It seems to me that we sang this song at our church's mother/daughter banquet when I was a child. I don't remember anything in particular about the specific events. But on this Mother's Day, it's only fitting to bring out a classic one more time.
"M" is for the million things she gave me.
Like pudding cake? That little white sweater? The way I sneeze "big"? Or a million moments that can't be described in words, only in a certainty that nobody loves you like Mom does.
"O" means only that she's growing old.
In my eyes, we shall follow a certain family tradition and stop counting at age 39.
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me.
Well, she never had to plead my case and cry before a judge. But though I never saw it, I'm sure she shed a few tears when I was sad or when I upset her.
"H" is for her heart of purest gold.
My mom has taught me a lot about having a big heart. She does things that make other people feel good: a card, a visit, a "giving tree" gift. She doesn't neglect herself, but she knows how to share what she has.
"E" is for her eyes with love-light shining.
A mother looks at her child with many emotions. A knowing glance. A mischievous twinkle. An "I told you not to" glare. But behind each of those looks is the love of a mom. And sometimes, a look is all you need to feel that love.
"R" means right and right she'll always be.
On Mother's Day, everything a mother says or does is right. But you have to admit that there are definitely times on other days when Mother knows best, too. She's not going to intentionally steer you wrong. That doesn't mean you always have to agree, though. As we've often discussed, I no longer have to do as she says, but I always have to listen to what she says.
Put them all together they spell MOTHER,
a word that means the world to me.
The word "mother" is just that--a word. Just a particular arrangement of letters. It holds different meanings for each individual. But there's nothing like a mother. There may be days when I'm not as quick to admit it (and vice versa, I'm sure), but my mother does mean the world to me.
Happy Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
'Tis the Season for Music
To some of you, that title may remind you of beer tents and grandstands. Bands from the '70s and '80s playing at fairs and festivals throughout the summer. But for me, it means performances at my son's high school and solo/ensemble competitions.
I'll admit right off the bat that I'm biased on this subject. I played clarinet for 20 years, starting in 5th grade. Once in awhile I'll be inspired to put it together and see if I can still make music. It all comes back to me well enough, but I don't have the chops to play more than maybe 20 minutes. My son has played violin for seven years. He's pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.
Watching and listening to these young musicians fills me with awe and pride. There is so much talent! Yet I know how much work goes into every performance, whether it's one person preparing for a solo or the entire orchestra.
First, I applaud music teachers. They select the music that will best showcase the group's skills. They position each musician where they are best suited. They teach not only how to play the piece as it's written on the page, but how to feel they way it should sound. I'm not going to get into a discussion about how much work teachers do or how much they are paid. But I will say that I believe music teachers are a special breed. The good ones earn the respect of their students while still educating them and having fun simultaneously. I remember having days when I didn't want to go to a particular class, but I'm pretty sure I always wanted to go to Band.
Individually, the students must all practice their parts. They take responsibility for making sure they are playing to the best of their ability. It's easy to see--or hear, actually--how one person fits into the grand scheme of things. Melody, harmony, rhythm line...all important to the finished product. Practice makes perfect! Each rehearsal builds toward a concert at the end of the semester. It's like a giant class project! Every person needs to practice their part on their instrument so when they all come together it the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Math nerds, grammar geeks, jocks, and loners all come together with a common goal: to make beautiful music. In many cases, students are playing with the same core group for four years. Let me tell you, that builds some incredible camaraderie! When graduation time came, I knew I would miss my bandmates more than most of my other classmates. And I could feel it at a recent school concert when the ensembles bid farewell to the seniors.
On top of the two (at least) concerts during the school year, there are often other performance opportunities. Smaller ensembles may play at community events. Solo/ensemble competitions give students a chance to concentrate on one particular piece, perhaps a solo or a chamber group, or any size in between. This is about doing your best work for you. A judge listens to you and gives feedback to you and gives a rating score to you. The musicians can push themselves to grow and really see what they can accomplish.
Discipline. Teamwork. Creativity. Pride. Aren't these skills and qualities we want to encourage in our children? Aren't they valuable in any field of study or eventual career path? Why would anyone think it makes sense to eliminate music education, in any season?
I'll admit right off the bat that I'm biased on this subject. I played clarinet for 20 years, starting in 5th grade. Once in awhile I'll be inspired to put it together and see if I can still make music. It all comes back to me well enough, but I don't have the chops to play more than maybe 20 minutes. My son has played violin for seven years. He's pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.
Watching and listening to these young musicians fills me with awe and pride. There is so much talent! Yet I know how much work goes into every performance, whether it's one person preparing for a solo or the entire orchestra.
First, I applaud music teachers. They select the music that will best showcase the group's skills. They position each musician where they are best suited. They teach not only how to play the piece as it's written on the page, but how to feel they way it should sound. I'm not going to get into a discussion about how much work teachers do or how much they are paid. But I will say that I believe music teachers are a special breed. The good ones earn the respect of their students while still educating them and having fun simultaneously. I remember having days when I didn't want to go to a particular class, but I'm pretty sure I always wanted to go to Band.
