Music sings of the evils of smoking

Illness cut short her pleasures but she’s found a cause as a health crusader, By Laurie Gordon Vernon — Barbara “Bunny” Music has lived some life. She hitched from New York City to Woodstock in 1969 and got a ride back to Greenwich Village in a limo with a rock star. Later, when desktop publishing came along and put her occupation as a typesetter out to pasture, she spent time living on the streets of New York. But then thanks to a friend in the real estate business, she worked her way up to being an agent on the Upper West Side. “I’ve done a lot and I’ve seen a lot,” said the 65-year-old, but I can’t go anywhere without Oscar.” Music has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and “Oscar” is what she named her oxygen tank. After smoking for 44 years, she contracted COPD, a lung condition that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. She started smoking at a young age because “everyone did it back then.” From bad to better While her career tanked and then restarted, she went from living on the streets with her dog to bunking on the office couch to eventually a fifth-floor walk-up apartment on 145th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Then, seven years ago, Music was on the subway and started seeing spots. “They weren’t the little spots, they were the big ones,” she recalled. Her ears started ringing and the world began spinning, she said. Yet somehow she made it to work where she promptly lay down and was taken to the hospital. This happened twice, and each time she was sent home with breathing aids. The third time, she landed in the hospital for an extensive stay. That’s when she was diagnosed with COPD and was told she had to quit smoking. Breathing was very hard, and Music had to move down to a second-floor apartment. But all too soon, Music found herself unable to work because the disease had ravaged her lungs. Ultimately, she found her way to Sussex County, where the air was purer. On a mission Now, Music’s illness is her cause. She’s an ambassador for COPD awareness, and has traveled to Washington, D.C., for conferences several times. She speaks to Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous groups about what smoking does to the lungs. She also volunteers to speak in schools about smoking and what it did to her. “I was a very active, energetic and thin person all of my life. I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain a pound. I loved to swim and to dance and smoking took all that away from me,” she said. Music says she’s gained 60 pounds, is reliant on her oxygen tank and she misses Manhattan a lot. But this pathological optimist keeps on chugging along. The illness has made her much more religious, she says. Today, she’s extremely active with the Vernon Senior Center, loves her computer, has bowled a perfect score of 300 on Wi Bowling and ...she’s even on Facebook. Bunny Music is eager to speak out against smoking and can be reached at 973-827-7117 to arrange talks.