Help Khonnor Replace Stolen Gear
Donation protected
Hi everybody, I'm Curt, friend and biggest fan of Connor (Khonnor) Long aka CCLNG aka Grandma aka I, Cactus. I'm asking for your help today because my dear friend had his luggage stolen at South Station in Boston. Unfortunately, the suitcase that was stolen contained his laptop, Ableton Push, headphones, two external hard drives, and other equipment. Everything he is currently making music with was in that bag. While those items will be a challenge to replace, the irreplaceable content are the files on the hard drives and the laptop, many of which were going to a new release. Hours and hours of painstakingly constructed and brilliant work are gone. Of course, he is absolutely determined to replace that music with even more, and I would expect nothing less from him.
Connor has had more than his fair share. The past three years of his life have been a steady recovery from an accident that nearly took his life. Three summers ago he was hit by a car while he was riding his bike home on evening. I had seen him just before he was struck. He stopped by on his bike which was adorned with lights. I even remember the light on his back pack flashing as I watched him ride away. He had gone home to take a shower and we had planned to hang out later that evening. When I didn't hear from him I got a sinking feeling. The following morning I was told that Connor had been airlifted to a hospital in Boston and that he was in critical condition, and it was uncertain if he would live.
Over the following months I watched him go through a hell that no one should experience, yet he did it so gracefully, savoring small pleasures (like listening to Cocteau Twins) immobilized in a hospital bed. His irreverence and sweetness remained completely intact through it all. I had never seen strength like that before. It was incredibly moving. The person who did this to him was never caught. I can only assume that they are living their life with little consequence. I do not, I cannot believe in karma. An incident like this shows how random and harsh life can be. Connor never ceases to amaze me. He can walk for miles even though he permanently lost full range of motion in his left ankle. He took his job back as a stone mason, instead of giving up and choosing something less challenging. His creative mind is even more dynamic now even though he must navigate through life with a severe traumatic brain injury. The challenges of living with a TBI is something most of us will never have to deal with. It is an injury that is, for the most part, invisible. It brings fatigue, confusion, and other symptoms that are unique to the individual. Connor has no entitlement, often refusing to admit that life is always more challenging on the day to day. However, as one of his closest friends I know just how difficult it can be for him. He hides it well, often with humor.
Connor was simply trying to travel to New York to visit friends and do a little creative collaboration. This was his first trip out solo since the accident. It breaks my heart that he has now been set back and that he has to start from scratch, just because some dishonest person randomly saw his bag sitting unattended for a moment. Replacing these items isn't a financially viable thing for him. His part-time work hasn't started for the season, and he lives on practically nothing. When I suggested we crowdsource to recoup the losses his dignity kicked in (as usual). I had to gently remind him that he and his music is loved and admired all over the world, and people would certainly rise to the occasion and help him out. So please, give what you can. The sooner we help him replace these items the sooner he can get back to making amazing music.
You can also support Connor by purchasing his music through Bandcamp: https://khonnor.bandcamp.com
Check out these Khonnor tidbits as well:
Thank you for taking the time to read, and thank you in advance for your kind and generous support! Sincerely, Curt Ribb
Organizer
Curt Ribb
Organizer
Harwich, MA