I have been reminded lately that music feeds my soul. ________________________________________________________________ I could feel the music in my soul at church this morning. Normally we Lutherans are not very effusive in our emotions at church, or anywhere else for that matter. It’s a friendly, but reserved service. God forbid (or at least the Lutheran version of God) if anyone waved their hands in the air or shouted out “Amen.” Even hymn singing is done in a subdued and proper manner.
It’s weird that I don’t regularly listen to music in my car or at home anymore. It’s certainly in my head all the time. I will have a thought about some problem or experience and immediately a song will come into my head like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” or some other song from the 60’s. My sister told me they have a new Bose system and have been listening to music a lot lately and it made me think I need to start doing that too. There is a healing quality about music. It goes right to the feeling part of the brain and bypasses the analytical part. What I really loved was to sing. We sang a lot. We sang hymns around the piano on New Year’s Eve at the home of my parent’s friends, the Nelsons. We sang in the 6th grade choir and 9th grade choir at school. That’s where I really learned the mechanics and nuances of singing, and learned how to harmonize. We sang in the car on trips, often singing the songs we had learned in choir. I still sing “Tamale Joe,” “Ragtime Cowboy Joe,” and the one where you sing all the names of the states in alphabetical order. Yes, I really can still do that. I can sing all fifty states alphabetically. Music is an amazing aide for memory.
What would the soundtrack for my life be? Maybe it would be something by the Beatles like "A Long and Winding Road" followed by “When I’m 64," even though I’m past 64. I would want something that touches the emotions lurking under the surface but I’m not even sure what they are. Sometimes I feel a little lost and can’t find what I want. When that happens I think I need to get into the car and drive around listening to music and singing along. That will certainly get me where I want to go.
1 Comment
Linda Mason Pace
7/24/2015 11:43:58 am
We just watched Jersey Boys and I have been singing "Shari" - the high part in my head. Looking forward to your visit where we will sing away in the car. No Good Sister I will soon be singing in Connecticut and Arlington, VA!!
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Leslie Masona woman in search of her post-retirement future Guess what! By subscribing, you get notices about the latest Little Old Lady with Cats posts sent to your mailbox!
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