A Friendly Universe

I'm reading a book called "Temperament: How Music Became A Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization," by Stuart Isacoff. It's about, I kid you not, how systems of tuning musical instruments became the basis for major struggles in religion, philosophy, science, and economics.

It starts with Isaac Newton and his theory of gravity, which "enabled him to declare the universe a place in which all things embrace each other, even across the vast distances of space."

What a lovely view of things; I can't add anything to that.

Thanksgiving

There's an anonymous saying: Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.

I like the homespun imagery, and the hint that being thankful for blessings may help them stick around. This is a lot more positive an approach than a piece of Talmud that recently came to my attention, to the effect that one who enjoys something without saying a blessing is like a thief. Although that sentiment also has a point, and may be what some people need to hear.

Anyway, Thanksgiving Day was yesterday, and I enjoyed it at the home of a neighbor and in the company of several friends. We each spoke some during the course of the evening about some major development in our lives in the past year for which we are thankful.

I talked about my Bat Mitzvah and getting involved in the work of the San Francisco Organizing Project. The work has brought me into a community of San Franciscan people of faith of many colors and religions, and has allowed me to meet with my political representatives and participate in the bettering of life for me and my fellow San Franciscans, Californians, and Americans. I'm proud and humbled to be part of this work.

There's sunshine outside, and I'd better get out and enjoy it before the all-too-soon winter sunset.

Blessings on us all, with appropriate gratitude.

Fall Follies

I spent last week at my annual Elderhostel recorder workshop in the Carmel Valley. We didn't get rained on (much), the sun came out (at least part of) most days, and the food was particularly good - especially the whipped cream that was served with most of the desserts.

I drew a sopranino solo in a Handel Concerto Grosso that we played in recorder orchestra, which had a few 'lively' 16th notes. And the conductor asked me to conduct several sectional rehearsals, which was also fun.

I dragged myself out of bed at 7 each day to take a mile and a half walk with some friends that I see only at this workshop, and saw a few birds during the exercise.

The high point of the week was a jam session I had with a newcomer named Doug, playing through the Telemann duets for alto, numbers 5 and 6. I let him set the tempo for most of the movements, and he chose quite sprightly ones, challenging me to some of the fastest and most accurate playing I've done in some time. I even played a high note that requires stopping the end of the recorder against my thigh, which I usually avoid (and sometimes for good reason, since the note won't sound when I'm wearing my usual corduroy pants). This time, I was wearing denim, and it came out just fine. Yay team.