. But, every member of that band has reached great success outside of Grim Legion. So, their time is limited for it. That’s part of why we created Altar, which is the thing I am most proud of… ever. And, we did just finish recording. That record should be out soon, as well.
Tammy: It definitely is one of your passions. But I’m finding you have many! You actually greeted me at the door singing pirate shanties! (I kid you not and he was good at them!)
Then the dinner you prepared for me was not something I am used to. What are your eating preferences and why?
Markus: Simply put, I am vegan. I have been for about ten years. I do it because of my love for animals. All sentient life deserves simply to live. I despise cruelty in any form. Contrary to some beliefs, vegans don’t just eat salad. In fact, I almost never eat salad.
Tammy: Although not a vegan myself, I will admit the dish you prepared for me tonight was delish!
As we sit here eating this amazing dinner and drinking our wine, I notice quite a few wrestling belts on the wall. What are they all about?
Markus: I’m a huge wrestling fan. I want to look at those things and reflect. As a youngling, being a famous wrestler was one of things I dreamt of. I even gave it a go. I didn’t do that until my late 40s. Who knows how it would have gone if I had tried when I was young?
I did get into the business, thanks to my dear friends at Locked Target Wrestling. I was mostly a referee. I did train enough to cross something off of my bucket list. I participated in a battle royale in full Markus Misery mode. There is a video of it available. I didn’t win. But I outlasted some solid pros, and even delivered a devastating Stunner to one of them. I am a god.
Tammy: Awesome, love it! I think our readers may be quite surprised at what you do for your work career. Would you mind telling us what you do from 9 to 5 per se?
Markus: I am filled with joy that you asked this. I have been an adult education professional for about 20 years. I teach people how conversationally to communicate. Frankly, anything else we may be discussing is secondary.
It’s not just because my professional life pays my mortgage. I will sum it up as such. My students are quite literally the absolute number one reason I wake up in the morning. They are the single greatest motivation in my life. I shape them. I absolutely LOVE them. I ADORE them.
They inspire me in every moment of my existence. For full transparency, every time I explain this, it brings me to tears. Words cannot express what they mean to me. Shaping them is my purpose. Tammy... I love them so much. There are not even words for it. I would be nothing without them.
Tammy: I had no idea, yet another passion of yours. Not going to lie, not at all what I expected! But this is where we see the many facets of your diamond I was talking about. When you first told me of the people you teach, it was interesting to what you call them and how important they are to you.
Would you mind explaining it to our readers?
Markus: I call them my tribe. And I do that quite deliberately. I take that word VERY seriously. I am of Ojibwe descent. My entire chest tattoo is a tribute to that.
My great grandmother, I never met her, but I have seen pictures of her and to explain it to a layperson, she looked like Pocahontas. That is who I am. I am an Ojibwe brave. I have no greater love in this world than I have for my tribe.
Tammy: What a beautiful sentiment for them to be part of! This next subject is going to jump into a dark part of your life. One I was very surprised you wanted to talk about.
Revealing only what you feel comfortable with, would you mind describing the worst day of your life and what happened?
Markus: The following is the full story of a day I wish I could forget. This is my baggage that I carry. I am aware of how unappealing it will make me to many. But people need to know that they are not alone.
I am making this public… for the first time. My hope is that someone will draw strength from it. I have scars. I have tasted death’s sweet kiss. She will not seduce me again. This took place in April 2020.
Backstory: prior to this, I quite literally considered myself the happiest person on earth. I was in a marriage that most people can only fantasize about. We were together for about ten years, when things started to turn sour. Not in any sinister way. It was simply an awful happenstance of life. We grew apart.
Leading up to the aforementioned worst day of my life, I had moved out of my once happy home. It felt like I had literally been to Valhalla, then exiled from it. This home where you now sit, my dear friend, was my exile… my personal purgatory.
It was empty. Everything you look around and see was not here. All that existed was a futon and a television. This place was hell for me. I wanted no part of it. I wanted to go home. So, I kept it empty.
