Before our Thanksgiving dinner this year, my niece asked me what I'm thankful for "that's not family or good health". My response - because I like to have fun with her - was "cheese".

At the time, I hadn't quite shared with everyone that a Music Producer at CBC had phoned me to let me know that my song "Long Way Down" was going to be the Song of the Week on "Here and Now" the following week, and that I'd be going into their Toronto studio for an on-air interview two days after our turkey dinner. Part of the reason I hadn't been so forthright with the information was that I was actually a tiny bit nervous about the interview. They wanted to talk about my new head. I mention my new head in passing and in jest often enough, and I'm certainly not denying it's there, but I never want it to define me, which is what I told the person from CBC.

The truth is, while it doesn't have to define me, I have to acknowledge it as part of my story, of how I got here...wherever "here" is. I'm incredibly thankful for this new head of mine, for the wonderful neurosurgical team at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga who gave it to me, for everything that's happened since I got it (including finding my way back to music and studio with the brilliant Beatchild), for the friends and family (SO much for the friends and family) who've helped me through getting it and now living with it, and even for the pain I've been feeling the slightest hint of on it recently, because that means I might finally be getting some feeling back in those nerve endings. I'm thankful for all of it...and I'm thankful for cheese.

PS - I had nothing to be nervous about with CBC. They were incredibly respectful, and made my time there really enjoyable. You can listen to my conversation with Gill Deacon on CBC's Here and Now, and "Long Way Down" is posted here as well. Thank you, and enjoy!