Magical Moment 511, "Thankful"

It just hit me recently, that I'm a musician. No really. When people ask me what I do for a living, I can actually reply, "I play the piano." Not, "I wait tables, but really, I want to play the piano."

A year ago, I was hopelessly unemployed, and totally clueless as to how to go about entering the confusing, frustrating world of the music industry. I was questioning my talent, my future, and my prospects. So far in that I actually applied to law school as a "back-up" for when music didn't work out. But somehow, a ballet accompanist job landed in my lap - a position that intimidated me and left me wondering if I was even qualified for it. And after some struggles and much studying and practice, I am comfortable in the job and more thankful for it than ever. It has made me a much better and more professional pianist.

Last night was my first day at work in a beautiful restaurant, not waiting tables, but playing dinner music for its customers. I love this job and can't believe how lucky I am to have been selected as one of their regular performers. I love to watch people's faces light up when they recognize a song I play. They slap the shoulder of the person beside them and say, "I love this song!" And I love that they love it.

And thanks to the help and support of my husband and family, I've been fortunate enough to record an album of my own compositions with Modern Vintage Recordings. I haven't blogged about the progress of this album in a while, but it is going very well. So well. And the finish is near. I would expect it to be complete within the next month or two.

It's hard to believe, but I can't deny it. I'm a musician. It nearly brings tears to my eyes because this is what I have always dreamed of. And so today, as the realization hits me completely, I just have to share my thankfulness.

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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