Day 139
What a difference a day makes. The calendar is done. The trim in the living room is painted. The windows in the bathroom are scraped and clean. The couch cushions are clean – again. And the mercury in the thermometer didn’t get anywhere near 90.
Tonight I went to the first summer concert of the season in my new little hometown. It was the local orchestra … set up on the steps of the city building (which is colonial in nature and which made a grand stage and backdrop). The lights of the building backlit the instruments and musicians and it was absolutely lovely.
There were even fireflies!
I’m in my backyard now – candles lit around my tree and patio table, my well-worn Michael Bublé CD is on in the background, a soft breeze is tickling my neck. It is nearly perfect.
I am not a musical person but I appreciate it. I can’t sing. I can’t play an instrument (except for the steering wheel-drum … I’m GREAT at that!) and I can’t read music. That is my one fault. My ONE fault. The can’t read music part …
I can’t even say it’s like Russian to me – cuz I’m quasi decent at languages and who knows? Maybe I’d pick up Russian easily? I don’t know. It would be easier for me to talk to dogs (which I do anyway) than for me to read music. I am in AWE of anyone who can do it. It’ a complete mystery to me how someone can look at all those little symbols and make sense out of them and do something with an instrument and form music!
I sat on my blanket at the park tonight, surrounded by hundreds of people I didn’t know, and we were all watching this talented group of people create magic. I don’t know if many others were thinking what I was – but that was exactly what I was thinking … it was magic. Somehow they all deciphered the notes on their sheet music and played what they were supposed to with their respective instruments and it all blended together and it was sheer perfection. Plain and simple and no two ways about it.
I don’t know who or what they were playing but for an hour in the park downtown the cellos and flutes and bassoons and violins and drums were making magic. There were at times those goose bump moments when the music was so powerful that it nearly took my breath away.
And there I was … wishing I was not alone (not counting the several hundred other people) because it’s one of those nights meant for sharing and that I had brought more with me than half of my drink from earlier this afternoon. Next time I’ll bring dinner and a cushion and maybe Mobes.
The people next to me looked like they had been living on their spot for days. Reclining patio chairs and a couple of baskets of food and drink, wine, a small table, a Scrabble board, a candle and their Golden Retriever. I learned from the seasoned … next time I’ll be better prepared. And luckily I’ll get a chance to perfect this concert going thing as it’s every Friday night … all summer! Welcome to Mayberry.
I lasted about an hour until the back spasms told me it was time to get off the ground and go home but it was a lovely respite. For that hour there were no planes overhead, no gnawing deadlines looming, no paint waiting to be used, no yard needing tending, no boxes to be yet unpacked. I feel recharged and calmed at the same time. Funny what music can do for a body. I came home and ate a big salad (enough for 2 people easily) and though tremendously full from that … I am happier and better off from the food for the soul I received earlier tonight.