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Mike

@michaelrickerby

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I'm Chirish...
or Irenese...
something like that.
Stage Manager/Backline-Tech/Musician (sometimes)

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5 years ago my mom suddenly passed away.
I can still vividly remember everything from that night.
I was traveling for work when she had to go on life support.
I got on the first flight I could in hopes I’d have a chance to say, “goodbye.”
There are always “what-if” questions surrounding death and grief, and we can’t predict the timing of what I call, “the $h*t part of life.”

In 2014, I moved to Nashville, TN. Before hoping in the car to make my first drive to Nashville, I was sitting with my mom at the kitchen table. I was expressing how nervous yet excited I was to be making this move.

Six months later, I was sitting on my porch in Nashville struggling with depression. I came to Nashville to pursue my dream in music, but it seemed no doors were opening for me.
Did I make a mistake moving to Nashville?
Would it have been better if I stayed in Oklahoma?
Was I foolish for thinking I had a shot at making it?

So, I wrote this song…

“Everything I lost, is what I hoped to gain.
Everything I found, is what I gave away.
Cause everything I had, I swear it made my home,
but everything has now left me alone.”

[ LINK IN BIO ]

Pursuing your dreams isn’t easy. Moving away from the ones you love isn’t easy. It comes with ups and downs because that’s just how life goes. Eventually, an opportunity to work in the music industry came my way and it’s completely changed the last decade of my life.

I’m forever grateful to my loving mother who always believed in me, supported me, and prayed for me.

The last words she ever spoke to me were:
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

I love you.”

I love you too, Mom. by @michaelrickerby

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10 days ago

another birthday?
I must be getting older…
guess it is time to start acting like an adult. by @michaelrickerby

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a month ago

eat your food with joy,
and drink your wine with a happy heart. taken in Brooklyn, New York by @michaelrickerby

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4 months ago

I went on my first tour 11 years ago with @drewholcombmusic.
@instatimtation was my room mate back then, and he opened up an opportunity for me to begin work in the music industry (there’s a funny story behind how an opportunity opened up for me, but you’ll have to DM for the details lol).
On that first tour we came to @the_stone_pony.
Okay, that’s all. #nostalgia by @michaelrickerby

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4 months ago

hamburgers in hamburg, duh. taken in Hamburg, Germany by @michaelrickerby

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4 months ago

body by pizza. taken in Brooklyn, New York by @michaelrickerby

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5 months ago

happy, merry, and bright. taken in New York City by @michaelrickerby

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9 months ago

everyone is obsessed with tokyo, and i get it taken in Tokyo, Japan by @michaelrickerby

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10 months ago

FAV CITY STILL taken in London, United Kingdom by @michaelrickerby

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a year ago

I shared a birthday with my mom for 29 years,
and ever since she passed I haven’t looked forward to this day.
But this year I decided to treat myself.
Cheers to 33! taken in Athens, Greece by @michaelrickerby

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a year ago

different city
same things taken in Portland, Oregon by @michaelrickerby

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a year ago

can’t complain about a week in california. taken in California by @michaelrickerby

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a year ago