Sound.

Let's think about sound for a while. There's all kinds of sounds, noise mostly. What's the best sound? I still think my favorite sound is the sound of Aha playing the piano - the regular piano - not plugged into anything. Why is that my favorite?

Partly because he is a most spectacular piano player - yep.
Partly because his playing always makes me think of happy times with him.
Partly because if he's playing the piano, I can assume a few things: 1. he is feeling well enough physically to play the piano; 2. he's feeling well enough mentally to play the piano; and 3. that he's in that musical mood (that's kind of a lame one, but I really don't have a third and two things seemed too little - oh wait! I've got it!) and 3. For a few minutes at least, I don't have to worry about how he feels. (Caregiver is a sucky place to as a spouse, no matter what age you and your spouse are, but when you're both under 60? Extra sucky.)

Other sounds I love - when any of my nieces or nephews calls me Auntie - that really means a lot. And I don't mean just the ones I'm related to by marriage or blood - I've got lots of friends whose kids call me Auntie. A good, well meaning, from the heart "Auntie" is always wonderful. And yes, the younger the voice, the more my heart melts. #38 gives a good Auntie these days. (order of birth - out of 41 - yes you read that right. I am Auntie and Great Auntie to 41 - 2 are from my brother and his wife and the remaining 39 are on Aha's side.)

The ocean - I could sit an listen to the ocean for the rest of my days. There is something calming and peaceful about the waves crashing on the beach. The Pacific Ocean sounds different than the Atlantic. Can't explain it, but it does. There is something amazing about the Pacific Ocean here in CA. Different than in Hawaii (yeah - will retest that theory in April!!!). I love the sound. There used to be a radio station in the late 80's that played the sound of the ocean for 4 or 5 hours every night; I loved falling asleep to it.

Laughter - especially laughter in my house. Laughter in my house means that people are there (probably eating) and having a good time. One of the few dreams I have been able to live is that I can entertain my friends and family. I grew up in a home where my parents entertained frequently and that's where I probably got the bug. I found ways to entertain my friends long before I had a house to do it in. I brought pizza to our 9th grade lawn lunches at John Burroughs Junior High in the early 80's; I seem to make people laugh pretty regularly (some more than others - Mom is the best audience); and so on.

I think that's it for now... oh, wait...one more sound that I love - my Dad singing - randomly (though singing to me at my wedding was AWESOME!!!). My Dad would sing all weekend long when I was growing up - anything, mostly show tunes and anything by Barbra Streisand. There are a few songs that when I hear them today all I can hear is my Dad singing them: Anything from A Chorus Line, Sh-Boom and Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Sound is very powerful - it can make us smile, laugh, cry and remember.

Todays post was composed while watching the surf and listening to Sirius Satellite Radio - 1st Wave. - Madison. Hey, that's John Taylor from Duran Duran with you in the studio! Oh thank goodness, Richard Blade arrived.
Blondie, Human League, Duran Duran, David Bowie, New Order, OMD, The Alarm, Split Endz, U2, Modern English, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Clash, Howard Jones, Public Image Ltd. and Pet Shop Boys.