MUSIC

Music.  Such a common little word.  But there is very little in my world that can give me instant pleasure, interrupt my train of thought, move me to tears and feel pure joy as thoroughly and instantly as music.  It can also move me to intense distress too.

I don't know if I am the only one in the world (sounds pretty arrogant...shovel list), but I just can't listen to amazing, to me, music without crying.  And that isn't necessarily just in the privacy of my home either.  Doesn't matter who I am with or where I am, if REM's 'Everybody Hurts Sometimes" comes on, I am instantly in tears.  I have to apologize and hopefully not have to explain why.

Monte has hooked up my lappy to my incredible four foot high speakers. So I can sit in my comfy magnetic recliner and play music to my heart's content...magic!!!

Earlier today right after he hooked them up and got my google play going, I hunted for my first experience with this incredible setup.  I landed on, and I don't know why or how it happened, as this particular music hasn't been on my mind for yonks, Keith Jarrett's Kohn Concert.  Now that concert is one of my all time fave pieces of music, especially at the 21 minute mark.  The first 20 minutes is a buildup to that spot with little teasing hints of what was to come.  He magically takes the listener on an anticipatory excited buildup to that 21 minute mark.  Amazing music manipulator!!!  But I digress.

So....I put this precious forgotten piece of music on and with the first three notes I was transported to Jarrett land.  Oh my god!!!!  It took my breath away and I immediately started to anticipate, and had to keep myself from jumping to that magic spot at 21 minutes and by the time we got there I was full on crying.  Thank god I was by myself.  And when that moment came, it was everything and more than I remembered.  I can say honestly it didn't disappoint!

I have a number of memories attached to that wonderful album.  Although if I had never heard it before I know it would have reduced me to tears anyway.

But the most poignant memory I have is one of those moments in one's life that stand out in your memories...and you only have a few of those special memories.

It was 1996.  We had literally, that day, just finished moving into our new house.  I got our bedrooms set up.  In my bedroom there was a huge wall of window, facing south.  No curtains.  I had set my stereo up (always the first thing) and my rocking chair right beside it, facing out the window.  It was an October night, dark outside with a massive harvest moon slowly inching its way from the left side of my window to the right. 

 I grabbed a six year old Monte, my little man, settled him in that oh so familiar spot laying across my lap, head in the crook of my left arm, started the Kohn Concert, and rocked.  And for the next hour, tears dripping off my chin, I knew this was a memory that would be burned in my brain for eternity.  I can't even put it into words.  So I shan't even try.  If you are still reading....LOL!  thanks for listening.  TTYL