February 27, 2009

Sometimes life is just not fair

From Connie Minowa of Cloud Cult:

Greetings! Thanks for stopping by.

I’ve been thinking and thinking about what to say in this little “about
me” section. I have the hardest time talking about myself and an even
harder time summing it up in a short profile. But without further ado,
here goes.

Born in a small town in Southern Minnesota, our family of 6 lived in a
sleepy part of town. I remember my mother was always busy making quilts
in her spare time and my father enjoyed working with wood. Growing up
as the youngest and a girl, life with 3 older brothers was challenging
to say the least. I often had to amuse myself. As a young child I
enjoyed painting rainbows and singing and dancing. My best friend was a
78 year old woman who lived down the street from me.

At 16, I began taking college courses focused on the Arts and
Humanities. I received a bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the
Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a double major in painting
and drawing. It was during this time that Craig and I met. We fell in
love and enjoyed spending much of our time together.

Craig and I were married in 1998 and moved to Duluth, Minnesota where we
made our home. Soon we were blessed with an amazing child whom we named
Kaidin. We laughed and played endlessly and made our little family the
center of our world. Unexpected and unexplainably Kaidin passed away in
2002.

We struggled tremendously during those first weeks and months at the
sudden lost of our sweet little boy. Overcome with pain and loss Craig
and I each searched in our own way to find meaning in the tragedy.
Craig lived in the farmhouse we had recently purchased and began writing
music that would one day become the foundation for Cloud Cult. I spent
time alone in the forest along the North Shore of Lake Superior. This
was a very intense and dark time in our lives.

Seeking relief and the support of each other, we reunited and found some
solace with the guidance of a grief counselor. This was an invaluable
experience. We learned much about ourselves during this time and that
we could, with time and each other, learn to cope with our loss.
Although there are bumps in the road at times, we try and live life as
we would have if Kaidin were still here to share it with us. We have
both learned what is really important and meaningful in life. In the
past few years, Craig and I have renewed our love and commitment to each
other and have found peace amidst the chaos.

Today I find my balance with painting and performing with Cloud Cult.
Additionally, I’m constantly pouring my heart into various issues
relating to children’s environmental health and organic farming. I
enjoy being an advocate and activist for these and other important
subjects. I continue my journey at becoming more and more
environmentally sustainable and create balance in my life, my family,
and the universe.

Cloud Cult is a uniquely beautiful entity created and shaped by my
husband Craig. Many of Cloud Cult’s songs are intensely personal to me.
They are literally our journey through grief and loss. I find sadness
and beauty in them and look forward to each new song and look forward to
each new day. Life is truly a gift!

Thank you to all of you who have given your love and support to Cloud
Cult. We are truly grateful to share this journey with you!

This is such a heartbreaking story.  But anyone who has listened or seen Cloud Cult knows this story is part of the reason this band exists.  Seeing them live is incredible.  They have 2 artists that are part of the band, one being Craig Minowa’s wife, and they auction off the paintings at the end of the show- I hope to own one someday, but they are not cheap.  And their touring is 100% renewable energy, how admirable is that?

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