I had a most extraordinary day today.
Nothing dramatic or earth-shaking. But lovely, serene, peaceful, and productive.
It could very well have been the weather. The skies were blue, there was a gentle breeze, and the high temperature hit and a standing 81 degrees here in Portland Oregon, ladies and gentlemen!
I am walk-blogging as we speak. And it is 78 degrees at 10:30 p.m!
I am out a little bit later than usual. Choir practice got over at 9 p.m., and I wasn't one bit sleepy as usual. I needed to walk up to the bank and deposit a check, and I was contemplating stopping at a late-night restaurant for dessert and herbal tea.
But I didn't really want to be out that late. Didn't want to spend that much money. And I certainly didn't want to consume too many late night calories!
So after the bank, I walked over to Safeway and buy the little tiny carton of ice cream, at a bottle of water. I sat for a bit, enjoying my treat while my mind examined my day...
The highlight of my day was choir practice. We have been working on The Magnificat by JS Bach since the beginning of fall term. It is a large, difficult work of music. I will be playing a small organ, accompanying a choir of about 40 members along with a small orchestra and soloists.
I had a good practice session today, even though it was only about an hour. But I finally feel like I am understanding the music. I worked out some fingering and worked out mostly difficult sections, which I called "speed bumps" in my private lessons.
So I came into choir practice tonight feeling prepared for once. I think the rest of the choir must have been practicing too. Because we all felt it. The energy of going up to another level. Not just struggling with the notes and the rhythm. But actually beginning to make music. I had a moment of deja vu and almost an out-of-body experience as I sat at the piano, watching the conductor and my score at the same time. And being surrounded bi the dear voices of the choir members, some of whom I have known for many years. No words can adequately describe this feeling. I'm not even going to try. But I had goosebumps, and a feeling of incredible otherworldly love.
After my ice cream and pondering, I jumped on the bus and decide to transfer it at South East 52nd.
It was odd, I was a little bit indecisive about the route that I was going to take home. But I chose the quickest route. I had my little reward dessert, and now I needed to go home and get a good night's rest.
I plan on getting another good practice session in tomorrow morning.
On another note, I am enjoying my new method of commuting and listening to my online classical music course. I will be sad when it's over with. We are already into post-modernism, which I am thankful for. Modernism was uncomfortable for me. Because this evening I spent 30 minutes listening to Stravinsky, which I rather enjoyed, but then came the atonal music of Arnold Schoenberg. It was as rather abrasive to my ears.
I kept thinking of the Dr Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham.
"I do not like Schoenberg in a boat, with a goat, here or there...I do not like him anywhere!"
But it was very fascinating. I took my little online quiz, and was happily getting ready to listen to Appalachian Spring by Copland when I saw familiarr person crossing the street towards me. It was my family member in crisis! He walked over, and handed me a $20 bill. It was so surreal going from Schoenbergburg to a family member handing me money. It was as if I was meant to be at that particular bus stop.
"What's this?" I asked.
"I know it's not much", he said. "But I hope it helps.
I recently had told him that I could no longer help him financiall. I have been helping out with my daughter's baby Grace and I have been working less. Plus the rides on Lyft over to Vancouver have been adding up. My family member in crisis has some financial issues, but I can no longer help him. I felt horrible telling him that, but I think it's for his own good.
We talked a bit, and then he said he had to catch a bus home and turned and walked away.
Just then, my bus pulled up. I hopped on settled into my seat and put my headphones in my ears soon soon I was transported to another dimension, as the tune "Simple Gifts" filled my senses.
Most appropriate!
I smiled to myself.
It really was an extraordinary day.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Love,
Zita
PS. Here is today's hooping video. Day 298!
Nothing dramatic or earth-shaking. But lovely, serene, peaceful, and productive.
It could very well have been the weather. The skies were blue, there was a gentle breeze, and the high temperature hit and a standing 81 degrees here in Portland Oregon, ladies and gentlemen!
I am walk-blogging as we speak. And it is 78 degrees at 10:30 p.m!
I am out a little bit later than usual. Choir practice got over at 9 p.m., and I wasn't one bit sleepy as usual. I needed to walk up to the bank and deposit a check, and I was contemplating stopping at a late-night restaurant for dessert and herbal tea.
But I didn't really want to be out that late. Didn't want to spend that much money. And I certainly didn't want to consume too many late night calories!
So after the bank, I walked over to Safeway and buy the little tiny carton of ice cream, at a bottle of water. I sat for a bit, enjoying my treat while my mind examined my day...
The highlight of my day was choir practice. We have been working on The Magnificat by JS Bach since the beginning of fall term. It is a large, difficult work of music. I will be playing a small organ, accompanying a choir of about 40 members along with a small orchestra and soloists.
I had a good practice session today, even though it was only about an hour. But I finally feel like I am understanding the music. I worked out some fingering and worked out mostly difficult sections, which I called "speed bumps" in my private lessons.
So I came into choir practice tonight feeling prepared for once. I think the rest of the choir must have been practicing too. Because we all felt it. The energy of going up to another level. Not just struggling with the notes and the rhythm. But actually beginning to make music. I had a moment of deja vu and almost an out-of-body experience as I sat at the piano, watching the conductor and my score at the same time. And being surrounded bi the dear voices of the choir members, some of whom I have known for many years. No words can adequately describe this feeling. I'm not even going to try. But I had goosebumps, and a feeling of incredible otherworldly love.
After my ice cream and pondering, I jumped on the bus and decide to transfer it at South East 52nd.
It was odd, I was a little bit indecisive about the route that I was going to take home. But I chose the quickest route. I had my little reward dessert, and now I needed to go home and get a good night's rest.
I plan on getting another good practice session in tomorrow morning.
On another note, I am enjoying my new method of commuting and listening to my online classical music course. I will be sad when it's over with. We are already into post-modernism, which I am thankful for. Modernism was uncomfortable for me. Because this evening I spent 30 minutes listening to Stravinsky, which I rather enjoyed, but then came the atonal music of Arnold Schoenberg. It was as rather abrasive to my ears.
I kept thinking of the Dr Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham.
"I do not like Schoenberg in a boat, with a goat, here or there...I do not like him anywhere!"
But it was very fascinating. I took my little online quiz, and was happily getting ready to listen to Appalachian Spring by Copland when I saw familiarr person crossing the street towards me. It was my family member in crisis! He walked over, and handed me a $20 bill. It was so surreal going from Schoenbergburg to a family member handing me money. It was as if I was meant to be at that particular bus stop.
"What's this?" I asked.
"I know it's not much", he said. "But I hope it helps.
I recently had told him that I could no longer help him financiall. I have been helping out with my daughter's baby Grace and I have been working less. Plus the rides on Lyft over to Vancouver have been adding up. My family member in crisis has some financial issues, but I can no longer help him. I felt horrible telling him that, but I think it's for his own good.
We talked a bit, and then he said he had to catch a bus home and turned and walked away.
Just then, my bus pulled up. I hopped on settled into my seat and put my headphones in my ears soon soon I was transported to another dimension, as the tune "Simple Gifts" filled my senses.
Most appropriate!
I smiled to myself.
It really was an extraordinary day.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Love,
Zita
PS. Here is today's hooping video. Day 298!
Comments
Post a Comment