Music

We are a musical family. Not like the Von Trapp family or the Osmond Brothers, but we like to listen, play, or sing.

Our Sarah is our most famous musician. While some of us follow her musical career personally, others follow her via the Internet or from stories told. To see the tiniest member of our family hefting the largest instrument available in a marching band makes me both laugh and kvell at the same time! Beyond the musical part, I am sure her experiences taught her teamwork, dedication, self awareness, and motivation. The thought of her carrying the weight of a tuba in the extreme heat, and conversely, in extreme cold, leads to feelings of pride an admiration. It makes me wonder about what drives people to do what they do. When does the drive come from within, and when does it come from with out. I wonder about her sense of team spirit and the awesome feeling that must send chills through her as she feels a part of this huge group that is playing and marching as one. I wonder how it feels to have the beat of the music vibrate through your body from your feet to your ears. I wonder if the sense of fullfillment comes from the hard work involved, or from the notes that flow through your senses.

Music is wonderful. I have always felt that music can soothe the savage beast. When Alex and Michelle did their homework they always had music on in the background. I could never understand that. When I was growing up, we were encouraged to sit in a quiet room without any distractions. Now I understand how the music calms your mind and actually enables you to focus more on the matter at hand. Even now as I type this blog I am listening to music.

Music was an integral part of our childhood. Zaydie would usually have music playing when he sat in the living room. Quiet holidays, Sunday mornings, and snow days were the perfect opportunities for lazy, quiet rest. He liked to listen to swing, big band, and show tunes. At least that is what I most remember. He liked to listen to the band play and he would point out each individual instrument. "thats a saxophone", or "hear the trombones". He liked to pick out the subtle tones and draw your attention to them. When I started to play clarinet, and after I joined the band, I too became "in tuned" to the various instruments and their unique sounds. I marveled at how the sounds would become intertwined to form one complete work of art. Music then and now has always been so soothing. Bubie was musical too. She played the piano. My most favorite memories revolve around her playing the piano in the living room. It must have been in my prekindergarten years because I think my sister was at school. She would play and I would dance around the living room! Oh the freedom of childhood! Once a week we would go downtown for her piano lesson. We would stop at the Fanny Farmer candy store and she would get me a frosted french chocolate candy bar. I would sit on the big leather couch while she had her lesson, and I would suck on that chocolate bar and make it last until the end of her lesson. I remember the piano was a big black old one. Her teacher was a man with dark hair and he wore a suit. Something was plaid? His vest perhaps? My sister and I loved to sing. On the many car trips that we took, she and I would sit in the backseat serenading our parents with the classic childrens songs. "twinkle,twinkle little star", "the lollipop song", "Gilligan's island" theme song... Were we entertaining them, or was it their way of keeping us occupied?

Don't ya hate those restless nights. You know the ones when you wake up at 2:00am and you can't turn your brain off? You will yourself to sleep. You look at the clock and calculate if you fell asleep at that moment you could have 3 more hours. And you watch the digital numbers count down to 2 hours, then 1, then the alarm is buzzing and you know the day is gonna suck cuz you lost out on all that dream time. Well, I have discovered the lull of music. Listening to music will calm those beasts that interrupt my peaceful dreams. I listen to the words, and as the song says, I try to find the meaning out of each and every song. Waiting for the next song, waiting for the next message. As if some heavenly DJ is directing the course of the messages. No longer does my mind wander from problem to worrisome problem. Suddenly I am focusing on love and family, and hopes and dreams, and travels, and journeys. So what if they're some one else's? I usually fall back to sleep by the 3rd song.

So I have discovered the wonders of Pandora (thank you Alex). This is the most amazing piece of technology to hit my iPad. I type in a favorite artist or song and it plays random selections. I get to give a song a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Thumbs down will discontinue the playing of that song and banish it from my kingdom. Thumbs up will force the powers that be to find me another similar song to play next. At this moment, I have chosen Enya to accompany me in my writings. Pandora has sent me treats that I never knew existed. Songs that vary from classical piano to new age. Such treats for the soul.

When I chose a more upbeat selection a few days ago, I was enjoying the beat of Pink. "do you like pink", I asked my in-house IT guy."not really" was his response. So I waited and next Maroon 5 came on, followed by Train. And I chased Alex through the house joyfully announcing the next selection! "Alex, it knows what I like and it came up with a song especially for me!" "yes, mom, I know how it works". It's tuff teaching us old people the joys of technology.
Here, in my house of peace, finding my peace of mind.