For the past month, I’ve been blogging about the healing odyssey of my friend–and fellow gamelaner–Oki, who was the random victim of a drive-by shooting in NYC last month. Today, Oki and his blog were profiled in this article in the NY Daily News, as his terrifying ordeal and inspiring message are starting to reach a wider audience.
When I told Oki that his recovery has been–and continues to be–an inspiration, I let him know that I meant it without any pressure or expectations attached. Having been hit by a bus myself (now that hurt), I know all too well the pressure one can feel with trauma to recover well, instead of just getting well. And yet, Oki really is up to the challenge of using his personal recovery to lobby for change–so that this tragedy doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Thankfully, Oki is back on his feet–and back to gamelan rehearsal. Our gamelan group, Gamelan Kusuma Laras, just wouldn’t be the same without him–and his cherished musical, artistic, cultural, and social contributions. For three decades, our gamelan ensemble has presented the classical music, dance, and shadow theater of Central Java at venues such as Lincoln Center, Asia Society and the Indonesian Consulate. But, as our website explains, Gamelan Kusuma Laras is “not only a musical ensemble, but a cultural ambassador, embracing performance as a powerful affirmation of shared values and humanity across cultural differences.” Oki’s recent tragedy–and recovery–has reminded us that no matter what happens, we can always count on the diverse and supportive gamelan community to help pull us through the even the toughest of times…
To read about Oki’s extraordinary recovery in the NY Daily News, please click here.
To make a donation to help Oki with this long recovery, please visit his fundraiser online–any small amount will make a big difference.
