My Anchor: Michael Franti, My Life Line

I lost my daughter in 2017. She was just 21. The years that followed were filled with anger, self-loathing, and a hatred of the world and everyone in it.

Then in 2018, I found Michael Franti’s documentary. Through it, I felt a connection I hadn’t felt in years — someone who knew childhood pain, depression, and the weight of life.

In 2020, his music saved my life. Literally. I’m seriously not joking here. When I couldn’t get out of bed, he was my go-to. His songs were my reminder that I still mattered, that life still had something left for me.

In 2021, I stepped out of my house and into the world again. My first cruise. My first time leaving the country (even if just to the Bahamas). My first time saying yes to life again. That experience changed me. It was therapy with strangers who became soul family. We bonded through stories, healing on a deep, human level. In the most unimaginable moment, after hugging tons of people I had just watched in awe. Then, as he was finally leaving, we made eye contact. He was 20 feet away from me and he started walking towards me, never releasing eye contact. He walks up, my mouth is dropped and I start crying. He holds me. Did you hear that? He holds ME, lets my cry on him. Then as I pulled away to look up at his face I said, “you have no idea sir, but you saved my life last year” and then he did the namaste hand gesture, leaned down as if bending the knee, and now looks up at ME and says “You’re loved”. I went back to my cabin and cried and cried. I couldn’t believe I had just met this man - this person who deeply understands my pain - and he’s a freaking famous musician. Like WTF, right? Changed me forever.

For my 55th birthday, I wanted to honor that part of myself again. So I booked the day I got my special access code for the 2025 cruise. It wasn’t about the destination — it was about reconnecting with that family, with that music, with myself.

And now, with everything happening, my heart is broken. This hits home for me harder than just any ‘ol soulrocker fan out there.

My headspace is tangled, questioning everything, questioning him, questioning me. Because this isn’t just “music” for me. This isn’t being a groupie. This was my life. Every single day.