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Press (cont.) The following article appeared in the Rochester, NY Democrat & Chronicle on January 4, 1999. (continuation of article follows here:) "I love a good laugh," says Nunes. "I believe in a certain passion for life, and I believe God has given us a great gift, to be here." Setting priorities They lived in the Rochester area for three years then moved to New York City. Nunes worked as a lawyer in the fast-paced, high-pressure realm of Wall Street, making good money, while Waller earned a doctorate in divinity at New York University. When their first daughter was born, Nunes realized his work schedule didn't allow him to spend much time with her, and the young family returned to Rochester in 1985. That's also when he created his first children's songs, written for his daughter. "You either wake up or you don't,” he says about parenting and working. "I realized that the challenge for us is to be complete people. I think it's real easy to dedicate yourself to just making money. But I think we're here to do more than that." Today he tries to be home on nights when 14-year-old Emily and 9-year-old Julia aren't swimming, dancing or involved in other activities. He spent several years with each of his daughters in the YMCA’s Indian Princesses clubs, where he organized camping weekends and other father-daughter outings. "He demanded spirit," says Dick Storms, owner of Record Archive, who was in the same "tribe" with Nunes, alias "Big Cloud." Nunes was the spark plug of their tribe, infecting others with his enthusiasm. Nunes helped plan events but refused invitations to leave his daughter’s side to lead songs at campfires. “I did not want to take those moments away from my laughter," he explains. "This is my time for Julia - or Emily." He and his wife also reserve Sunday mornings as family time, when they worship together at home. In pajamas, with bagels and wine, they sing, read the Bible and talk about its messages. Waller has taught at Colgate Rochester Divinity School and at Nazareth College but is currently taking a break to run their home-based Lighthouse Records, which they say is just breaking even. Making time Nunes doesn't watch much TV, see many movies or do much recreational reading. He does squeeze in about seven hours of sleep a night despite working 6o-hour weeks as a lawyer. He relies on "to do" lists, even on weekends, to keep track of his commitments. He never thought he'd find the time to write and record much music, until he took to heart tips learned at a time-management seminar. The lesson was to tackle big projects in pieces, and Nunes decided he could complete songs even if he had only two hours a week to devote to them. "It's like reading James Joyce's Ulysses one paragraph a day." He thrives on feeling productive, so it's hard for him to slow down. His wife says family vacations have to last longer than a week, "then we know Daddy will relax." Nunes says his weaknesses include being overemotional in the way he reacys to evenets in his life and being interested in so many things that he has a hard time focusing on just one. But his colleagues, friends and musical acquaintances say he truly cares about his family, his work, his music and his community and makes time for each. Nunes hopes to inspire others saying the brightest people shouldn't be consumed by their own career advancement, but instead get involved in health care, social issues or the arts. He believes that people hold back because they think they fear failure, but they actually fear success. Accomplishing great things sets a high mark to live up to, but it's the way he lives his life. "We are most afraid of our ability to do good.” he says, "to be great. |
Appearances: November 5-8, 2008 January 26, 2009 March 26-28, 2009 April 17-18, 2009 May 28-30, 2009
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