Day 168
I have a sick dog. Gertie has been visibly down in the dumps all day. I think I know her problem.
She can’t sing.
No, that’s not her problem. Her problem is that she helped herself to the Litterbox Buffet in the basement. I usually have a gate up so the dogs can’t access said snack tray … but I was busy in the basement and I forgot and well … sick dog.
But, if she were to be down in the dumps for another reason, it would be because (I’m sure of this) she can’t sing.
Last night the concert in the park was (supposed to be) Broadway musicals. I was looking forward, all day, to singing along with some well-known musical hits! Not WELL, mind you … as my singing is pitchy and off-key and not great. But it feels good and brings me joy.
Well, the conductor was a bit off base because I’m pretty sure Schindler’s List was not a Broadway production nor did it have musical numbers in it! Not the best choice to play a trio of songs from … when the audience was expecting songs that triggered memories of Ethel Merman, Mary Martin and Stubby Kaye.
They did play Somewhere Out There (from the animated film An American Tail) …obviously, it also, was not a Broadway hit but a song from my kids’ childhood that I’d sing to them while they were drifting off to sleep. Whatever! The conductor got to choose the music and we were just there for the ride.
Anyway, while they were playing it it reminded me of when Ted was 3 or 4 and in a daycare program called Mother’s Day Out. One of those once/twice a week programs for a handful of hours to give mom’s the luxury of running errands without having to do the “child carseat buckle shuffle” 24 times in the course of a morning.
I arrived one day to pick him up and the teachers greeted me with smiles from ear to ear. They saw me and started chuckling and told me they couldn’t wait to see me as they had something to share. Uh-oh.
If you knew Ted, when he was little, you might remember he was quite something. He was bright and animated and everything was exciting and he was a little sponge. He absorbed everything and knew things that Tim and I didn’t (like what krill was … which he explained to us at the dinner table one night). In any case, he was a riot.
And that day at lunch, while all the children were seated at their tables eating their sandwiches … Ted stood up, with arms extended and said, “Quiet everyone! I’m going to sing you a song!” And he proceeded to sing the entire Somewhere Out There song to the teachers and his classmates!
What ever possessed him?
I don’t know … but I wish I could have been there for his musical debut!
Music is a universal thing and it’s lovely and soothes the souls of man and beast (and, apparently, 4 yr olds at lunchtime).
In any case … I’m glad he is a musical being. And I wish Gertie could sing. If she could maybe she’d feel better. Or maybe she’d feel better if I would just remember to put up the gate!