February 7, 2015
(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and
illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)
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| And Music © Bonnie Schupp |
An
evening of music tonight, beginning with filming Woody Lissauer and then
attending Edith May’s Paradise house concert, reminded me of how important
music is to me. As a child, my mother used to sing popular songs to my sisters
and me and we took dance and piano lessons. It was an ordinary part of our lives.
Music
connects on so many levels. When I was pregnant, I used to play the piano,
mostly classical and some of my own improvised creations, and I felt my
daughter move inside me. Sometimes when nothing else will relax me, it is music
that comes through. Even after many years, one thread that follows me from a
failed first marriage is the jam sessions, the joy of playing and listening to
music with friends.
When my
father was in his last days and not responding to much, he responded to music.
I bought a keyboard so I could play music for him in his apartment and I
watched him tap his foot as I played. The hospice, recognizing the power of
music, sent a music therapist to enrich the end of his life. Just a few days
before he passed away, my Japanese friend Kyoko sang Japanese songs to him.
Mostly unresponsive before that, he soon started clapping his hands in time to
the music.
My husband's Aunt Alice, too, responded to music when she was at death's door. At 105 years old, she was lying unresponsive in a hospitable bed. Family had been called in to say goodbye to her as she was expected to live only a couple more days. The family went to the hospital cafeteria for a meal and returned to Alice's room where the hospice music therapist was playing music...and Alice was awake and enjoying the music! She left the hospital and lived until a month before her 107th birthday.
My husband's Aunt Alice, too, responded to music when she was at death's door. At 105 years old, she was lying unresponsive in a hospitable bed. Family had been called in to say goodbye to her as she was expected to live only a couple more days. The family went to the hospital cafeteria for a meal and returned to Alice's room where the hospice music therapist was playing music...and Alice was awake and enjoying the music! She left the hospital and lived until a month before her 107th birthday.
Tonight at
the house concert, Caroline Ferrante sang a song she wrote called Annabelle
which contains a wonderful line. “Annabelle sings her song and sets the wild
things free.” I think lots of things inside us are set free when music touches
us.
Today’s gift is music.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Some musician friends worth listening to, most in the
Baltimore area: Ellen Cherry, Saffi, Mosno, Georgie Jessup, Christina VanNorman,
Dirk Hamilton, LA Young, Kevin Robinson (KERQ), Woody Lissauer, Guity
Adjoodani.)
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