The Muse and Whirled Retort July 2026

Hey everybody.I guess it is that time again. Time for your

M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.

It has been 5 months since my accident.I wrote this Intro on the summer solstice.

Today is the longest day of the year.

It’s a big deal to me, and it makes today particularly tricky.

For me, the start of the summer solstice has always marked the beginning of touring season. I would normally be on the road, and every year since the pandemic, I’ve found myself in the desert on this day, wondering why I chose the longest day to cross it.

This is the first year since 1988 that I’m looking at a Summer with genuine questions—and concerns—in my mind. Ironically, it was on this date in 1988 that I started my journey as a road rat. Yes, today is my… well… creative anniversary.

I want you to know I have been working very hard to get back to where I am right now!

Yes, there have been significant setbacks. But every setback has done nothing but teach me to fight harder to get to where I want to be.

I f**king want to be Chris Chandler again!!!

And I am going to be!

Since fracturing my skull, I don’t care how many automatic doors slap me in the face and send me to the emergency room again.

I have a road map, a number two pencil, and a yellow legal pad. Bring it on! I will kick your ass!

******

But first, if you would like to support me for this Newsletter, here’s a few few ways you can do it.

Ways to support:

GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chandler-heal-from-traumatic-brain-injury

Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/thechrischandlershow

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/baldchandler

To be a continuing supporter
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheChrisChandlershow

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/baldchandler

Enough of the crass commercial announcements! It is time for your

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M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.

July 1, 2026

Austin, TX

I offer this brief anecdote about an experience that I had yesterday as a symbol of hope, which is what is important.

I was in the back of my Uber, (yes, I can no longer drive - and I was a road rat) which I take an hour each way daily to the Center For Neuro Skills.

As we turned onto the road that leads to the medical center, I looked out the window and recognized where I was.

It is a town known as Bee Cave. It is a beautiful area - kind of the Piedmont of the hill country if such a thing exists. Striped layers of rock and limestone line the highway.

It was there, that I saw a vintage mid-century neon sign ironically of a pig advertising barbecue. I am not sure how the pig feels about advertising barbecue, but I digress.

I remembered the sign.How could I not?

Even though I had passed it on my way to the medical center that is seeing me eight hours a day, I had not remembered it until today.

And then almost immediately — suddenly — as if in a flash — I remembered that about a quarter mile up the road there is the entranceway to a hotel and resort.

I remembered that place – no, no, no, not because I’ve ever stayed there – I remembered it because I had worked at that resort as a stage-hand about 50 times since I moved to Austin just a few years ago. I had not even noticed it before, though I had passed it countless times in the past couple of weeks.

It was profound for me.

It was the first time since my accident that I genuinely felt like I knew where I was.

An uncomfortable number of times in the past few weeks I have sat in the back of the Uber in a complete fog, unsure of where I was going, where I was or what was happening to me.What the hell is the Center For Neuro Skills anyway?

Whilst there last week, I ran into a set of automatic doors and it sent me back to the emergency room. I was in the hospital for 48 hours. I was confused. They had to fish my drivers license out of my pocket in the emergency room because I did not know my name.

However, in THAT moment – remembering that neon sign – I felt present. I was alone BUT I f**king knew where I was!

I felt hope.

As I sit on my porch this morning and I try to scribble another pointed poem about sunrise, and drink my coffee, I prepare for another day at the Center For Neuro Skills.

For the first time since my accident, I felt like I knew the way.

And that is when I realized that my poetry has shifted.

Recently I have found myself writing about light.This morning I am writing about SEEING the light.Then I stopped, and I started writing out this very anecdote because I don’t want to write about seeing the light.

I want to write about FINDING the light.

It was the light of a vintage mid-century neon sign, advertising barbecue, that made me realize I could write about finding the light without even ever mentioning the word “light.”

Yes, I am of a certain age and I grew up on the Bugs Bunny and Road-runner cartoons. I identified with them, but maybe not for the reasons you might think. I never wanted to catch me no Road-runner. I wanted to BE a Road-runner.

And I grew up to be one.

