Spring Train...ing

It's spring here in my part of the world...and glorious blossoms are everywhere.

But the best part about this week (other than the teenager's birthday)...

Train released their new album "California 37" today. I'm definitely not an obsessive person, unless you count my Diet Coke, quilting, photography, knitting, cooking, or reading habits! But after seeing Train perform at The Grand Ole Opry, I became a fanatical Train groupie.

Sing Together

"If I go before I say to everyone in my ballad. Let me take this chance thank you for a dance. If I run out of songs to sing to take your mind off everything. Just smile, see the wild with the sun on your face and remember the place we met. Take a breath, and soon I bet you'll see without you I will never be me!

You are the leaves of my family tree!


Sing together, if you knew me from the very start...or we met last week at the grocery mart. Just sing together. It’s the least that I can do. My final gift to you! 

When I pass the pearly gate. I will find some real estate we can settle down, and watch the world go round. Cause then they'll know the love we got. Let them know we got a spot for them to be, and it's all free! The sun on your face, and remember the place we met. Take a breath, and soon I bet you'll see without you I will never be me! You are the leaves of my family tree."

Awesome...love it!

What Will Be

I am the proud owner of a bright pink ipod shuffle. While there is no surprise about the color, for everyone knows I adore pink...it is the contents that might tweak your curiosity.

Just a couple of weeks before we lost her, Jocie completely re-loaded my pink shuffle in time to go skiing together. I remember cracking up laughing as song after song shuffled through the speakers in my ski helmet. Seriously...who can listen to Johnny Cash singing "Ring Of Fire" while ripping through fresh powder. She included artists from her generation like Colbie Cailet, Modest Mouse and The Black Eyed Peas. Classic hits also made the shuffle list including Michael Jackson's "Thriller", Earth Wind & Fire's "September", and "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc.

Perhaps the most ridiculous song...the album version of "Rappers Delight" by Sugarhill Gang. Do you remember that one? Some people refer to it as the first rap music, as it is nearly 15 minutes long. I can ride the lift all the way up...

"Have you ever went over a friend's house to eat
And the food just ain't no good
I mean the macaroni's soggy the peas are mushed
And the chicken tastes like wood."

and ski all the way down before the song even ends.

I haven't touched the list of songs on my pink shuffle since she loaded it almost four years ago...I can't bear to change a thing.

These days, I don't listen to it every day...instead saving it for moments of intense longing for her that cannot be satiated. In some crazy unique way, she speaks to me through the music. Inspiration for "99 Red Balloons" on the day of the monument dedication came from my little pink shuffle. Often, the lyrics are the perfect solution to my aching heart. Last week I hooked it up to my helmet again for a perfect day of skiing with Jocie.

This time it was Jennifer Terran's version of "Que Sera Sera" that sang to me.

"When I was just a little girl...I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich...And here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I grew up, and fell in love, I asked my lover do you love me
Will you still want me day after day, And what will make me feel free?

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

On Saturday afternoon I bought a brand new shinier and tinier iPod shuffle...it's silver. I instantly came home and loaded new favorite ski songs like "Moves Like Jagger" and "Howlin' for You".

And that's how I put that issue to rest...que sera sera!

Lessons from Chopin

Enthusiastically The Teenager recalled the highlights of a classical music video he watched in Freshman English class. I listened with interest as he repeated a statistical reference that 3% of the population enjoys classical music, and yet the TED talks video claimed everyone likes classical music they just don't know it yet.

Music is part of my soul, loving everything from old school Fleetwood Mac to new favorites like  "Move like Jagger". And yet I responded ambivalently with..."Ya, I don't love classical music." It's the typical sentence I give when "lukewarm" about a topic...not my best mother moment.

With the Teenager's music reflections floating around in my head the next day, I searched for the video. Something had impassioned my son and I needed to discover for myself what it was. With amazing Internet sleuthing skills I soon found Benjamin Xander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic who delivers a charismatic passionate charge for classical music.

His piano Chopin prelude so beautifully performed was both moving and exhilarating. Xander gave instruction to listen and understand the Vision of the entire prelude and not just the note-to-note.

What the great conductor expresses with keys of the piano ring true. The similarities between life and Chopin emerge....seeing life as an entire journey and not just the joy or pain of the day.

Listen to it and see if you don't feel the same insight. Furthermore, Xander inspires as he humbly asks "Who am I being, that my children's eyes are not shining?" Isn't that lovely...and all from a little Chopin.


While definitely inspired by Benjamin Xander, my greatest satisfaction came from simply listening and learning from my son. Admittedly, I still have much to glean from each of my offspring... including the heavenly one.

As I sit down to this post and write under photos of my soon to be concert pianist grand babies, I can assure you there is Mozart, Vivaldi, and especially Chopin in the background accompanying my thoughts. 

What are you listening to?