“Where words leave off, music begins.” ― Heinrich Heine

For me, truer words may never have been spoken.  I can't remember a time that music was not in my life in one way or another.  My father was a music teacher/band director, as was my Uncle Dick, their father; Uncle Bob was a professional musician.  My dad and Uncle Dick used to play in a dance band on the weekends and Dad played in a German Eureka Band in the park on Friday evenings.  (How much fun was that - running around the park, playing on the swings and hearing the car horns honk as applause when a song was over!)  My great aunts played the piano, and had sung on the radio.  Therefore lots of my parents' friends were musicians as well.  I can remember gatherings at our home from time to time with people and having reel to reel tapes going of past performances, talk of music, watching football games for the halftime shows, going to musicals and the symphony.  There were many times the stereo was on when the TV was not.  I knew the soundtracks to movies I had never seen - Flower Drum Song, Camelot, South Pacific, and I remember clearly listening to Peter and the Wolf with my Dad narrating the story to the music.

Music began for me then, in our home as a child, and continued through piano lessons, clarinet lessons, band, marching band, band camp, baritone sax in jazz band, band at Culver Military Academy, choir, and the Marian College Drum & Bugle Corps.  A firm foundation had been laid and I had no idea yet how precious that would be for me.

Who doesn't occasionally hear an old song that immediately and magically transports you back to a time or place - sometimes wonderful, sometimes not so much.  Some songs make me think of certain people, some make me think of specific events, some are just so tender that they touch me emotionally.  I have lived through vinyl, 8 track, cassettes, CDs and now digital music.  I have some of it all.  It's as hard for me to part with a favorite track as it is a favorite book.  (We'll talk about my hoarding tendencies another time!)

My point is that I grew up with music, relate to music, delight in it, drown in it, desire it.  Over these past few years, that particular gift imparted by my father has proven more precious than ever.  When you find yourself so very often alone and are also so very unaccustomed to solitude, music can help fill the void.  My dear husband, also said that after he was gone, I should listen to lyrics, because he would be there in those lyrics for me. How comforting to hear a love song and imagine that I can see and hear him behind the words.

Favorite genres?  I don't know that there are any.  I'm trying to stay current in what happens in music and am finding great pleasure in Maddie and Tae, Adele, Jason Mrasz, Coldplay, to name a few.  I love what are now the "oldies" that I grew up listening to, as well as music especially from the 40's.  It was SO romantic.  I love country, gospel, classical, John Philip Sousa, R&B, jazz, probably everything but rap, metal and hip hop.

I chose "My Life is in Your Hands" by Kathy Troccoli to be my Lent song.  This morning listening to Firefall and "Just Remember I Love You", it could have been Dave singing, or it could be a message from God.  Diamond Rio's "One More Day" always makes me think of Adam.  Van Halen's "Jump" takes me back to little boys who loved to be silly and jump their way through that song when it came on.  John Fogerty's "Put Me In Coach" covers Chad's high school years.  "Unanswered Prayers" could be my theme song.

I suppose I have moved past liking just what melody appeals to me, and have become more of a lyrical fan.  And since lyrics to a song are much like a Sunday sermon, where everyone wonders how the priest knew that was just what they needed to hear, I can relate to almost everything, especially with more life experience likely behind me than ahead of me.

At night when I can't sleep, which is often, I have taken to listening to Christian music, and have found that it backfired a bit, as I am anxious to hear what the next song will be, so I'm not falling asleep as I'd like.  I guess I'll need to try some ambient sounds.  From Disney to Andrea Boccelli, Creedence Clearwater to Glenn Miller, music speaks to me and my soul yearns for it.  I think it helps me through this journey, particularly now.  It provides a focus, pulls me out of the fog, puts a smile on my face or a tear in my eye.  Sometimes I sing loudly and dance, and other times I am as still as can be absorbing it all.  But it helps me to navigate my emotions.  I never want the music to die.  My all time favorite has always been and always will be "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".  I began to love it just because I loved the Wizard of Oz.  It has been covered by the best of the best and it always calms me.  I now love it just for the lyrics - so simple, so true.  A close second is Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World".  Number three probably has to be "Just the Way You Look Tonight".  But that has a memory that connects me to my Dad.  I could go on and on and I'd have a hard time naming all the songs that I connect to, but what I will say is that music has become an extension of my soul.

Maybe the quote above hits home for me because my Dad was a man of few words.  When he spoke, it was well worth it to listen.  But I would say that knowing him as I do now as an adult, I think he often used music to express himself when words couldn't.  It makes perfect sense to me.

Once again, the legacy handed down to me is a gift more precious than gold or jewels.  Thanks Dad, for opening that amazing world to me.  And Happy Birthday in Heaven on Sunday.  I know last year you had a special guest arrive for the party.  Please make sure that this year there is lots of music with all those wonderful people you will celebrate with there.  And know that I'll be singing your praises down here.  Love you Dad.