As time went on, I began to realize the harsh reality that going home was never going to be. I shopped for and ordered a bed. One afternoon in April 2020, it arrived. This may seem insignificant. But I took one look at it and realized that this situation was indeed going to be permanent. That realization shattered my soul into a billion shards of heartache. I could not cope with it.
BUT I still had my students to teach, my tribe. It was a remote class. I was logging in from home. Time to put the game face on for them. What happened next sent me to the darkest place I have ever had the displeasure of dwelling. Before I could log on with my beloved tribe, I got a phone call.
The company where I had spent seven years dedicating my life had decided to lay off 1000 people in one day, and blame Covid for it. This phone call came within 30 minutes of the mattress arriving. Put those two things together in such a short time frame… my psyche could no longer manage it.
I chugged a bottle of wine. I texted my “wife,” saying goodbye. I took this guitar cable that I am holding in this very hand and went to the garage. I flung it over the rafter, climbed a step ladder, wrapped it around my neck, and kicked the ladder out of the way. I was ready to go. I had had enough.
My Valkyrie must have decided that it was not my time. A few moments later, the garage door opened. My “wife” and the police were there. They help me up while loosening the cable. I spent the next 4 days in the hospital.
Tammy: I’m sure most, like me, will be surprised you were willing to share such a raw and emotional event. And yet you not only bared your soul, you went on to tell me about grief therapy.
Would you mind telling our readers what our society has wrong about grief therapy? Who were the people who helped you with your grief? What are some of the books you read and some of the groups you would recommend?
Markus: My own experiences have led to crave a greater understanding for the meaning of grief of loss. I have indeed learned that we do it wrong. With the best of intentions, usually from a place of love, people say and do things that at best don’t help… and often cause harm.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross wrote on the stages of grief in 1969. However, grief is not linear. A devastating loss forever changes us. We can never be the person we once were. Saying something like “At least they are in a better place now” is beyond insulting. Better than here with me, huh?
There is only one appropriate course of action to support someone who is grieving. BE THERE FOR THEM. Show up. Shut up. Listen. Simply hold their hands, be it literally or figuratively. Hold space with them. Don’t offer any advice. Acknowledgement is everything. Let them know they are seen. Injecting your own experience, while well intentioned, changes it to being about you, rather than the griever.
I encourage people to study the work of my greatest teacher, LISA KEEFAUVER, MSW - Grief and Empathy Activist. You can find her at lisakeefauver.com. She has a podcast called “Grief is a Sneaky Bitch.” It is a tremendous resource. I have learned so much from her. I have had the pleasure of speaking to her one on one, and it is life altering!
Right up there with Lisa is Megan Devine, who I have not had the pleasure of speaking to. I feel that everyone should read her book “It’s OK that You’re Not OK.”
Tammy: Once I realized the depth of this interview, I realized how many you could help. During this interview, you did something unexpected! You took this necklace off you were wearing and gave it to me!
If you don’t mind, would you explain the significance of the necklace? And what your beliefs are and what happened to cause you to have those beliefs?
Markus: That’s Mjölnir. It’s Thor’s Hammer. Thor is the God of Thunder and protected of Midgard… Earth, as we mortals call it. I wear it for protection. And that is why I gave it to you. Thor will protect you, now.
I’m Norse Pagan. I believe in what most people may call the “Old Gods.” Odin is the Allfather… emphasis on ALL. Everyone is welcome. EVERYONE. Yet, nobody is out recruiting about it. It is forever a learning experience.
How/why do I believe this? Frankly, I was an atheist for about 30 years. Everything I just told you, I would have called bullshit for that entire time. I can only say that I heard the call of the gods. I have felt them. I have heard them. I have even seen them.
From that fateful day, I am still here. I have since met my Valkyrie. I know she was there that day. I am positive of that. She and my Oracle have told me it is not my time. I have work to do. I am glad they made me stay.
I fight against this difficult life, so I can make my way to Valhalla, when my time DOES come. I fight not only for myself, anymore. I have a new tribe to nurture… my babies. I must stay here for them as long as I can.
