The Best Is Yet To Come
Really. Truly. But it's up to us.
Sunrise over the Atlantic (video made on my beloved Rehoboth Beach)
Hey there.
Think of this week’s newsletter as a general pep talk. (Do you need one? I sure do!)
MY “BRILLIANT” CAREER(S)
Feeling unqualified for a task? I totally get it. But I haven’t let that stop me so far…and I am so grateful for the mentoring and patience of MANY good people along my way…
Well, my streak continues. With no theatre education whatsoever, I performed with Steve for 20+ years. Armed with zero seminary training, I proceeded to serve as Christ’s Lutheran Church’s Director of Spiritual Formation for the next 20 years. Now I’m a full-time freelance writer (no English or Journalism degree).
Anyway, another hat I’m now wearing without official credentials is…writing instructor. I’ve been blessed to work for the past several years with a terrific organization, The Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild, as one of their roster of teachers. This winter I’m leading “Musical Notes: Writing About the Tunes We Love!” I’m enjoying this online venture immensely—my students are talented, engaged and passionate about music. I give them personalized writing assignments, based on their individual interests—designing a “musical quilt” (colors and fabrics that represent songs), making a playlist for traveling, introducing me to the opera, etc.
Since I’m knee-deep in class prep, I thought I’d share one of the assignments, and how I’d respond:
WRITE ABOUT A VERY MEMORABLE CONCERT
While I don’t personally know Elton John, we do have a little Six Degrees of Separation thing going. The superstar owns an Atlanta apartment in the same building as my dear friends the Lanes. Also, for several years my sister C was the Neiman-Marcus men’s department manager in the ATL. Carolyn recalls Elton fondly as a frequent shopper (I do wonder what exactly Sir E. would have purchased there, Neiman’s not being a hotbed of brilliantly colored sequined jackets and hugely oversized glasses.)
Though C and my other sister Mo had seen him in concert, I never had, until Sheridan bought us tickets, in 2018, to one of Elton’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” concerts. Here’s my reflection about that wonderful evening:
ESSAY: "Elton and Me"
and just for fun…here is the Great One on a British TV show, coming up with a tune on the spot for… an oven operating manual. Now that’s talent!
Here’s to hope, which “Springs” eternal, after all…uplifting thoughts on endurance by last year’s US Poet Laureate…
INSTRUCTIONS ON NOT GIVING UP By Ada Limón
More than the fuchsia funnels breaking out
of the crabapple tree, more than the neighbor’s
almost obscene display of cherry limbs shoving
their cotton candy-colored blossoms to the slate
sky of Spring rains, it’s the greening of the trees
that really gets to me.
When all the shock of white
and taffy, the world’s baubles and trinkets, leave
the pavement strewn with the confetti of aftermath,
the leaves come. Patient, plodding, a green skin
growing over whatever winter did to us, a return
to the strange idea of continuous living despite
the mess of us, the hurt, the empty.
Fine then,
I’ll take it, the tree seems to say, a new slick leaf
unfurling like a fist to an open palm, I’ll take it all.
WORDS AND MUSIC: Carolyn Leigh, unsung lyricist
The immortal tunesmiths of the mid-20th century: Gershwin! Porter! Rodgers and Hart! They all had one thing in common. Yup! All men. Oh, there were a (precious) few female songwriters back then, but they should be MUCH better known. You’ve probably heard of Betty Comden (of Comden and Green). Perhaps my favorite was the very talented lyricist Carolyn Leigh. She wrote the words for many classic tunes, including “Witchcraft,” “Young at Heart” and this one—jazzy and hopeful and just what I need to hear right now…a Leigh song, sung by another amazing Lee (Peggy).
BLOG PREVIEW: A Shambolic Shambala
One word means “Paradise.” The other means “messy and chaotic”. What’s the connection? Inquiring minds, come join me over at Working Title!!
And finally…
INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK: A Message from Alexei Navalny
I want to share a video clip of the incredibly brave Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. In it, Navalny implores the Russian people to never give up, no matter what. Rest in Peace, Alexei, and thank you for your example of courage, love of your country and of freedom.
Onward, my friends. Let’s face this week’s challenges, together, with confidence and hope.