Life with Monkeys

I Could've Been A Sailor, Could've Been A Cook

The Kindness of Strangers

One entirely unexpected and delightful consequence of having this little blog has been the great blessing of hearing from readers whom I have come to consider, for a lack of a more precise term, friends. It is a gift when people find my blog and then feel moved to comment. These comments are like rare and delicious treats I find waiting for me. I eagerly open and savor each one, feeling the world gets just a little cozier each time a reader reaches out to me. I have recently been sent comments by someone whom I have come to find out is a uniquely talented musician. What an impoverished existence we would live without music! After some correspondence, my new friend sent me a collection of some of the world's most beautiful music played by her very gifted hands. She plays like an angel, and that she saw me worthy of the effort and expense of sending me these treasures moves me beyond measure. My house is, at this moment, filled with the most lovely piano music thanks to one very talented and generous new friend. Unlike Blanche Dubois, I have never counted on the kindness of strangers but I have indeed been blessed by it. Brava, pianogirl, and thank you very much.

The Band I Love

I have a deep, abiding, and passionate 'thing' for the band in my life. I admit it. While I listen to music ranging from Diana Krall and Vivaldi to The Talking
Heads and Polly Palusma (who you really should give a listen to, by the way),
there really is only one band that fills me with such utter and complete joy that
it is very nearly obscene! That band is The Dave Matthews Band. My obsession began about 10 years ago and I can't remember when or how I first heard their music but I did and I haven't been the same since. I love the imagery in their lyrics and the broad range of subjects they sing about but more than anything else, I love their violin. That electric violin in the abundantly capable hands of their violinist Boyd Tinsley. This magical combination of electric violin, guitars, percussion and horns just sends me. I am grateful Tinsley decided against a career in classical music! Since discovering this band, I have had the great good fortune of attending their concerts whenever they are in town, which happens about every two years. Their concerts are less a performance, more a celebration and exhilarating beyond measure. The last time I went, I took my oldest monkey who did not seem as bowled over as I have been. I had promised my little monkey that I would take him next time which just happened to be last night! Staples Center, great seats, just the monkey man and me. The moment the band came on, the entire stadium full of people cheered and got to their feet and stayed there!
For two hours the place went mad; all of us dancing and singing along. Two
hours of the most fun I have had in recent memory.  The concert was just a
bit sad as yesterday, one of their founding members, Leroi Moore, who was
also their saxophonist passed away.  He succumbed to complications following
 an injury he sustained in June. How sad is that? Dave Matthews told stories
about Leroi and played some of his favorite songs. Circle of life and all that.
A reminder to enjoy what we have while we have it and last night I had the
monkey singing and dancing and laughing with me for two hours, while my very favorite band played. My cup runneth over.