Grateful that I've still got a ticket to ride, I've been trying to get up the nerve to hop on this blog I received for my birthday from my middle kid, as she charmingly refers to herself. If I don't do it now, alas, my first message will be out of date, so here goes! With thanks for the company I keep, I cordially invite one and all to join me for some fun playing with the music in our lives!
Today, the lyric that tickles me most is, "If they asked me, I could write a book." No worries not writing one here, just a line from a song in the Rogers and Hart musical "Pal Joey" about making lovers of friends. I liked seeing that scenario play out in the fine marital and church traditions celebrated at the wedding of William and Kate. I almost got caught up in the negative hype about this event, but, thankfully, youthful wisdom brought me to the party. There I sat on the last Friday morning in April, watching the gala at a gourmet English breakfast P.J. party, courtesy of my firmly rooted Irish daugher-in-law and her British counterpart pal. And once more I am prompted to advise those who say the world is going to hell in a handbasket that they'd feel better if they got out more amongst the kiddies.
Speaking of which, I wonder what the kids think about Superman becoming an expatriate, at least according to the comics. Are we really to swallow the news that Truth, Justice and the American Way no longer ring his chimes? Do you suppose the recently provocative movie, "Waiting for Superman" shows we're all merely the sum of our fanciful parts?
Perhaps, when all is said and done, we are Superman's kryptonite, we who live in the land of make believe where people are free to make whatever they want of what they believe. Consider the current state of public education. Once a staple for empowering a brave new American Republic with an informed electorate, public school now appears to be nothing but fodder for political grabs. I was glad, yesterday, for a chance to cast my vote for communities taking better care of themselves by attending a private church school benefit. What a lift, also, to see volunteers from out and about aiding the recovery of Alabama and neighboring states from astounding natural forces. And, then still resonating from last night's report of a just reply to 9/11/01, is the full throated cry of young voices in celebration of our National Anthem. Such music to our ears must give us all pause, especially in light of those who say "what's right" is strictly a matter of opinion.
I prefer the term "perspective" as referred to in the "Stand Out - Don't Stick Out" chapter of a timely new book, "The Power of Civility". "In every situation, each person sees things entirely from his own perspective. We cannot help it—no two people can stand in exactly the same spot at the same time. Your own good, honest perspective on matters at hand can create a positive outcome—a sure way to stand out in a crowd." - Tiffany Nielsen, Founder of Premier Etiquette.com
I love seeing the recycling of positive thinking that my parents appreciated from Norman Vincent Peale. Last night, I was further encouraged by a movie rerun of "The Bucket List" displaying how decidedly different people may face, together, the fundamentals of their own life and death with a greater regard for the whole. All in all, I can't shake the notion that it's lovers of family and friendship that make the world go round.
So, what do you think? Please, if you wish, "Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon." If you do, I promise no more than a nickel's worth at a time from me anymore, now that I've hopefully primed this conversational pump. Like Teresa Brewer on the juke box of my youth, "All I want is lovin' you and music, music, music!"
