Landon Korabek One Love Jamfest May 10 BE THERE!

 

On May 10, 2014

the Annual

Landon Korabek OneLove JamFest will once again take place at in Palm Harbor FL. It will be held at The Thirsty Marlin; a favorite of many in the area; and the place will be filled with folks wearing this years' T-Shirts (order yours) and join us in spirit, in person!

I am honored to once again kick off this event "promptly" at 12:45 as we gather for Landon, for his beautiful parents Susan and Greg, his family, his friends that will surely be there, and the remarkable talents of musicians that are dedicating their talent and time to fill the place with One LOVE for Landon. We will be remembering a special kid once again who made it necessary for us to be there to educate, to raise awareness of narcotic overdoses that are claiming too many lives. Landon was not a "user" as we think of drug users... he was a 17 year old kid who was out with friends and someone (we still don't know who) gave him something to get high on, and he made the choice to take it.   Many folks who will gather include his grandparents, his aunts, uncles, his neighbors that also have kids that all grew up together; friends that are family "of choice" and folks who will just hear of a party going on, but will leave with a new knowledge and understanding before the night ends!

Landon Korabek; a good kid who made a bad choice with his pals, and never woke up from his bed.  4 years ago, Landon was out with friends. He came home, engaged in a conversation with his dad Greg in the family room. He showed no signs of being high, of slurred speech, of impairment. He was his usual self as they talked before retiring to his bed where he then began the texting that all kids do with the music playing. At some point in time after 3am, his heart stopped beating, and he was found dead by his parents the next morning with the cell phone in his hand.

LIFE was forever changed for the Korabeks' that morning...

His parents, grandparents, friends, brother and community miss him terribly. He has now had a walk through the hearts of folks he never knew as his legacy is this jamfest that is growing each year, as many are benefiting from the monies raised along with awareness and education.  We will say his "name" loud, often... and we will feel his spirit right there with us.

Susan, Greg, brother Kyle have walked the path of horrific grief/trauma/shock along with Landons' friends, and other family...yet they are finding ways to heal, to embrace the light differently now. They have chosen the Universal connection of music that Landon so loved to spread the word, to heal by, to restore hope and faith with through an annual Landon Korabek jamfest. The community is loving it; is supporting it as Ruth Eckerd Hall is behind it with scholarships for young folks to be able to spread their wings with their own love of music through the generosity of the Korabek's. They are also contributing a percentage of the monies raised to NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) where Susan speaks publicly telling Landon's story in schools to students and parents. Landon's legacy, his work from the "other side" is continuing.

through OneLove.

 This photo is of Susan and Greg Korabek presenting a check to Ruth Eckerd Hall after the event last year, and they were more than delighted!

The committee that works all year to collect donations for some off the hook raffles, silent auctions are dedicated, are family and friends, and hit the streets right after this event working on next year.  The musicians are happy to be there, many knew Landon since childhood, some mentored him on guitar, one was his teacher on guitar; all love him and play their hearts out! Here the Shenanigans are doing what they do best; getting the crowd excited "for Landon". The Horny Toads have played, along with Six Volt Rodeo and the crowd goes wild!

Photographs will be snapped, laughter will fill the room, Susan's sister will probably fly from the west coast to Palm Harbor and hugs will be everywhere you look. Arm and arm folks will stand, will reach out amid tears that often are mixed with smiles, memories and stories told. 

At some point it will become quite comical to see a "sea of white" with t-shirts as folks come in, as they stand, find a place to sit, and take to the dance floor.  Heaven only knows where their original shirts end up. The staff at The Thirsty Marlin will be ready for this event; they will run back and forth and be ready to provide the best of the best service with a smile on their faces while often buying raffle tickets or taking a chance on the silent auctions!  The action of the day lasts all day and into the evening; with music, with energy that abounds, and spirits of Landon and so many more find their way to those who need them most and those who like to show up ....

At some point, almost the end of the event, Landon's dad Greg will take that stage (far right with the beard);  he will take a guitar and everyone will crowd the dance floor to be a part of something they will hold until the next year as "ONE LOVE" is played, and all will sing. Arm in Arm  they will sing for Landon as Greg plays his heart out for his boy.  "Three Little Birds" will also bring everyone together, everyone will hear it, will sing to it, will think of Susan, Greg and Kyle together now as a family being watched over by Landon... and for that day on May 10th there will be more love in one room that many will know in a life time... All brought together as a result of Landon Korabek.
We would rather he be with us there, on that stage with his wicked talented guitar skills, his sarcastic humor, and grin.  It's a hell of a reason to gather, but the best reason given he is there in spirit.

 

Landon Korabek; we remember and you are loved.

"Gone too soon."

Landon died of a prescription drug overdose on May 7th. We are doing this just three days after the "angel"versary of his death this year.