I am here to fight for anyone who needs me by their side, or better yet, to stand in front of them. I no longer want to “go home.” Life evolves. I use my energy elsewhere. If anyone harms someone, I hold dear, they need only ponder that I am now asking myself one simple question. “How tightly shall I close my fist?” Blood on the Altar.
Loki, the trickster, is one that I have a love/hate relationship with. I have won this round, though. He can’t trick me anymore. He did for ages. Good one, Loki. I acknowledge your power over me. Or, should I say, former power. Loki is a god. He is welcome in my hall any time. I just have to keep a sharp eye on him.
Tammy: Although I may not understand it, I do admire your conviction and passion for it. As for your gift, I will treasure it always!
Markus, I have to admit. I knew this would be a tough interview to write, for I know I barely scratched the surface of who you are but more importantly, what you are to so many!
How appropriate we used the picture of you in front of John Lennon’s Imagine “…imagine all the people living life in peace.” And although words to that song may be hard to believe at times, for all of us, I just wanted you to know how proud of you I am!
I’ve read beautiful messages from your “tribes” at work on what a wonderful teacher you are!
I know first-hand how amazingly talented you are with your music. Whether it be playing the guitar and singing on the boulevard “Halloween” to my good friend Tony Moran, or all of your admirers of your albums released, to the fun boisterous pirate shanties you love!
But what I am so thankful for, not only for your service to this country, but for you continuing to be a warrior! Fighting a fight, a mental one, that seems to be harder than any physical fight!
A fight that took its toll on you, only for you to rise up like the warrior you are, and not only reveal your scars to others, but are constantly there to let them know you “see” them!
You told me you wanted me to end this interview with a very strong message and I am honored to oblige.
If any of you are dealing with grief, please do not hesitate and reach out to Markus at Markus Misery on Facebook - his page is open to anyone. He will respond to anyone, and more importantly - he knows grief therapy, people and information that helped him and will help you!
All of us will deal with grief. As Markus adamantly says, “If you feel like are having the worst day ever - you are! Nobody can tell you otherwise. It is your grief and grief comes in many forms! It will never leave you, and others will never know your pain.”
However, Markus also wants you to know, “I see you! I hear you! And, I will hold you in my heart and will shield you!”
Now tell me, is that not the most beautiful diamond you have ever seen?
This next interview I have for you is exactly what I mean, and it took me on a most unexpected journey! A chance meeting in an elevator let me connect with this most fascinating man!
While his exterior intrigued me, never did I dream how beautiful and bright that diamond of his that was hidden, would be so brilliant! Nor how many facets it would have!
Let’s start off with your name, Markus Misery. Since I know you, for many reasons, when I ask you about your name for some reason, I think of Shakespeare: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Meaning, names of things do not affect what they really are while it may have started as such. I think yours may have evolved into something more.
Do you mind telling us how your name came to be?
Markus: We must take a trip back in time, to the late 1900s. My musical collaborative partner, Devlin Bane, coined the name. He does my tattoos, and we have been brothers since about 1989. In the mid-90s, I was at a particularly low point in my life (little did I know how much worse it could get) and he just came up with it. It fit. And it stuck.
You are correct though it has evolved, indeed. Elvis had a song called “Trouble.” “My middle name is Misery. Well, I’m evil. So, don’t you mess around with me.”
It gives me strength. Side note, the great New Jersey legend, Glen Danzig, also said, “I am Misery. I always win.” It took me a long time to learn that. But you bet I do. I always win!
Tammy: Now that we know the background of your name, let’s talk about your image.
The look that you have, can you explain it to us?
Markus: I am Markus Misery… ALL THE TIME. I have “levels” of it, so to speak, that range from a sort of “Misery Lite,” to full on-stage gear. I have spent my entire life soul searching, with little to no support. I no longer hide who I am, or make any apologies for it.
Heavy Metal rules, and it will ALWAYS be 1986 to me. It took me fifty years to truly and fully hold nothing back… to make NO apologies for who I am. Now, Midgard must deal with it. I care not what they think. Horns up.
