Month: February 2024

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Embracing current reality

I spent many years — decades and decades — either performing for or attending musical events throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Starting in my teens and lasting until I moved first to Europe and eventually to Ananda Village, late nights were the rule and a wide variety of music venues were my most accustomed milieu.

But today I’m faced with the reality that all that is very much in the past. Last night’s hour and a half drive to Chico and then another hour and a half to get home again — on a weeknight, no less! — left me pretty much wiped out all day long.

The concert and the night out with friends was a lot of fun, but I’m fairly confident we won’t be in a hurry to repeat it.

Huh. Maybe this is how I know I’m getting old. 🤔

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A night out on the town

Yes, it’s an honest-to-goodness night out with friends. We’re driving to Chico for dinner and then a show. I’ll share all about it tomorrow. Gotta run!

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A downtime kind of day

Today was mostly devoted to catching up on sleep and taking things slow. I did accomplish some tasks but nothing monumental or intense.

It was pretty much what we used to call a “mental health day.”

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Falling in love again…with Brahms

Johannes Brahms

I’ve been so short on sleep lately that I was feeling a little drowsy on the drive from Yuba City (where I had my final post-op appointment-yay!) to Grass Valley, where I was meeting family for lunch.

I don’t usually turn on the radio in the car, but — in the interest of giving my mind something to focus on — I searched out a classical station and found myself listening to the symphonic music of Johannes Brahms for the first time in years and years.

It was his Symphony No. 2 in D major. It’s the only one of the four I’ve never performed but I still recognized it instantly. It’s such a glorious piece of music (a recording of the first movement is below)!

But what I found rather incredible is how intense of an experience it was. A number of feelings and insights came to me, which I need to reflect on in order to sort out what it all means.

One thing I do know is that I love Brahms just as much as ever.

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To quiddle or not to quiddle

Can you believe there’s a NAME for this?

I’m reluctant to admit how completely this resonates with me.

In fact, I can’t help remembering all the times I just had to finish the housework in the final hours before performing a full recital! 🤦‍♀️

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Kriya: high point of the week

It was already a big week (with music to prepare and classes to attend every day), but towards the end I added two trips to town for dental appointments and errands; helped prepare the music office for carpet cleaning; and had to track down missing expense info for our upcoming tax appointment.

And, of course, tonight was Kriya!

I was so tired that I almost stayed home. But I’m glad I went because it’s always deeply inspiring and motivating.

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The earth laughs in flowers

I saw this beautiful photo, accompanied by the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, in a post from a Facebook group (Rumi and Spiritual quotes).

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

This lovely imagery immediately brought to my mind these lyrics from Swami Kriyananda’s song, “There’s Joy in the Heavens.”

“…the flowers are all laughing to welcome the morning; your soul is as free as the air!”

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Determination

Final day of Inner Renewal Retreat is tomorrow (though it’s immediately followed by two days of Kriyaban Retreat, so the week’s still far from over for us).

The talks have been amazing. Lots of deep inspiration and wisdom and joy.

However, sleep has been at a premium. So, tonight I am determined not to turn on my computer after this evening’s program of a Q & A with Jyotish and Devi. Because once I turn on the computer bedtime gets later and later.

And that is why today’s blog post is about why I’m writing today’s blog post early. 😂

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Learning my Stroud family history

K. Dolphus Stroud, 1925 high school valedictorian, Palmer High School (formerly Colorado Springs High School)

I’ve never been particularly good at keeping track of extended family. Partly because I have so many of them!

My mother was oldest of ten children, while my father is second oldest of six. So, I had a lot of aunts and uncles, which means a whole lot of cousins!

But the fact is that my mother’s father (my grandfather, Tandy Stroud) was one of eleven children. So, I also had a whole lot of great-aunts and great-uncles — mostly living in Colorado — who I never did manage to get straight in my mind.

Well, come to find out that one of my cousins is in the process of making a movie about my great-uncle, Kelley “Dolphus” Stroud, an aspiring Olympic athlete who had to travel from Colorado Springs to the Olympic trials in Boston on foot when he was denied funding to travel by train due to his race. It’s really quite a fascinating story, as detailed in this article and in the video below.

Making a movie is an expensive proposition. I’ve made a small donation, but I’m mostly doing my part by helping to spread the word.