Prescription drugs are killing people across our nation at a rate that would boggle your mind and scare you into action. Now we have to become hyper vigilant on synthetic drugs being sold at the local convenience stores as well.

Landon? He was a good kid, from a great family; a typical kid with a wit, with sarcasm and a great love of his family.

He was a "wicked guitar" player and loved music. Music was a way of life for him... his passion.

He attended Palm Harbor University High School; where I have heard for years from people that they do not have a drug problem there with their kids;

yet most of the teenagers I meet will tell me that you can get what you want in the parking lots or just about at each corner of their vast campus.

...

At the hospital where Landon was taken after being found, after his father tried and tried to bring him back to life;

the parents were placed in a little room to wait.

They waited.

And they waited.

By the time they were told; they were deeper in shock/trauma/out of their own minds wanting, needing to be with their son as efforts were being made or the reality already determined.

when they were finally informed and allowed entrance into that cold and seemingly uncaring room,

they viewed their son in the worst of ways, in the worst of views

after attempts to revive him had been made in a sterile and unwelcoming room.

They had not been prepared for what they were about to see, nor had Landon been prepared well for them to view.

Something is wrong in ER's across the nation as I've heard this story way to many times.

...

Hundreds attended Landons' memorial;

friends, community, parents, little children tagged along wondering what was happening.

Later they all once again gathered at the Korabek home;

still a time of trauma, shock; only added by people and more shock/trauma/tears

reactions to the missing of a large and bright future, along with the wonderings and the hows of it, the whys of it, the if onlys of it.

Community, Friends, Family,Caring, Connections, Music, Love, Hope

and

Light.

It takes work through paths that are dark and filled with pain and doubts that one will ever stand strong again... hearts that feel broken or shattered through trauma and loss that often will need to be held gently as the one who then finds their way and strength to carefully create their own stain glass within in order to shine and remember that

"hearts connected in life cannot be separated by death".

Let the music play on

and that is what Susan and Greg and Kyle Korabek are and have done.

They will continue to heal the pain and devastation of losing a son and brother.

They are honoring his  life and his love of Music; his talent on burning up a guitar since a young one with his gifts of music.

They are educating others

on the risks, the very real possibility that just one night with pals and lowered defenses by partying with prescriptions drugs can let you come home and have a full tilt conversation with your Dad;

go to bed in your room, text with friends...

Right up until the moment that your heart can't take it, and you just can't breathe another breath

and

you just die.

...

Lives forever changed as a result of kids and adults

just havin' a good time.

Kids who are not able to see past Friday night with their buddies,

and whose brains are not yet fully developed to make executive decisions that will alter their lives forever, and change the landscape of the gardens of everyone who knows them forever.

Leaving it then, up to each individual to tend the soil, to work the ground hard, or to let it just be covered in weeds and become overgrown with neglect and sorrow.

It is a choice to move beyond devastation and pain and loss and trauma ... It takes time, courage, and hard work.

Susan and Greg are both the living proof of that.

As they now prepare to put the final touches on this years jamfest

they also approach the anniversary of their child's death,

a time of remembering

why they are doing this day that is to be filled with great intention,

fantastic music, people, giveaways, food, auction items, raffles.

It is also a time of remembering

and tremendous pain.

Thinking that the very one who is being remembering on May 10,

should be there on that stage

raising money for others and for education

for

N.O.P.E and Ruth Eckerd

and attending college now.

Landon Korabek

"Landon, you are missed, and in everyone's thoughts as we approach that day when life stopped for those who loved you, yet they are finding their way back to the music. Thank you for letting them feel you from the other side with messages, I know you will be there to watch all from that stage, and even see your Dad as he takes the stage with a guitar! (give him some props and strength kiddo)

YOU my friends can help..

you can order a "OneLove t-shirt"

send a donation for the event

and

you can send some warrior love/prayers to Susan and Greg!

http://onelovejamfest.org/

...

So, if you are in Tampa/Clearwater/Tarpon Springs/Palm Harbor/Dunedin/Oldsmar/Safety Harbor/Ozona/

 or surrounding areas...

 hope to see you there,

as I kick off this event!

MAY 10, 1230-7pm

Music to get you on your feet, great eats, spirits, peeps you will want to meet. A Community feeling like no other. C'mon to The Thirsty Marlin and be a part of something that is greater than yourself...

I'll see you there !

 

DRSherry

Oh how Landon loved some Bob Marley and music, all music...

Susan and Greg have designed the shirts, the guitar of Landons has had a make over with Marley colors by an artist friend; the wrist bands say

OneLove

and Kamryn of course took mine after hearing about Landon.

Our arms are around you Korabeks'

and

I am honored to kick off this event,

and

hope you will all join me

Walk in Beauty,

DRSES

Prayers goin strong for all who have asked!