Trip the Light

I love music, most all types of music. It seems to me that music is one of those things that is loved the world over. It doesn't matter your country, your economic status, whether you're a lousy dancer (like me) or even if you're confined to a wheelchair...music can lift one's soul.

This video, shot in every corner of this big world of ours, seems to confirm what I'm saying. It brought a smile to my face and I'll bet it will to yours as well. It also reminded me of these little suggestions for enjoying life to the fullest:

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”

                                  ― William W. Purkey


with thanks to my good buddy, Art, who shared the video with me.

A Beautiful and Majestic Ode

Back in my college days, I needed a "fluff" course to fill out my schedule so I decided to take a Classical Music Appreciation class. Amazingly, the class gave me an actual appreciation for and love of classical music! Imagine that!

A good friend just sent me a link to the video displayed below. It isn't the full fourth movement of Mr. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, but you'll get the idea...this is truly majestic stuff.

Oh, at about 4:00 into the video, you can get a good idea of what I expect to hear as I travel through that "tunnel" many people who've had near-death experiences have talked about. You know, on that last journey when my time here is completed. I've put in my request, someday I'll see if The Big Guy comes through for me.

Now, enjoy the video and watch the faces of the people, young and old alike; it truly is an ode to great joy. Thanks, Ludwig.

I'll Give It an 83, Dick...

"...because it has a really good beat and it's easy to dance to." Hundreds, probably thousands, of new pop songs were rated this way over the years, thanks to his show.

An American pop music icon left us yesterday. Dick Clark made an indelible mark upon music culture in America with the American Bandstand TV show watched by teens across the land, including yours truly. He always had one musical guest performing (usually lip-syncing) their latest hit. This clip of Jerry Lee Lewis on the show will give you the idea.

Oh, they don't write 'em like that any more! (I'll bet your toe was tapping, though, wasn't it?)

I spent many afternoons tuned in to hear the latest in Rock-n-Roll, watch the kids dancing, and to see a hot group or individual perform their latest hit.

Good times; thanks, Dick.

To Believe

I received this link via email and could not, unfortunately, find a way to embed the video. I guarantee you won't be disappointed by taking the time to follow this link and ponder the message during the next 5 minutes of your day:

Outstanding Voice, Outstanding Message

Oh, from the mouths of babes, as the saying goes...

I know, I know, its an Imagine, Kumbaya, We are the World kind of thing, but we can dream once in a while, can't we?

Speaking of dreams, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck once said,

There are many ways of breaking a heart. Stories were full of hearts broken by love, but what really broke a heart was taking away its dream—whatever that dream might be.

How true. Dream on...

Christmas and the New Year

Christmas has always been a very special holiday…Mom saw to that. She loved blue lights on the tree, special baked treats and making sure excited children had special gifts to open on Christmas morning. We always traveled to visit Aunt Mary or Aunt Nell, making it a special family day. Even Cousin Ed got into the spirit of things, coming by the house Christmas Eve dressed in his very authentic Santa suit, passing out new toothbrushes to we young ones after we lied about having been good during the past year.

Christmas star on our deck at the old house in Wyoming.

One of those special gifts for me was my twin six-shooters and gun belt, received when I was seven or eight. Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry had a new cowboy to ride along with them. The smell of fired “caps” still takes me back to that Christmas. Of course, my Mickey Mouse hat was much appreciated, too, especially since they were the fancy hard plastic type ears, rather than cloth. Well, that was true until Billy Sheridan sat on them, breaking them into dozens of small pieces.

More than the gifts or decorations is the spirit of Christmas and the beautiful music that goes along with it. The birthday of the Christ Child, God’s incomprehensible love-filled gift to an imperfect mankind. We Lutherans love to sing and the strains of “Come All Ye Faithful” or “Silent Night” still can bring tears to this ol’ sap’s eyes. I must have been 13 or so when our church choir needed help with their Christmas program. Mom pushed, shoved and begged me to join…and I finally did. That experience, however, helped to instill a lifelong love of music in my ears and my heart. Mom was a very intelligent lady.

Wyoming house decorations---Christmas 2001

The last 15 years or so, I’ve come to really appreciate the Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller. Founder and Leader Chip Davis has a beautiful way of producing the old favorites in a way never done previously. Even their rendition of Jingle Bells can touch my heart and take me back 50 years in an instant.

Mannheim Steamroller's first Christmas CD

As the famous song states, old acquaintances should never be forgotten and should be brought to mind often. That’s New Year’s to me. Remembering where we’ve been and looking forward to where the next year will lead us. Thinking of those family members and friends, near and far, that make up a part of who we are; New Year’s gives us reason to think about that and appreciate each of those folks and their contribution to our lives.