Magic Moments
I wish I could bottle these things. I really do. Last night, about nine pm, I was going through our goodnight ritual with Clara when all of a sudden, we heard a marching band strike up a tune. At first, Erick and I thought there must be an event at the Canadian or Chinese Embassy…
I threw open the windows to take a look and there was a marching band playing in front of the Chinese Embassy! Erick and I laughed and shook our heads. You just never know what is going to happen here! A few weeks ago there were protesters in the same spot…
We all fell asleep to live music last night- it was beautiful. I had no idea what it was all about, but this morning, it hit me. The band was playing in tribute to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake!
I’m not absolutely certain that is what the music was about, but there is no other explanation, really. I find the desire to comfort and show goodwill to be such a life-giving impulse that we all share. No matter what government policies and positions are, the fact remains that we are all sons and daughters, friends and family, mothers and fathers. We all experience tragedy and we all have the capacity for compassionate responses to others.
I just love that. I really, really love that we are all connected in this fundamental way.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:45 am
So beautiful — both that the band took such an action and that you were lucky enough to get to fall asleep to the sound.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Lovely.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Oh, I bet you are so right about the need for the music. That’s so beautiful…
May 16th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
All those very special moments are what makes life so rich and rewarding. Give Clara a hug from me.
Love,
Jade
May 18th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Yes… it’s truly beautiful. What a wonderful post.
By the way, we are headed to your neck of the woods (sort of) this summer. We’ll be in Monopoli in Pulia for a few weeks.