From one blog to another..

Today I was reviewed in an interesting blog in the UK called 27 Leggies.  I have been submitting my CD to blogs for review and so it is great to see others responding. I know these folks get lots and lots of submissions, so I am real lucky to be featured here: (scroll down a bit to find my review)
http://27leggies.blogspot.com/2012/02/reviewshine-round-up.html

I am pleased he chose "Innermission No. 50" to be featured because this song was a complete fluke that it ended up on my CD.   It is of me improvising my Native American flute with Jeff Romano playing guitar.  It is the result of an experiment and gift I gave to myself for my 50th birthday.  What could I do to mark the occasion of turning 50?  A friend and I talked about skydiving, but we chickened out when a few deaths were reported from bad falls that year. So, instead, I booked the studio and here is what we did:

http://www.box.com/s/cpmovni158gj8rcyps74

Choose the Sky

Today at the hospital I went up to the unit with the mothers and babies. I was sent to a young woman's room who is expecting a child in 9 more days.  I was told she had a very hard weekend and she would appreciate music.

I rarely sing at the hospital as I mainly play instrumental music but as I was tuning my guitar, I got the feeling that she may appreciate some of my own songs. Sometimes I feel that sharing my own songs is a way to share from a more vulnerable place in myself.... a way to empathize with the patients I see.

I sang for her my song, "Choose the Sky" which is a song that I've been told has been very helpful and comforting to others.  A song which talks about the sky is always there for us.

As I sang the song, she began to cry and I sensed that her tears really needed to flow. The song touched her in a deep place. I have had others tell me it made them cry too. I never would have imagined that reaction but here is a link to the song.. so you can hear it for yourself.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8101632

The photo above is the original photo I took in AZ that inspired the song.

Hope Community Center

Today was my first time at the Hope Community Center in town --Mary Williams Center's new (temporary) location. I sing with a  group there once a month. I really liked the colorful paintings and graffiti on the side walk in front. Here are a couple of the photos:

64 Crayola's colors

Today I was sent to a little girls' room in Pediatric ICU to play music for her.  Her mother was also in the room with her.  After I asked if I could play for her, the girl asked her mother if she could color while they listened to music. "Sure" came her mother's answer and she handed her a box of 64 Crayola crayons and a Unicorn coloring book. I told the girl that when I was young, I so much wanted that big box of crayons with 64 colors and even a sharpener on the box. It seemed too good to be true. Then the girl showed me a color called Macaroni & Cheese-- have you ever heard of such a thing? It's probably a good thing they didn't have this color when I was a child, I was the kind of girl that would have tried to eat one.

We had such a nice visit. We talked about country music, stuffed animals, favorite movies in between songs I played.

A Valentine luncheon

Today I played my guitar for a luncheon at one of the nursing homes where I work. The residents dressed in red and pink blouses and I got to meet some of their friends and family. I played background music as you hear in restaurants, to give the lunch a formal atmosphere. I was struck by how much the staff did for the residents. They decorated the tables (see the photo above) and the everyone's door has a Valentine on it. We began the lunch with a prayer and grace. Afterwards we played a word game and a guess how many Hershey's Kisses are in the jar?

All just simple things that make a rich experience. Later a women in a wheelchair asked me to take her to her room.  Once we got there and I settled her in the bed, she said, "wait--I want to show you something." and she lifted her legs up and moved them like she was riding a bicycle in the air. Then she smiled and laughed and gave me a look as if to say, "well, what do you think of that?!" I said, "wow, that's really something!" She said, "for an old lady! do you know I am 94 years old?" and with that she reached for my hand and we held hands and talked awhile longer.
I can only hope to be that spritely at that age!