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Showing posts from February 4, 2011

Magical Moment 371, "Underground Smile"

The subway car was packed with rush hour commuters, far below the sunlight and color that crept its way into a long, glum winter streak. A lucky few found a seat, but most stood, clinging to the metal bars as the train jerked its way uptown. A man lost his balance and fell into another’s lap. There was no ‘excuse me,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ or, ‘ are you okay?’ No one else even turned their eyes from their folded hands, iPod, or magazine. The cold, biting wind seemed to have stripped away the kindness that day. The garbage on the ground must have cluttered their manners. The same vacant stares and straight-mouthed faces sat side by side, but wore different coats. At the midtown stop, the doors opened, and like a rush of water making its way through a narrow tunnel, the crowd pushed through the sliding doors onto the platform. It was one man’s only chance to do what he’d been thinking about since Union Square.  This was his stop, and the girl he’d been watching since he boarded, remained in her

Magical Moment 370, "Knowledge is Power"

Remember the old Schoolhouse Rock song, “Knowledge is Power?” As I get older, I appreciate this little ditty for more than just its catchiness. It actually has some meaning to it. Hindsight is 20/20, right? When I was 5, I didn’t know that it’s impossible to get my eyes stuck when I crossed them, like my parents told me. So, I was scared into a certain behavior due to my lack of knowledge. If only google existed back then. I would have typed in the question, discovered the truth, and been free to cross my eyes whenever I wanted. This concept has been pretty helpful in other aspects of life, ranging from the obvious day-to-day matters, to the controversial and urgent. Believe or not, after college it took me a while to learn that I have to pay attention to what my paychecks say. As reliable as the Army is, sometimes Uncle Sam makes a mistake (gasp!) and I had to make that right. It’s easy to be on autopilot and trust without question. And sure, I would have been fine , but not the bes

Magical Moment 369, "The Other Side of the Wall"

Not long after we moved to our current NJ apartment, I purchased my very own piano. Never having lived in an apartment building with a piano before, I was slightly worried what my neighbors would think, as the sound would surely carry to the apartment below and beside us. I put my shiny May Berlin in the spare bedroom where I would have my own music space to work in. Eddie and I insulated the wooden floor as best we could with foam and an area rug, and muffled the back of the piano to catch some of the sound. I'll never forget sitting down at he keys. It was the moment I had been waiting for. I had my very own room, with a door, with privacy, to play and do whatever I wanted without inhibition. I chose to play the song "Turkish March" by Mozart, a song I learned in 8th grade and became so ingrained into my muscle memory that I can still play it to this day without ever glancing at the keyboard. I hit that last, glorious A major chord and let the sound echo throughout

Magical Moment 368, "Green Haiku"

Inspired by my morning walk through the snow... "Green Haiku" by Elizabeth Grimes Only blue, he saw. Wearily, he sailed the sea Till the dove brought green. White covers the earth. From the snow, a green bloom. Ancient hope renewed. *Photo by Pixvee Some of my favorite poetry posts: Fly with the Wind A Rain Haiku A Brave Leaf Blessings that Fall

Magical Moment 367, "Do You Believe in Signs?"

Lately I've been searching for a sign. Something that clearly shows me what I'm supposed to do next in life. Questions are gathering over my head, waiting for me to make a decision. So I've been looking at signs, and they've given me some pretty good advice... ...Before you speak ...Have a cup of coffee with an old friend instead ...Go for a walk ...A polite "excuse me" goes a long way ...You never know when your sky could fall ...Of course I believe in this one! Is this a sign I should move to Grimes, PA? I'm not sure I've found the definitive one yet, however. I'm looking for something that roughly says, "Hey you, piano girl! Take this job, move to this apartment, go to this school (or don't go), and if you do this, this, and this, you'll be a successful musician, performer, and songwriter." Too much to ask for? I guess I'll just have to search my own heart and mind. Thankfully though, I have some gui

Magical Moment 366, "Useful in More than Just Traffic"

Here’s a cliché for you - going to a mall on a Saturday night in Jersey. Just one more way, in addition to my regular Dunkin Doughnuts coffee and uncharacteristically bold driving moves, I’m feeling more at home in this town 15 miles west of Manhattan. In the passenger seat beside me, helping me conquer the congested, cut-throat mall parking lot in search of a vacant spot, is my old Army friend, Ro. Together, we maneuver through swarms of pedestrians, slippery roads, and some very questionable drivers on our quest to see  a movie this evening.   People wonder sometimes why on earth I moved out here to northern New Jersey, without friends, family, or a job. The short answer is, I’m here to pursue a music career in New York City. But the truth is, I never thought about New York City until 2 years ago when Ro planted the idea into my head. I’ll never forget the shock I felt when she said she believed I had enough talent to find work out here. If not for her suggestion and encouragement,

Magical Moment 365, "One Year of Magical Moments!"

Today is my 365th blog post! Naturally, I've been doing a bit of reflecting on this past year. Last February, I was alone in a strange new city, unemployed, and experiencing rejection on a daily basis as a new, struggling musician. I decided I had  to focus on something positive everyday. This does not come naturally for me, so I created a blog where the title locks me into a daily commitment, "One Magical Moment Per Day." This blog has become an important part of my life. Not only that, but much of my life comes out through this blog. Many days, I've sat staring at a blank screen wondering, what on earth will I write about today? And then suddenly I have an idea and the inspiration pours out. I'm left with a few paragraphs full of my heart, that would never have manifested in any other way if I didn't have this blog. I always thought that at number 365, I would be ready to call it quits. But now that I'm here, I can't imagine giving it up just ye