Individually, the students must all practice their parts. They take responsibility for making sure they are playing to the best of their ability. It's easy to see--or hear, actually--how one person fits into the grand scheme of things. Melody, harmony, rhythm line...all important to the finished product. Practice makes perfect! Each rehearsal builds toward a concert at the end of the semester. It's like a giant class project! Every person needs to practice their part on their instrument so when they all come together it the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Math nerds, grammar geeks, jocks, and loners all come together with a common goal: to make beautiful music. In many cases, students are playing with the same core group for four years. Let me tell you, that builds some incredible camaraderie! When graduation time came, I knew I would miss my bandmates more than most of my other classmates. And I could feel it at a recent school concert when the ensembles bid farewell to the seniors.
On top of the two (at least) concerts during the school year, there are often other performance opportunities. Smaller ensembles may play at community events. Solo/ensemble competitions give students a chance to concentrate on one particular piece, perhaps a solo or a chamber group, or any size in between. This is about doing your best work for you. A judge listens to you and gives feedback to you and gives a rating score to you. The musicians can push themselves to grow and really see what they can accomplish.
Discipline. Teamwork. Creativity. Pride. Aren't these skills and qualities we want to encourage in our children? Aren't they valuable in any field of study or eventual career path? Why would anyone think it makes sense to eliminate music education, in any season?
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Dark Shadows? I Doubt It!
I don't claim to be an expert on TV or films. I'm not a professional critic by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just a regular gal who likes what she likes. That being said...
I was watching the TV Land awards the other night. I can't resist nostalgia: clips from "old" shows, looking at the actors today. Seeing a snippet doesn't just remind me of the show. It reminds me of my life at that point in time. TV Land offers some of those shows for my viewing pleasure. MeTV also gives me some nuggets from the past. Now, I know that just because a show is old doesn't automatically make it good. But as I said, I like what I like.
A commercial came on for the new "Dark Shadows" film. I haven't watched any trailers, but I've seen a few ads. It looks like it might be kind of a "groovy flick." Johnny Depp is sure to be an asset. But from my limited knowledge, it doesn't seem to have much to do with the original series. Yes, there's a mysterious family in an old house, and there's a vampire. They may have the same character names, I don't know. But it looks like it's trying to be funny, or at least have some comedic moments. Have they made Barnabas a character that gets laughs? That's not the "real" Barnabas! Sure, if you watch the original series (thank you, Netflix!), you might get a few chuckles. But that's because it's so "dated," almost primitive by today's standards. It was a serious soap opera in its day, and creepy to boot. (I remember having a nightmare about Angelique when I was a child.)
My opinion? If you're going to take an old concept and try to update it, why not come up with a new name for it? Make a movie, if you'd like, about a vampire trying to adjust to life in a different era, looking for a bride or whatever. But it seems to me that if you reference a "classic," you should be honoring what that show was at that time. Continue the storyline with the same spirit. Or tell the same basic story with updated dialogue and effects. Have some respect for what made the show good in the first place.
I've seen some films based on '70s shows that were a lot of fun. It can be done. "Starsky & Hutch" and "The Brady Bunch" were funny in part because the characters were so much like the originals. Call it parody or good-natured ribbing, whatever. But I don't believe that Barnabas Collins would brush his fangs in front of a mirror or try to sleep in a carton with packing peanuts. That's not the "Dark Shadows" I know and love.
I was watching the TV Land awards the other night. I can't resist nostalgia: clips from "old" shows, looking at the actors today. Seeing a snippet doesn't just remind me of the show. It reminds me of my life at that point in time. TV Land offers some of those shows for my viewing pleasure. MeTV also gives me some nuggets from the past. Now, I know that just because a show is old doesn't automatically make it good. But as I said, I like what I like.
A commercial came on for the new "Dark Shadows" film. I haven't watched any trailers, but I've seen a few ads. It looks like it might be kind of a "groovy flick." Johnny Depp is sure to be an asset. But from my limited knowledge, it doesn't seem to have much to do with the original series. Yes, there's a mysterious family in an old house, and there's a vampire. They may have the same character names, I don't know. But it looks like it's trying to be funny, or at least have some comedic moments. Have they made Barnabas a character that gets laughs? That's not the "real" Barnabas! Sure, if you watch the original series (thank you, Netflix!), you might get a few chuckles. But that's because it's so "dated," almost primitive by today's standards. It was a serious soap opera in its day, and creepy to boot. (I remember having a nightmare about Angelique when I was a child.)
My opinion? If you're going to take an old concept and try to update it, why not come up with a new name for it? Make a movie, if you'd like, about a vampire trying to adjust to life in a different era, looking for a bride or whatever. But it seems to me that if you reference a "classic," you should be honoring what that show was at that time. Continue the storyline with the same spirit. Or tell the same basic story with updated dialogue and effects. Have some respect for what made the show good in the first place.
I've seen some films based on '70s shows that were a lot of fun. It can be done. "Starsky & Hutch" and "The Brady Bunch" were funny in part because the characters were so much like the originals. Call it parody or good-natured ribbing, whatever. But I don't believe that Barnabas Collins would brush his fangs in front of a mirror or try to sleep in a carton with packing peanuts. That's not the "Dark Shadows" I know and love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)