I was deeply saddened to learn of Mark Linkous’ suicide on March 6th. His band, Sparklehorse, was one of my favorites.  I had only discovered him about two years ago while browsing the CDs in the Beaverton Library. “Dreamt For Lightyears in the Belly of a Mountain” was not only filled with indie lullaby weirdness but had a fabulous album cover; a collage of a smiling baby with a giant crown surrounded by birds, bees, frogs, flowers, fruit, and stars. The artist had created a masterpiece along with the songwriter/performer. If I ever need to chill this is the music I listen to.

I created my own tribute here with a variation of the baby king-while altering a W magazine ad by ‘BULGARI” featuring the actress Julieanne Moore. The page was lacking a focal point so I constructed a baby king out of scraps from my stash and the following magazines: Eating Right, Travel & Leisure, and Vogue. Crown from freebie sheet downloaded from Flickr member ‘ArtsyFartsy Queen’, border pieces from freebie created by my Crowabout High Priestess pal, ‘Nancy Baumiller” (for valentines day?) and some various trims from my K&Co scrap pile. There is a little bit of handwritten text; rambling about my pain levels after undergoing a procedure called Radio Frequency. It is treatment for a disabling condition known as ‘cervical radiculopathy’. I was in so much pain this morning I called in ill to work (knowing that I would be unable to drive or do my job from the massive pain meds I’m on).

For info on Sparklehorse: http://www.sparklehorse.com/

I do not know why Mark Linkous chose to take his life but understand he was troubled and had a history of unbearable pain and sadness. This I can relate to. I just hope that he is now at peace in a magical calm dreamlike place that is like his music, the beautiful music that was his gift to us.