hmmmmmm

I was thinking about the troubles that some of my friends, and I have had struggling with depression (whether medically diagnosed or not) and it made me think of my piano professor, David Zapka. He used to say "oh, Michelle- don't you know musicians don't ever play with a full deck of cards?" (he had this very recognizable voice)
you know- there is a lot to be thought about in that statement. I think it's mainly because we must play with our emotions so much. You can be in the worst mood imaginable, but in order to sing the song "Santa Lucia," you're going to have to be happy. Conversely, you can be on top of the world, but you have to be convincing in playing something like "On My Own." And just think about marching band. Oh, let's contort our bodies in every way conceivable and try to play in tune. Also, no matter how hard we work, there is never any tangible evidence of us having done that work.

I loved Mr. Zapka, but he was a little odd. He is the man who said to me "I have been all over the world, Milan, Paris, London, New York- but nothing compares to downtown Wellsburg" (it's in WV, trust me- it's nothing to brag about) He had his moments when he made me madder than anything, but I always respected him. I trusted his opinion above every other professor at that college.
I sang in his church choir for 2 years while I was in college, and he wasn't an organist, but he played it loud- and every Sunday, after the offertory, we sang the Doxology (Praise God from whom all blessings flow....)and as the ushers stood in the back of the church to bring the offerings up the aisle you hear "thoop, thoop, thoop, thoop, thoop, kakang, kakang" as he threw the whole organ on. It always made me smile.
It made me sad one Sunday- Palm Sunday when he invited us to his house for dinneron Easter because he has no family. I may fight with my family, but I couldn't imagine the holidays without them.

Well hopefully things are getting better for everyone.

John Lennon - Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling