Jan
21
2012
I don’t remember when I bought my son his first keyboard. What I remember was that he was young enough to be more interested in the box until he discovered and began to play (with) his newly discovered toy that was sitting right beside him.
When I was pregnant with Anthony, I used to stand in front of a full-length mirror while I danced. I don’t know why I preferred watching myself dance. It’s not that I liked my dancing. I didn’t even think about it. I just did it as I felt Anthony move around inside me. Or until I thought that I had perhaps put him to sleep with my movements.
I often wondered if he remembered those movements and if he could hear the music. I later learned that an unborn baby is able to hear sounds. It didn’t take long before he was creating his own melodies that surprised and amazed me. He taught himself how to play the keyboard.
He got accepted into the Creative Arts and Performing Arts (C.A.P.A.) program in the fourth grade. Orchestra was one of the class requirements and where he learned how to play the violin.
I swear he can pick up any instrument and start playing it as if he always knew how. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but he really is good. He had to learn how to read music while in orchestra and I could be wrong, but I think it was easier for him to play by ear.
When he was much older, Anthony had a friend who taught him how to play the drums and how to play guitar which all seemed so simple for him. He’s a natural with an ear for music.
He used to sit at any piano that was near him and a small crowd would gather such as at a church we attended. He was about five then. Of course, being my emotional self and a very proud mommy, the tears of joy would fall.
I don’t remember how old he was, but I’m pretty sure he taught himself how to play Beethoven’s Fur Elise before he was a teenager.
It’s been awhile since Anthony has played any gigs. He still plays the keyboard and guitar at home when he’s not taking the long commute back and forth to college, teaching, or taking care of his family, etc.
I’ve always wondered if my listening to music and dancing in front of the mirror for most of the time I was pregnant with Anthony had anything at all to do with his love for music at such a young age. Not his talent for it, just his love for music.
When I was pregnant with my older daughter, I no longer had the mirror and I had no desire to dance. Rough times. Her father bought her a keyboard when she was a little girl and yet she didn’t become a musician.
Speaking of dancing. Anthony had a dance class in the program as well and he recently told me that he hated to dance. He never liked the class. He hid it well.
A question I’ve pondered throughout the years and I still don’t have an answer. Or maybe I do now.
Maybe the answer is that Anthony is more wired for music than my daughter.
Jan
21
2012
Well, there goes that idea. I was all set to post a follow-up blog article until I realized that it wouldn’t be in my best interest to do so. I’ll share the reasons for this later. I used to say that and then wouldn’t follow through. For that reason, I stopped saying anything. I either did it or didn’t. More often than not, it would get done. This time I’m committing myself to this intent.
That idea generated another one, though, so not all is lost. I don’t know how interested anyone will be in this writing, but, here it goes, anyway. I wrote about an experience that I had many years ago and this is in addition to that writing.
The experience I’m referring to is how I unintentially made the intention to land a job in that company. Back then I didn’t know anything about making intentions. It wasn’t in the usual way, though. You can read about it here: Memories of a Job Manifested.
I worked as a temp for the company and didn’t expect to get hired after the job was completed. I was told I’d be there for three months. I got emotional my last day there because I thought I’d be out of work and also I had grown to love working there. I was so grateful when the engineer came in the room and said, “Now you’re mine!”.
Grateful, that is, after the initial shock since I didn’t even know who he was. I don’t know why other people in the company didn’t like him. He was a sweetheart to me. He even hugged me when he found out that I had been hired as a full-time employee. That was a few months later.
I really enjoyed working in the engineering department because I was allowed to use my own creativity with the descriptions of the parts that I was to enter into their new computer system. It’s been many years since I worked there, but I know that much as changed since then. Delafield petroleum hose would be one example of the type of part that I would become familiar with. That’s not one of their parts, it’s just as an example.
It would have been easier for me to actually have a visual of what I was describing, but, no matter. It all worked out. Some of the engineers didn’t appreciate my entries, but, most of them did. And the two who mattered were the one I worked for and the manager of the department. I was flattered, while being a little uncomfortable when the others’ critism me of my creativity. I had fun doing the work, though.
I wonder why people give engineers such a hard time. Heck, they even make fun of themselves. I wa surrounded by creative thinkers who designed machines for cutting metal. And I loved it. But, now, I’m enjoying writing about it.
I hope that whatever you are doing is what you love doing. I didn’t feel like I was working back then. And I feel the same now.
Do what you love to do and you’ll never have to work another day in your life. I haven’t felt like this for quite awhile. It feels so good to feel good. Again.
I didn’t expect to write the last part, but, I think that’s what happens. I don’t know what I’m going to say until I have written it.
P.S. This is a reminder and a note to myself. If it helps you, wonderful.:)
Thanks for reading.:)
Jan
20
2012
Most of the time, I prefer the original versions of songs. Then again, sometimes I’ll hear what is a new song for me only to discover later that it’s actually a remake. In any case, the first version that I hear is usually better in my opinion.
This version of “I Will Always Love You” which was written by Dolly Parton is 1973, released as a single and the following year and what she sang in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (love this movie) is tender and sweet. Almost a whisper. And it has a deeper sadness to it. It’s as soft and gentle and as beautiful as Dolly’s voice.
I never cared for Whitney Houston‘s version, which she sang in The Bodyguard (1992) (a great movie). She seems to be yelling out the lyrics in parts of the song. It’s a little too harsh for my taste.
Jan
17
2012
I don’t mind cleaning, but I’m not like my best friend, Janet and her sister. Janet once told her mother that she used to skip school. But not for the usual reasons. She said that she skipped so she could stay home and clean. Her mother seemed surprised, but…wouldn’t she have noticed? I don’t know, but it didn’t surprise me. Her apartment was always very clean.
I like my house to be clean, but, I don’t make a big fuss like Janet did. There is someone who was more of a stickler for cleanliness than she was, though. Our neighbor, Alice.
Speaking of Alice, soon after I met her, I learned that she knew me when I was a little girl. Weird.
Anyway, about her cleaning. Alice couldn’t stand to feel even the teeniest rock on her floor. She cleaned with S.O.S. pads and bleach. A dangerous combination. And she always wore flip-flops.
I don’t think either one of these ladies would have ever allowed another woman to come in their home to clean for them. No matter about time and money for them. Nobody would have been able to clean to their satisfaction.
Before I met them, I lived in North Carolina. I once thought about living there and I wouldn’t have minded having someone from cary cleaning service to help me out.
I guess that would have depended on where I lived and whether time or money was more important to me. And if I felt I could trust someone enough. Maybe I would be like I believe Janet and Alice would be. But I’d be willing to give someone a chance.
The manager where I worked wanted me to stay. She talked about helping me find a trailer. Oh, how different my life would be right now had I done that. The birth of Adriana, for instance. I have no regrets about not making that choice.
If you have the money for it, would you rather spend your money on services that someone else can do for you, which would allow you to spend more time doing other projects that you’d prefer doing? Or would you rather save your money or spend it in other ways and spend your time doing your own cleaning? Or whatever the service may be?
“Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy.” – Groucho Marx
Jan
13
2012
I don’t know if you have ever read anything that I’ve written about my best friend Janet, who died in September of 2004. I’ve written a few blog posts about her in the past couple of years. It’s become easier to share our story as time as passed and I’ve had the chance to heal.
Her birthday was on Christmas Eve and because of that and the death of my Bunny in October, I’ve been thinking about Janet more often.
We had some great and fun times together. But she corrupted me. No, I’m just kidding. I’m the one who chose to smoke pot with her that one night. Only that one time. We did more laughing than talking. Laughing about nothing and about our two little girls (also best friends)eating mini marshmallows off her kitchen floor. For some reason it cracked us up.
I still feel somewhat sad knowing that she’s no longer here physically, but, I know she’s OK. She’s come to me in several dreams which helped me to believe this to be true. I wrote about one such dream a couple of years ago. This one was when I dreamed of either steel or metal buildings that were for storage. We, along with our belongings, were the storage. It was where we lived. Each on our own compartment. You can read more about it here.
When we lived close to each other, our apartments were only separated by a couple of sidewalks. We on the other hand, were almost inseparable. Except when she had a migraine, which was too often. Even the neighbors knew that we were close, not only by distance, but our friendship as well. Boy, do I have some stories I could tell.
It’s been almost a year and a half since I wrote about that dream and right now I’m feeling at peace and full of love for Janet. It’s a relief that the mourning has ended and now I can think about her without crying. And write some of our stories for you. Unless I’m already emotional. Thankfully I haven’t thought of her during those times. She’d want me to laugh, anyway.
I just want to savor this moment full of memories of the fun times we had. Sometimes I’ve wondered how we got along so well. The truth is, we didn’t. But, for the most part, we knew there was a reason for our paths crossing. It was a synchronistic meeting which took many years to occur.
It was the right time and the right place for both of us. We needed each other. Little did we know that we may have known each other as children. And that’s just one of the stories.
Jan
9
2012
“Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful.” –Norman Vincent Peale
I agree. Awareness is key. If I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, I tend to have the type of day where I wish I would have just rolled back over and gone back to sleep. Of course that wouldn’t be an easy solution because my thoughts would keep me awake.
Nothing seems to go the way I want it to unless and until I make a conscious effort to change my attitude. People can sense our attitudes and I believe that what we give out we will get back in return. So, beginning the day on a positive note can help us get through our day.
“A great attitude does much more than turn on the light in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed.” — Earl Nightingale
If we focus on the positive things in our life, more positive things will come to us: The Law of Attraction. Having an attitude of gratitude will bring more of what we are grateful for.
Now, to just put this into practice more often than I do. I’ve noticed that even before the new year began, I had my mind on being more aware.
In order to make changes in our lives, awareness is a key factor in accomplishing our intentions.
Have you ever thought about that phrase, “waking up on the wrong side of the bed”? If I did that I’d be staring at the wall.
Jan
8
2012
Author: Dorsey Velasquez
Having my kids all home for Christmas break taught me a lesson: I need to find more for them to do when we’re all home for extended periods of time. I love them to death but they’re about as hyperactive as it gets and when they’re all indoors at once I want to pull my hair out because they’re inevitably playing ball in the house or breaking something or out in the yard running out in front of cars and whatnot. After only two days of them being here I got online and ordered clear internet and TV so they’d at least have some movies and things to keep them occupied on their computers (I knew they were all getting new laptops for the holidays) and that’s helped. I love my boys, don’t get me wrong, but they’re just so darn hyper – I can’t relate to it. As a girl I wanted to spend all of my time reading and playing with dolls and doing the cutest things little girls do, no big deal.
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Thank you Stan (muz4now™)
Playtime
