A major change in my circumstances is what I was hoping for earlier today as I used every alternative method at my disposal to try to make it happen (in addition to the necessary action I ACTUALLY did). With Sam Cooke providing the soundtrack to my escape from those pressures, I ran across this other Sam Cooke treasure as well that speaks to my hopes that “a change gone come.”
Summertime is something that has escaped me because of the climate where I’m located. I’m definitely not complaining because I could be in 100+ degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. However, the past couple of days has seen summertime weather break through from nowhere. This summertime is different as I’ve put a lot on the line to move several steps closer to my dreams, goals, desires (fill in the blank with appropriate phrase). On one hand, it is as if I’m on a three month vacation in an idyllic location that many would love to visit. On the other hand, because the direction of my future hangs in the balance, it is more like a tense time of uncertainty and anxiety, mixed with moments of resignation and frustration. Today, I made desperate pleas to the universe, requested any divine intervention on my behalf, did Reiki and prayed for a positive outcome on something that came up. After doing what I could do, I then decided it was time for me to leave all of that tense anxiety alone and to get outside to take in some of the abundant summertime. During times like these, I lean on and embrace the restorative power of nature to move me beyond anxiety. I hopped on the bike and decided to pedal to where my two legs on two wheels could take me. For over two hours, I went into the heart of Summertime. I passed pastures where cows where grazing and sleeping. I passed sheep that were peacefully eating. I marveled at horses leisurely roaming. Insects, usually a concern for me while in nature, didn’t bother me. A few came along (on me) for a free ride and one dragonfly had a T-bone collision with my chest from which I hope he recovered. On my route, I passed houses that were at once removed from the hustle and bustle of the high-density population area I started from but only a 20 or 30 minute bicycle ride away. As I pedaled in this area, one of the things that overcame me echoes the lyrics from the song “Summertime”. “Summertime, and the living is easy.” The ride enlisted almost all of my senses (except taste). I saw the interplay of light and shadow as I rode along a tree-lined route. At times, I heard the gurgle of water lazily flowing through the canals under dense cover of underbrush. I could also hear the sound of the air rushing past my ears as I rode along. I smelled the intensely earthy smell that animals, water and earth can make. Unlike areas with animals clustered close together, this smelled good and it smelled right. As I pedaled in this area, enjoying the alternating coolness of the shade and the warmth of the sun, life for a couple of hours felt easy. The concerns that were foremost on my mind faded away as I imagined what it would be like to wake up in one of the houses along the way and live what seemed to be a peaceful, idyllic and serene life in this most tranquil setting. Although those exact houses are not on my list of desires (although I did see notices for a couple of houses that WERE for sale), that peaceful feeling of being in such a tranquil setting, experiencing being alive with almost all of my senses will stay with me after today. Hopefully it won’t be until tomorrow, lol. With Summertime being the title and theme of this post, I give you the great Sam Cooke whose delivery of this song mirrors how I felt on this ride. Enjoy!
Whitney Houston’s death earlier this year provided a lot of nostalgic look backs at the body of work she left behind. Most of the references that I saw/noticed/paid attention to were based on solo hits. However, my memory of Whitney extends farther back than the start of her solo career. My memories include work she did with Jermaine Jackson and Teddy Pendergrass. Of course, I love her solo work but I think references to her music that exclude these two gems are incomplete and I would like to set the “record” straight, pardon the pun. Enjoy!
Hold Me
Ever since the first time I had seen flamenco dancing, I was captivated by the passion that flowed through the dancer’s moves. Dance is only half an event without accompanying music (although dance does exist without music). Flamenco guitar (to me) is a perfect, passionate musical accompaniment to the dance. There is something about the passion that is expressed in both the dance and the music that makes indifference or tuning out not a viable option for me. There will be a flamenco dance performance coming up soon that I want to attend which spurred my curiosity about taking flamenco dance lessons. My curiosity is now abated. Lessons are offered so far away that I would be too exhausted from the effort of getting there to actually be effective in learning. I once took a few belly dance lessons and may need to resume those in order to instill some type of dance-related discipline and grace into my formerly awkward physical self. Or maybe I could imitate this performance in the confines of the bedroom as I did when I was an overly imaginative kid singing some Donna Summer song. As an adult, I would leave the standing ovation out of the scenario.
In anticipation of watching the live performance, I found this video. Enjoy! Of course, a mention of flamenco would be incomplete without my favorite flamenco guitar performance…
From Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir (scene from The Preacher’s Wife).
And from the Norwegian Gospel Choir…
I have to listen twice. Thrice. And into infinity. I wish he would release (or would have released) a concert DVD that includes this…
I haven’t posted in a while and thought I would add something to the page so that it’s not lying dormant (into infinity). Words are escaping me at the moment but some thoughts (some well thought out and some not so much) will be coming.
I was riding around today and heard this blast from the past on the radio. I can’t really remember what I was doing around the time that the song was out but it brought back good memories. Although I’m sure I’ll hear others, I had to share this one…
There have been few heavy men who have caught my attention. Then there was Heavy D. He was probably one of the first “heavy” men that I’ve witnessed who, despite their substantial size, were confident about themselves. I loved him for that and his positivity when he could have easily made tons of money performing misogynistic rap.
Heavy D, the Overweight Lover, you will be deeply missed.