Yes, I ran the roads for years with a woman named

Anne Feeney

I remember being with her

in a bar in Pittsburgh.

There was a big screen television over the bar,

and on the news they were showing a picture of a bus

that had fallen into a sinkhole.

It was an astounding picture.

An entire city bus sitting at a 45° angle.

Nose up,

inside of a giant hole.

We looked at each other astounded.

We finished our drinks

and got up to leave,

looked out the bar window

— and I am not making this up!

That bus was right outside the bar we were in!

I am not making this up!

But as we all know,

storytelling is the art of telling truth with lies.

There was one guy

still stuck down in the hole.

He was shouting out for help.

A doctor walked by and he yelled

“Hey Doc I’m stuck down in this hole can you help?”

The doctor pulled out his pad

and wrote up a prescription

for Prozac,

threw it down in the hole

and walked on down the road.

Then this priest walked by,

and he yelled

“Hey Padre, I’m stuck down in this hole can you help?”

The priest wrote out a prayer for salvation, redemption and deliverance,

tossed it down into the hole

and walked towards Providence.

Then, his friend walked by, and the guy yelled out

“Hey Joe, I’m stuck down in this hole can you help me?”

But Joe just jumped down in the hole with him!

The guy said,

“What did you do that for?

Now there’s two of us down here.“

Joe says,

“Yeah I know, but I’ve been down here before,

and I know the way out.”

Thats when I saw the light!

********************

If you would like to support me for this Newsletter, here’s a few few ways you can do it.

Ways to support:

GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chandler-heal-from-traumatic-brain-injury

Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/thechrischandlershow

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/baldchandler

To be a continuing supporter
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheChrisChandlershow

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/baldchandler

A.N.O.U.N.C.E.M.E.N.T.S.

Paul and I are actually going to be doing a mini tour this summer.

It is going to be a challenge for sure, but here is what we are looking at.

H.E.R.E.’.S. .D.A. .D.A.T.E.S.

Friday, July 10th, 2026 1:40 pm
Oregon Country Faire - Venita , OR
Blue Moon Stage

Saturday, July 11th, 2026 4:20 pm
Oregon Country Faire
Blue Moon Stage

Sunday, July 12th, 2026 9:00 pm
Oregon Country Faire
Library Show

Thursday, July 16th, 2026 3:30 pm
(Doors at 3 o'clock show at 3:30)
The UU Church
25th Annual appearance.
87738 US-101 - Florence , OR 97439

Friday, July 17th, 2026 8:00 pm
The Axe and Fiddle
657 E Main St. Cottage Grove , OR 97424

Saturday, July 18th, 2026 8:00 pm
Hybrid Cafe
941 W 3rd Ave Eugene , OR

Sunday, July 19th, 2026 8:00 pm
Woody Fest - Salem , OR
DM Me for the address
Also on the bill are Reggie Garrett and Christine Gunn and also Joanne Rand.
Please RSVP for the potluck or to reserve a spot for tent or vehicle camping. For more info: woodyj@mac.com or 503-979-1837

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
AND

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Breitenbush Hot Springs
Breitenbush Road SE. Breitenbush , OR

Friday, July 24th, 2026 7:30 pm
Floyds Coffee and Wine Bar
1996 S. East Ladd Ave Portland , OR 97214

Saturday, July 25th, 2026 6:30 pm
House Concert in Portland, OR
Home of Dean and Abby Boudouris
DM me for the address. Or email dean@technw.net

Sunday, July 26th, 2026 6:30 pm
House - Yard Concert
Calliope Farms - Portland Area , OR
DM Me for Deets

Thursday, July 30th, 2026 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Egan’s Ballard Jam House
With Special Guests Reggie Garret and Christine Gunn
1707 NW Market Street - Seattle , WA 98107

Friday, July 31st, 2026 7:30 pm
Traditions
300 5th Avenue SW - Olympia , WA 98501

Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 7:30 pm
House Concert in Bellingham
Presented by Caryn Simmons - Bellingham , WA
DM me for the address.
Mid Afternoon TIME TBD - TBA