Magical Moment 282, "A Dose of Song"

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived at the orthopedic wing of a New York City hospital. I volunteered, with an organization called Sing for Hope, to spend about 2 hours going from hospital room to hospital room, serenading patients. Two other girls volunteered as well, and we took turns choosing a song to sing to an audience of one.

We were told that the average age for the orthopedic wing was about 65 or older…my specialty as it happens, from years of playing for retirement communities and nursing homes. I brought my guitar so I wouldn’t have to drag a keyboard around and found that most patients were extremely pleased with the impromptu concert. Some clapped along, some dozed off, but most simply smiled with sincere appreciation and delight. I prepared titles such as “Pennies from Heaven,” “Tennessee Waltz,” and “Walkin After Midnight.” But I saved the best song until I found that one person who would appreciate and love it the most. And soon I found her.

She was an older, frail woman who lay in her reclining hospital bed with her adult daughter by her side. She was awake, but her head rested firmly against her pillow and her eyes remained tightly shut, as she dealt with the intense pain coursing through her body. But what struck me most when I stepped through the doorway, was her concerned daughter, who did not take her eyes off her mother for even a moment.

“She’s going to play a song for you now, mom,” the daughter whispered gently without glancing up at me.

She sat with one hand tenderly holding her mother’s, while the other stroked the gray, fine hair that fell around the woman’s wrinkled face. She never took her eyes away, even though her mother did not return her gaze. The scene struck me so poignantly and unexpectedly, that I had to swallow the lump I felt rising in my throat.

I began to strum softly, then sang,

“Gonna take a sentimental journey. Gonna set my heart at ease. Gonna take a sentimental journey to renew old memories.”

I watched the daughter, barely even listening to myself. Her eyes remained locked on her mother, adoringly, in empathy, and with fervent care. I had no idea what this woman’s prognosis was, but I had the dark feeling that it was not good. Suddenly, I felt my voice begin to crack and had to shut my own eyes to escape the intense emotion in the room as I sang the bridge,

“Heaven. I’ll be waiting up for Heaven.”

I finished the song and stood up to leave. I wondered what I would say, Feel better? Have a good night? It seemed so shallow. But before I opened my mouth, the daughter broke eye contact with her mother for the first time since I was there. She wiped a tear from her cheek.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome.” And I left.

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-...

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