Monday Morning Musings

Posted on December 3, 2018 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Len, Mark and Santa

Last Thursday was a pretty messy. A mixture of snow and rain made it hazardous to drive anywhere and the walking wasn’t all that desirable. With power outages and closures, there wasn’t much a person could do, so I turned on Handel’s Messiah, cranked up the speakers and drifted off to paradise.

Everyone’s musical tastes are unique. I happen to like just about everything. I haven’ quite figured out rap but my parents (initially) couldn’t understand our fascination with The Beatles in the early 60s when they were becoming a global phenomenon.

There are not many days when I don’t think of my parents because most days, I have at least one musical moment. I’m either playing music or listening to it. This time of the year, it’s hard to avoid it as most places of business have the Christmas soundtrack going full tilt.

I was blessed to grow up in a musical household with parents who came from musical families. Even before television (I’m dating myself), we would gather around the piano and sing. I have realized for a long time that this was the most incredible gift a person could receive.

Now I suspect that classical music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Trust me, I’m not a music snob but the sound of the London Philharmonic orchestra accompanied by a magnificent choir is as good as it gets for me. I often wonder about my ancestors who passed along this love of music. I love music even though I can’t read a note.

Someone once said, “It’s hard to make new old friends.” Friends of any description are to be cherished but there’s something special about friends you’ve had for a long time. On Saturday, I had the pleasure of providing some music at Green Meadows senior’s residence in North Grant. Our mother lived there for a while and it was good to see some of her former roommates. Besides Santa (!) there was one other very special guest in the person of Glenn Graham who came by and played his fiddle for an hour. We played Christmas music, fiddle tunes and a few Cape Breton songs. Mark Heffernan (pictured above) was the star as he sang three solos. It was a great afternoon.

Saturday evening was pretty special as well. Connie and Brian, two St.F.X grads and long-time friends, flew in for the weekend to attend the memorial for Jack and Judy O’Donnell. We used to sing together back in the early 80s. We meandered over to the chapel at the RK MacDonald Nursing Home and sang Christmas music for the better part of an hour. With the chapel decorated for the Lights of Love celebration, it provided a beautiful backdrop.

The weekend was capped off by a touching evening at St.Ninian’s Cathedral honoring the lives of the late Jack and Judy O’Donnell. Music, prayer, laughter and storytelling were in abundance, a very fitting tribute to a couple who have left a large footprint of compassion and caring. The grand finale was the St.Ninian’s Choir and the Men of the Deeps singing Josh Groban’s “We Raise you up.”

Rest in Peace Judy and Jack.