Recently in Gratitude Category

My teachers encouraged me because they said I had a quality that couldn't be taught: expression.  I might not get all the notes right, but I do play with emotion.

Imagine two musicians playing the same song with identical accuracy and speed. Both performances are entertaining, but one musician conveys the song's meaning, the reason it was written, the nuances of the lyrics, and the pain or joy that the composer felt. That musician will move you to feel the song and will make you  laugh, cry, dance, or sing along.  Imagine the other musician playing without emotion. He will deliver an adequate yet unsatisfying tune, and you might tap your foot at best.

Life-changing moments tend to measure everyone's emotional expression. During a recent funeral for the mother of a dear friend, the chaplain spoke about how important both laughter and tears are in life. Of the people I knew who attended that funeral, most experience laughter often in their lives, but I wondered how many ever allow themselves to experience the power of a good cry. Like an ocean tide removing the sand, crying slowly carries away the pain.

Today it is my own family that is in pain. This Friday we will bury my cherished mother-in-law, Joy Heil. In order to replay her life's song properly, we must allow ourselves to feel all the emotions, not choke them back. Only then can we properly celebrate her life and experience meaningful healing from her loss.

We never know which days in life will be happy and which will be sad, but no matter what happens, each one should be a passionate performance, and I intend to put my heart into every song.

As many of you know, I am a pianist who plays only with the aid of written music. I own an ever-growing stack of piano books from which my daily mood makes its selections.

I choose a melancholy song when I'm feeling a little blue or a waltz when the day is going smoothly or a lively tune when I'm excited about something. I rarely repeat any song during a session; I love to play a  brand new selection; and I enjoy digging out a relic that I haven't played in years. I am a non-performing musician who entertains a moment's whim so few songs are ever learned flawlessly. Needless to say, I rely heavily on the sight-reading abilities I gained during those years of inadequate lesson preparation.

My mind sometimes wanders when I play. Occasionally, I find myself thinking about topics that are far from that of the particular song. But like an athlete, the best performance comes when I am focused. I've gained a little insight during these fleeting moments, insight that I plan to share in my next few posts.

In the meantime, I remain thankful for the ability to express myself through music. I just hope the neighbors within earshot agree.

I recently attended an opening reception for Harry Boardman's exhibit, Greenhill and Beyond - Works Close to Home.  Everything about the evening reminded me of how special my town and the people in it are to me.  

Harry is a friend of mine and his exhibit is located at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in East Greenville, PA.  The Center is a place where the history of the Pennsylvania German Schwenkfelders is not only preserved, but is alive for descendants and non-descendants to explore. People travel from around the world to visit the library and learn more about their ancestors, their tools, and their art.

Harry is not a Schwenkfelder, but his paintings are on display at the gallery because he has captured enough local scenes to easily fill the room. I've admired Harry's work before; he paints all sorts of subjects which include portraits of love ones and family pets, murals, and for fun, monsters (check out his monster blog). But I hadn't realized how dynamic his landscape pieces are. There is merit in viewing a properly hung, distinctly lit painting in a space designed to display artwork. The pieces seemed to change as I moved around the room...a  distant view yielding a different result than was seen up close. I wanted to buy them all.

Then the artwork really came to life as Harry described the subjects and landscape which were all located within a mile or two of his home. Most places I recognized. Harry lives in Telford, Pennsylvania very near the landmark Rising Sun Inn. If you live near nearby, I encourage you to see the show before summer's end. For those of you who have budding artists in your family, Harry is sharing his knowledge and talent with youth at a few summertime classes hosted at the gallery.

The Schwenkfelder Center and the artists it supports are just two examples of local gems that quietly add to the quality of my home. Is there a treasure in your hometown?

Vacation season is upon us at a time when money is tight. In 2008 we coined the word "staycation" as a result of the popularity of staying close to home for vacation. Money is still sparse in 2009, but this year, we've perfected the practice, knowing just how rewarding a staycation can be.

Finally, an excuse to take advantage of the many festivals, parks, and other attractions we one day hoped to visit. For me, one example is this weekend's Civil War Reunion at Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville, PA. I'm not really a history buff, but this is an event that I've wanted to check out since I moved to the area 20 years ago.  

Also, last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer was filled with festivals in the Northeast, offering a perfect summer-vacation-planning guide. The Life is Good festival in Boston caught my eye as did the school-bus demolition derby at the Big Butler Fair near Pittsburgh, PA.

It's so easy to miss what is right in front of us. When we spend thousands on a trip, we make sure we experience everything possible in order to get our money's worth. Yet, we rarely apply that same "do it all" approach to our own backyard.

Besides the benefit of saving money, leisure at home means we invest at home. Not only do we then spend money in our community restaurants, gas stations, and attractions, but we also utilize historic and recreational sites that rely on citizen interest and support for their annual funding.

Traveling the globe exposes us to fascinating cultures and landscapes, but staying at home swells our own culture which helps us to remember who we are.

So, if you're feeling down in the dumps that you don't have the money to travel, grab a pen and paper and make a list. Pull out those brochures stuffed in a drawer, get a copy of May 24th's Inquirer, thumb through your own local paper, call your Chamber of Commerce and begin writing down all those nearby gardens, theaters, boat rides, restaurants, festivals, tours, swimming holes, hiking trails, and wineries. Take the list with you on your morning commute so you can add to it as you think of ideas. Then hang it on the fridge and pack your suitcase for a trip home.

Remember when Mom would constantly remind you to say "thank you?"  

It's so easy these days to forget to say those two simple words. Frustrated, busy, and stressed, we forget to express thankfulness for both the little and big things our family members, coworkers, loved ones, and strangers do for us throughout the day. Meanwhile, the simple expression brightens the day of the gracious individual who gave us something because they are likely as stressed or frustrated as you.

It's a virtue to have a grateful heart, but let us also remember that the giver of kindness does not always know we are thankful, even when it may seem obvious. Whether it be over a lollipop or life-saving CPR, don't forget to say "thank you."