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Hi!
As you probably know, music is hugely important to my soul and well-being.
I joined my first choir at age 8, walking alone in the morning darkness to rehearsals, which could only be held before regular school day classes. That was about the same time my 3rd grade class started learning how to read music and play the recorder—I still have the music book and recorder!
When I was about 10 years old, my cousin gave me his acoustic guitar since he was getting a new one. I started teaching myself how to play chords and do a basic strum; our upstairs neighbor, Al, played guitar and he gave me some instruction. I never really excelled since I didn’t practice enough, but it was an opportunity to sing with some live accompaniment, and I was glad to have my own guitar and a physical representation of something I loved which filled my soul.
When I was in my late 20s, I inherited my mother’s upright piano (happily it fit in my Manhattan studio apartment), who’d bought it and started taking lessons only a few years before she passed away. Now I had my voice, a guitar, a piano, and my trusty recorder too! At that time (and not until I "came to believe") I didn't realize as a devout atheist it was music and singing that connected me to Source.
After I relocated to the Southwest, I did a lot of moving around. I finally decided I couldn’t keep moving the piano so I put her on consignment with the Santa Fe Opera who sold their pianos after a limited amount of performances and were open to accepting other ones, even those of less caliber like mine. But I still had my guitar! My guitar got a workout from my friends, especially when I held hootenannies (here's a link describing what a hoot is and an invitation).
When I got married, my then-husband had two guitars (neither of which he did play). After a few years, we needed to drum up some cash (no pun intended) and two of the guitars were victims of those challenging times, mine being one of them. No guitar (after 40+ years of being together), no piano, simply my voice—my true instrument which is always with me—and, of course my recorder, which even now I still know how to play! I kept my music books and continued to accumulate some more.
Several years ago I purchased a used keyboard in mint condition from a dear friend. With much conversation recently about singing and music, and continuing financial prosperity, I decided to treat myself to a guitar! I ordered a new one online suitable for beginners; when it arrived and I took it out of the box, I cried. It’d been about 14 years since my first guitar and I had parted, and I felt like a piece had been put back into my soul, bringing me back to a greater wholeness and completeness. Not only did I start toying around with her, but started playing the keyboard again too!
Now, I know that I am, have always been, and will always be, whole and complete, one with Spirit. I know that outer trappings are temporary and that it is my inner life where I truly reside. But having a precious part of what’s crucial to my soul—even just to look at it—enriches my human life experience and connects me with something greater, Spirit and people, for music is a universal language. I am so grateful that music is a greater part of my life once again.
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The world lost a wonderful and prolific singer-songwriter this month, Gordon Lightfoot. He holds a special place in my heart because I was first introduced to his music when he was not yet that well known in The States, thanks to my neighbor Al mentioned above.
One of my favorite songs of his, not particularly famous but definitely introspective and about wholeness, is Sit Down Young Stranger. Its message remains relevant on this Memorial Day (USA), when we honor those who gave their lives for their country, for people they would never meet, and for the ideal of freedom. Gordon sings “War is not the answer, and young men should not die.” Enjoy, and make sure you listen to the very end!
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