Tammy: Love that about you, that you are comfortable in your own skin!
Ok let’s talk about your music. Honestly, it’s the real reason I wanted to do the interview, but quickly found out it was only one of the many facets you have. What type of music is it and what instrument do you play?
Markus: I will sum it up as briefly as I can. My band is called Altar. I play bass and “sing” lead vocals. Devlin does some lead vocals, too. Honestly, it is his brainchild. I have been his king’s hand for these 30+ years, when it comes to musical creation. We have done many great things together. Of this, I am the proudest.
For those who know, Altar will appeal to fans of the likes of Venom, Celtic Frost, Sodom, Destruction, and other bands of that era. I scream my head off like a demon. And, I LOVE it!
Tammy: I’ll have to admit that you do! I’m curious, what was the youngest memory you had of hearing something similar to your music? As you got older, what bands did you follow?
Markus: Rock and Roll have been present in my life for as long as I can remember. I love what many would consider “oldies”. I love the Beatles, the Dave Clarke Five… and, oh my heart… The Mammas and the Pappas. Enter the 1970s… a band emerged called Kiss. Ever hear of them?
The “heavy” stuff started there. Later on (80s), someone randomly lent me a cassette, basically saying “check this out.” It was “British Steel,” by Judas Priest. That did it. It was over. Metal forever. As far as what we may sound like, what I currently do is thrash metal. That became my greatest love.
Tammy: I have to admit I knew the ones you started talking about but had never heard of thrash metal.
You already have music released. What is the name of that band and album? You also have a new band. What is the name of it and do you have an album coming out for them?
Markus: I have a band called Grim Legion, which I love. Devlin and I are the core members. He founded it in the 80s. We have a record contract. A new album is coming out any day now. But, every member of that band has reached great success outside of Grim Legion. So, their time is limited for it. That’s part of why we created Altar, which is the thing I am most proud of… ever. And, we did just finish recording. That record should be out soon, as well.
Tammy: It definitely is one of your passions. But I’m finding you have many! You actually greeted me at the door singing pirate shanties! (I kid you not and he was good at them!)
Then the dinner you prepared for me was not something I am used to. What are your eating preferences and why?
Markus: Simply put, I am vegan. I have been for about ten years. I do it because of my love for animals. All sentient life deserves simply to live. I despise cruelty in any form. Contrary to some beliefs, vegans don’t just eat salad. In fact, I almost never eat salad.
Tammy: Although not a vegan myself, I will admit the dish you prepared for me tonight was delish!
As we sit here eating this amazing dinner and drinking our wine, I notice quite a few wrestling belts on the wall. What are they all about?
Markus: I’m a huge wrestling fan. I want to look at those things and reflect. As a youngling, being a famous wrestler was one of things I dreamt of. I even gave it a go. I didn’t do that until my late 40s. Who knows how it would have gone if I had tried when I was young?
I did get into the business, thanks to my dear friends at Locked Target Wrestling. I was mostly a referee. I did train enough to cross something off of my bucket list. I participated in a battle royale in full Markus Misery mode. There is a video of it available. I didn’t win. But I outlasted some solid pros, and even delivered a devastating Stunner to one of them. I am a god.
Tammy: Awesome, love it! I think our readers may be quite surprised at what you do for your work career. Would you mind telling us what you do from 9 to 5 per se?
Markus: I am filled with joy that you asked this. I have been an adult education professional for about 20 years. I teach people how conversationally to communicate. Frankly, anything else we may be discussing is secondary.
It’s not just because my professional life pays my mortgage. I will sum it up as such. My students are quite literally the absolute number one reason I wake up in the morning. They are the single greatest motivation in my life. I shape them. I absolutely LOVE them. I ADORE them.
They inspire me in every moment of my existence. For full transparency, every time I explain this, it brings me to tears. Words cannot express what they mean to me. Shaping them is my purpose. Tammy... I love them so much. There are not even words for it. I would be nothing without them.
