I just returned from the Soulard Farmer’s
Market, where I play every Saturday.
Our fiddler showed up today, a cause for
celebration–otherwise it would have
been just the banjo player and myself. We had
an American flag in our jar and we played
patriotic tunes. People were plainly glad we were there. They liked
the patriot tunes and also the normalcy
the music represents. And I guess they like
us anyway.
The firefighters
were at the market collecting money for their
brethren in NYC–we had them stand next to
us because we attract crowds of people. I was glad to see Muslims in traditional dress shopping in the market, as they do each Saturday. A very traditionally attired Muslim man gave one the firefighters money and embraced him. Our lives go on, the world continues. We invited delighted children to play the banjo, we learned new songs today…
Yes, music heals. Today my husband showed me a bodhran he got in the mail just the day before the tragedy, while I was in NY with my parents. I am not a drummer, but when I held it the rawhide skin felt soft and alive and smelled good and the wood was beautiful, and when he played it, I told him honestly that it was the prettiest drum I’d ever heard. As he played his new drum, I played a slide on the flute I made while visiting Dave Copley last week (I will write about it very soon and tell people how grateful I am to Dave and his wife Marlene for being so generous with their time and expertise). I am usually rhythmically challenged, but when we played the tune together today at home, Richard told me my rhythm was just perfect for sitting at home enjoying a tune. It is these little moments, and this forum in which to share them, that can pull us through.
Yep, music is the beginning of healing! I busked all day in a cold and rainy street, didn’t think I could ever get tired of playing, but I did after eight hours and a frozen butt! It was inspiring the way people reacted, and I was competing with a rock and roll concert!
Big grizzled biker Vietnam vets were standing around me with tears rolling down their faces, a little kid gave me a quarter and a hug, three casinos fed me, and one offered me a job if I could put a band together (HA!) and ended up with a few big bills and about $80 bucks in change, which is all going to the Red Cross! Life is good!
[ This Message was edited by: Anna Martinez on 2001-09-15 22:33 ]
Jessie