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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

My own personal scary monsters!

I'm sitting here thinking of the things that scare me. Of all the things in the world I can think of it's not having a "well spent life." I saw a documentary back before people were making films about every possible thing under the sun. In it a film maker,Les Blank was was visiting Kansas University at a showing of his film, A Well Spent Life. The film was about Mance Lipscomb,A Texas Delta blues guitar man. I remember the feeling I came away with after watching the film. Mance Lipscomb the elderly guitarist had spent his life playing the blues. He lived a humble life, not rich, by any standard, probably poor by most. His life was his music, and just being alive. Living and being thankful for it.

I wonder about all the things we put ourselves through and the worth of those things. Striving for so much we think we need, or maybe not. What's important, what's the point.
In the film you met the Mrs. A charming elderly African American woman, like her husband, humble. They seemed so comfortable together. Could I ever be that content, that comfortable with my life. It seems like a good question. I often wonder if my life is that complicated of if my choices have just been choices, not of the heart, or perhaps just not true enough to self. I still don't know.
My scary monster. Waking up some day to realize I've over complicated things and missed all the simple joys that can make life the kind of a journey that when your done, you can say it was a, Well spent life."

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Missing out on "Being There."

I must admit, I was emailed this. It meant perhaps more to me because I recently bought my first house. The other night a friend asked me if they could play their viola in the downstairs because of the great acoustics. I stopped while they were there and listened for a few moments. It was beautiful. I was moved. I took the time to listen and was happy for it.

I try not to miss much, it's all so amazing and beautiful... Sunlight after a rainstorm, low hanging clouds speeding on their way in a hot electric blue sky, a child's direct stare followed by a hearty giggle. All of it beautiful beyond belief, It's like standing on the brink of creation and becoming drunk on it. So this was interesting.


Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule
4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

You have to be present to win!