Tammy: I had no idea, yet another passion of yours. Not going to lie, not at all what I expected! But this is where we see the many facets of your diamond I was talking about. When you first told me of the people you teach, it was interesting to what you call them and how important they are to you.
Would you mind explaining it to our readers?
Markus: I call them my tribe. And I do that quite deliberately. I take that word VERY seriously. I am of Ojibwe descent. My entire chest tattoo is a tribute to that.
My great grandmother, I never met her, but I have seen pictures of her and to explain it to a layperson, she looked like Pocahontas. That is who I am. I am an Ojibwe brave. I have no greater love in this world than I have for my tribe.
Tammy: What a beautiful sentiment for them to be part of! This next subject is going to jump into a dark part of your life. One I was very surprised you wanted to talk about.
Revealing only what you feel comfortable with, would you mind describing the worst day of your life and what happened?
Markus: The following is the full story of a day I wish I could forget. This is my baggage that I carry. I am aware of how unappealing it will make me to many. But people need to know that they are not alone.
I am making this public… for the first time. My hope is that someone will draw strength from it. I have scars. I have tasted death’s sweet kiss. She will not seduce me again. This took place in April 2020.
Backstory: prior to this, I quite literally considered myself the happiest person on earth. I was in a marriage that most people can only fantasize about. We were together for about ten years, when things started to turn sour. Not in any sinister way. It was simply an awful happenstance of life. We grew apart.
Leading up to the aforementioned worst day of my life, I had moved out of my once happy home. It felt like I had literally been to Valhalla, then exiled from it. This home where you now sit, my dear friend, was my exile… my personal purgatory.
It was empty. Everything you look around and see was not here. All that existed was a futon and a television. This place was hell for me. I wanted no part of it. I wanted to go home. So, I kept it empty.
As time went on, I began to realize the harsh reality that going home was never going to be. I shopped for and ordered a bed. One afternoon in April 2020, it arrived. This may seem insignificant. But I took one look at it and realized that this situation was indeed going to be permanent. That realization shattered my soul into a billion shards of heartache. I could not cope with it.
BUT I still had my students to teach, my tribe. It was a remote class. I was logging in from home. Time to put the game face on for them. What happened next sent me to the darkest place I have ever had the displeasure of dwelling. Before I could log on with my beloved tribe, I got a phone call.
The company where I had spent seven years dedicating my life had decided to lay off 1000 people in one day, and blame Covid for it. This phone call came within 30 minutes of the mattress arriving. Put those two things together in such a short time frame… my psyche could no longer manage it.
I chugged a bottle of wine. I texted my “wife,” saying goodbye. I took this guitar cable that I am holding in this very hand and went to the garage. I flung it over the rafter, climbed a step ladder, wrapped it around my neck, and kicked the ladder out of the way. I was ready to go. I had had enough.
My Valkyrie must have decided that it was not my time. A few moments later, the garage door opened. My “wife” and the police were there. They help me up while loosening the cable. I spent the next 4 days in the hospital.
Tammy: I’m sure most, like me, will be surprised you were willing to share such a raw and emotional event. And yet you not only bared your soul, you went on to tell me about grief therapy.
Would you mind telling our readers what our society has wrong about grief therapy? Who were the people who helped you with your grief? What are some of the books you read and some of the groups you would recommend?
Markus: My own experiences have led to crave a greater understanding for the meaning of grief of loss. I have indeed learned that we do it wrong. With the best of intentions, usually from a place of love, people say and do things that at best don’t help… and often cause harm.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross wrote on the stages of grief in 1969. However, grief is not linear. A devastating loss forever changes us. We can never be the person we once were. Saying something like “At least they are in a better place now” is beyond insulting. Better than here with me, huh?
There is only one appropriate course of action to support someone who is grieving. BE THERE FOR THEM. Show up. Shut up. Listen. Simply hold their hands, be it literally or figuratively. Hold space with them. Don’t offer any advice. Acknowledgement is everything. Let them know they are seen. Injecting your own experience, while well intentioned, changes it to being about you, rather than the griever.
