(In honour of one of our church members who was a remarkable man. He was a quadriplegic who died suddenly today. I am truly saddened for not taking the time to know him better.)
Have you ever listened to a piece of music that was so perfect that it gave you chills every time you heard it? The song “Bring Him Home” by The Piano Guys is one of those pieces of music. (Link below.) I could listen to it a thousand times over and never fail to hear the yearning and passion in every note.
Did you also know that this kind of music has the power to change even the most stressful moments into an atmosphere of peace? Let me share an example.
The other day, I was taking the bus to run an errand. As I got on, there was a mother and her teenage daughter just in front of me. One of the passes didn’t work and an argument started up between the driver and the mother. I could hear them talking loudly, tempers rising, as I climbed up the…
A big thank you to another one of Christine Ray’s fine works, as a particular memory was triggered today.
~*~
Over twenty years ago, my husband and I were on our honeymoon.
I know. I have already shocked you in that first line. Or maybe I mean, me. I’m shocked.
Not just that we have been married for over twenty years. But because it wasn’t too long ago that life existed without GPS. And cell phones!
We did a camping road trip. Through the SW of Colorado and into Arizona and Utah. And probably New Mexico.
With dodgy maps. And a simple desire to just keep driving and camp when we were tired.
The amount of natural beauty we encountered was rather overwhelming for this young whipper snapper from Australia, and I would have been happy to camp anywhere, just to hug the earth. Or whatever… (Note to self, find out what the heck “whipper snapper” means. Good Lord, I’ve used it for years so recklessly…)
One night, we found ourselves in Kanab, Utah. We decided to stay in a hotel and found a place that evidently was a resort to the stars. You know, in the 50s. When they were there to film westerns. Everyone’s favourite genre. Well, at least in ‘the Lego Movie’.
What an incredible coincidence that I had bought a swim suit that looked like it was from the 50s…
We decided to swim in the pool.
Best decision we could have made.
Because a storm came up.
Out of the blue of Utah skies.
A thunderous lightning hurled rage of patio furnitureslow motioned right in front of us in the deepening darkness. My husband gently suggested we leave the pool…
(Kids, it’s past your bed time. I’ll give you a moment. Don’t forget to put the cat out. Or whatever you do with your cat.)
That’s right. I didn’t leave the pool.
(Something kids should not try at home, apparently. It was something I never considered before, as I often liked swimming in the ocean in the dark and in storms, and rain and whatnot. I guess you could say we were raised by people with differing parenting styles…).
But I convinced my husband we were safer in the pool, and if debris flew our way, we could dive into the “safety” of the water. I think that is the moment he realised he had, in fact, married a genius.
(This was the cassette I played the most on that trip if I remember rightly. I loved the title song. It is based on a Maori legend, I believe. Once again, please don’t correct me if I am wrong. I like thinking that).
I was going to write a poem for this, but it slays me, and the words didn’t come. I think it stands so much on its own. Maybe another time. Plus, Heath is one heck of a nice guy. But you can hear that.
And gosh, if you want a little more killing me softly, have a listen to this…my favourite of his I think.
the way toddlers dance to the notes in between the way DNA composes the seams notes of divine harmony and unexplained dreams the reticent wavelengths shudder unseen at unanticipated syncopation
There is something exciting About leaving everything behind There is something deep and pulling Leaving everything behind Something about having everything You think you’ll ever need Sitting in the seat next to you
And i watch another white dash Another white dash Another white dash Fly beside us And I watch another white dash Another white dash Another white dash Fly beneath us Away away
There is Yelling of an engine a constant rattling door There is serious deep and mumbled A conversation I’m not in Flickering lights shadows of trees Makes me blink my eyes Makes the land appear like a really old movie And I watch…
And i watch another white dash Another white dash Another white dash Fly beside us And I watch another white dash Another white dash Another white dash Fly beneath us Away away I got a heart full of rubber bands that keep getting caught on things
And I count another white dash Another white dash Another white dash I drift off at eighty…something And I count another white dash Another white dash Another white dash Out of time with the music
Something exciting about leaving everything behind There is something deep and pulling Leaving everything behind Something about having everything You think you’ll ever need Sitting in the seat next to you
Charley’s post over at Crazy Life reminded just how much I love listening to the deep tones of the cello. So I hunted down a few video clips to share with you.
Did you know that the cello’s four strings are tuned in perfect fifths? That’s pretty important in the world of music. Here’s why –
“The perfect fifth is the most important interval in tonal harmony… and it is used for tuning string instruments. It is a constituent interval for the fundamental chords of tonal harmony.” Wikipedia
I even found a Finnish cello metal band called Apocalyptica ! The band is composed of classically trained cellists, graduates of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and a drummer.
The cello’s low pitch is only beaten by that of the double bass. And here it is for comparison.
This is a reworking of a poem I wrote a couple of months ago, after visiting an old friend in Arizona. These gorgeous trees surrounded our camp site. A night by a campfire, sharing sorrows and burdens with an old friend, is one of the best things in life imho. Thanks to Charles, the reluctant poetfor inviting me to join ‘the back side of the night’ theme started by The sailor poet. I really appreciate their encouragement, as well as that by Davy at Davy D blog. Thanks Guys!
~*~
How those maudlin woods enticed us
adorned so enchantingly with unprecipitation
and the black of trees’ core,
begging interpretation from the sympatheticly dressed.
For dear Melissa, my friend from high school, the times we fell asleep to this gorgeous song. (I was so tempted, Mel, to write, “manooved” in the poem 🙂 )
And to those who struggle with serious addiction. My heart is filled with empathy ❤
Thanks to this post by sailor poet, (thanks Emily, oh the serpentine loveliness of social media) I remembered how much I loved this album waaaay back. A lot of star gazing to this remarkable song. I really do adore the haunting quality of this album:
