Today I made the delightful discovery that Voctave has recorded “The Trolley Song” — one of my absolute most favorite songs of all time!
My first introduction to this song was on my Dad’s recording of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, featuring Paul Desmond on alto saxophone. I was in high school and saxophone was my main instrument at the time. So, Paul Desmond was basically my hero, but more than that was simply how the song made me feel. It’s just so buoyant and happy.
It wasn’t until many years later that I saw the movie, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and finally heard the original version of the song, sung by Judy Garland. I found it to be just as buoyant and happy as ever.
Which brings me back to Voctave. In addition to the buoyant and happy song itself, I love the over-the-top fun and creativity they brought to their version.
Sunset afterglow at Crystal Hermitage as we were packing up after rehearsal
Tonight was our final choir rehearsal for this Saturday’s event celebrating Nayaswami Jyotish’s 80th birthday.
Two of the musical offerings we’ve prepared for Jyotish felt rather daunting to pull together in the limited time we had available after the conclusion of Spiritual Renewal Week. But tonight it was clear that both projects were absolutely the right thing to do, and they’re coming together beautifully.
In fact, thinking over the entire rehearsal, I’m feeling a whole lot of gratitude for the harmonious, team-oriented, collaborative way that our music ministry and the entire choir works together.
Sure, there are chaotic moments, but the overall feeling is one of uplifted and uplifting FUN.
Today’s photo is of Ramesha and his brother, Fulvio, whose birthday was today.
For the first time in seventeen years we’re actually in Switzerland and able to celebrate Fulvio’s birthday in person. We all went out to dinner as a family, eating great food and having a whole lot of fun.
In fact, I haven’t laughed so much in a long time.
These are photos from the neighborhood where we stayed in Sacramento.
The Halloween decorations started going up very early in October; people were really into it!
We liked these best because they were rather light and joyful. The feet sticking out of the plant (on the left) is subtle but quite effective.I thought the guillotine was a nice (though gruesome) touch. Can you see all the “bats” on the side of the house? Creepy, kooky, spooky, and ooky!Okay, this one’s not about Halloween, but was so fun I had to share!
We finally manifested a longtime goal of doing a satsang about music for the Ananda Virtual Community and it was a total and complete joy!
In attendance were virtual community members from nearby (Nevada City and the Bay Area), far away (Florida, Alaska, Canada), and various points in between (Nevada, Oregon, Texas).
There were people who’ve been devotees for thirty or forty years, and those who found Ananda in the last few years.
But what there was most of all, was the feeling of community, of enjoying satsang with spiritual friends, and feeling our shared devotion, dedication, and love for Master, Swamiji, our path, and this music.
Wow. I just can hardly believe how fortunate and blessed I am.
If you’d like to explore the possibility of joining together with spiritual seekers from all around the world, you should definitely check out what the Ananda Virtual Community has to offer.
I called a business today and was put on hold. Nothing new there.
But then I did something I haven’t done in ages…while waiting I started to doodle. And that was actually quite amazing; I don’t know what prompted me to do it, but it felt like an important (re)discovery.
I used to doodle a lot when I was young; both in-the-margin type doodles and drawings that involved lots of repetitive detail work. But somewhere along the way I seem to have stopped. I wonder why…
After I had finished the phone call I continued doodling for a while, just because. It felt rather odd, like I was “rusty” at it, but it also felt…good. That made me curious to know more about it.
Turns out doodling is a trendy thing nowadays (unlike when I was a kid and you just did it!), mainly because science has proven its benefits. I found a ton of interesting articles about it (see links at the bottom of the page).
But here’s what I found truly hilarious: there were also lots of articles and videos and products on “How to Doodle” — I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that like taking lessons in how to be spontaneous?
Oh well, the important thing is that I think it would be a good idea to start doodling regularly again. Fun!
I ran across some journaling notes, written about six years ago, evidently in a period of frustration at my lack of activity. I don’t recall the exact moment or what exactly I was feeling when making this list, but it certainly packs a wallop for me as I read it now. Especially considering the title I gave it:
ACTIVITIES I LOVED
tether ball monkey bars archery basketball gymnastics track dancing cheerleading hiking rebounding aerobics weight training bicycling swimming skipping yoga 150 sit-ups a day running on the beach walking, walking, walking
It wasn’t that I “loved” exercise; I didn’t even call it “exercise” — it was just having fun doing things…
Like… Challenging big, intimidating Tony to a tetherball showdown in 6th grade. Organizing my high school buddies to hike up into the foothills above Milpitas for a cookout. Riding my bicycle all over Sunnyvale (where I lived), to classes at DeAnza College, and (just once!) all the way to my boyfriend’s house in Los Altos. Spending two hours every day in the gym: aerobics; weight training; treadmill; loving to sweat!
It was just doing fun active things with my friends. Dancing at clubs til all hours of the night. Cranking up my stereo and dancing in my living room to Al Jarreau, Gino Vannelli, George Benson, Earth Wind & Fire. I felt GOOD in my body and enjoyed using it. Of course, I never ever thought I looked good enough, but — hey! — at least I felt strong and powerful and capable.
Things started to shift when I got “serious” about finishing my degree and becoming a flutist — spending hours in class, in the library, in the practice room, in rehearsals, in carpools traveling to gigs. Getting busier and busier, more and more out of balance, more and more stressed.
Eventually I started feeling the pressure to “exercise” in order to lose the weight that was creeping on. What did I know about metabolic syndrome and stress hormones and circadian rhythms and lack of sleep leading to weight gain, etc etc.?!? Bit by bit the fun and spontaneity went away and moving my body became a chore, a “should.” Yuck.
Sigh.
It’s hard to look back and realize that I pretty much had it all, but squandered it, largely due to ignorance and iffy self-esteem (all part of my karma, of course).