I encourage people to study the work of my greatest teacher, LISA KEEFAUVER, MSW - Grief and Empathy Activist. You can find her at lisakeefauver.com. She has a podcast called “Grief is a Sneaky Bitch.” It is a tremendous resource. I have learned so much from her. I have had the pleasure of speaking to her one on one, and it is life altering!
Right up there with Lisa is Megan Devine, who I have not had the pleasure of speaking to. I feel that everyone should read her book “It’s OK that You’re Not OK.”
Tammy: Once I realized the depth of this interview, I realized how many you could help. During this interview, you did something unexpected! You took this necklace off you were wearing and gave it to me!
If you don’t mind, would you explain the significance of the necklace? And what your beliefs are and what happened to cause you to have those beliefs?
Markus: That’s Mjölnir. It’s Thor’s Hammer. Thor is the God of Thunder and protected of Midgard… Earth, as we mortals call it. I wear it for protection. And that is why I gave it to you. Thor will protect you, now.
I’m Norse Pagan. I believe in what most people may call the “Old Gods.” Odin is the Allfather… emphasis on ALL. Everyone is welcome. EVERYONE. Yet, nobody is out recruiting about it. It is forever a learning experience.
How/why do I believe this? Frankly, I was an atheist for about 30 years. Everything I just told you, I would have called bullshit for that entire time. I can only say that I heard the call of the gods. I have felt them. I have heard them. I have even seen them.
From that fateful day, I am still here. I have since met my Valkyrie. I know she was there that day. I am positive of that. She and my Oracle have told me it is not my time. I have work to do. I am glad they made me stay.
I fight against this difficult life, so I can make my way to Valhalla, when my time DOES come. I fight not only for myself, anymore. I have a new tribe to nurture… my babies. I must stay here for them as long as I can.
I am here to fight for anyone who needs me by their side, or better yet, to stand in front of them. I no longer want to “go home.” Life evolves. I use my energy elsewhere. If anyone harms someone, I hold dear, they need only ponder that I am now asking myself one simple question. “How tightly shall I close my fist?” Blood on the Altar.
Loki, the trickster, is one that I have a love/hate relationship with. I have won this round, though. He can’t trick me anymore. He did for ages. Good one, Loki. I acknowledge your power over me. Or, should I say, former power. Loki is a god. He is welcome in my hall any time. I just have to keep a sharp eye on him.
Tammy: Although I may not understand it, I do admire your conviction and passion for it. As for your gift, I will treasure it always!
Markus, I have to admit. I knew this would be a tough interview to write, for I know I barely scratched the surface of who you are but more importantly, what you are to so many!
How appropriate we used the picture of you in front of John Lennon’s Imagine “…imagine all the people living life in peace.” And although words to that song may be hard to believe at times, for all of us, I just wanted you to know how proud of you I am!
I’ve read beautiful messages from your “tribes” at work on what a wonderful teacher you are!
I know first-hand how amazingly talented you are with your music. Whether it be playing the guitar and singing on the boulevard “Halloween” to my good friend Tony Moran, or all of your admirers of your albums released, to the fun boisterous pirate shanties you love!
But what I am so thankful for, not only for your service to this country, but for you continuing to be a warrior! Fighting a fight, a mental one, that seems to be harder than any physical fight!
A fight that took its toll on you, only for you to rise up like the warrior you are, and not only reveal your scars to others, but are constantly there to let them know you “see” them!
You told me you wanted me to end this interview with a very strong message and I am honored to oblige.
If any of you are dealing with grief, please do not hesitate and reach out to Markus at Markus Misery on Facebook - his page is open to anyone. He will respond to anyone, and more importantly - he knows grief therapy, people and information that helped him and will help you!
All of us will deal with grief. As Markus adamantly says, “If you feel like are having the worst day ever - you are! Nobody can tell you otherwise. It is your grief and grief comes in many forms! It will never leave you, and others will never know your pain.”
However, Markus also wants you to know, “I see you! I hear you! And, I will hold you in my heart and will shield you!”
Now tell me, is that not the most beautiful diamond you have ever seen?
