01.17.12
Listen!
The house is quiet as I listen to Greg Brown Radio on Pandora. Interesting how positive some websites are – not asking for anything other than your “Listening Ear.” Yes, of course, logging on brings a host of ads purporting this and that, but you can multitask and still hear the music without the ton of complete crap trying to lure you into the madness named capitalism. But many times, it is important that we listen carefully. Only then, may you find “TRUTH. ”
When I was young, I could hear every note of every song. Now, that doesn’t mean much, but the interesting thing was, I could guess the next note, even if it was the first time I ever heard the song. Even today, I can pick up on the melody in a flash, but my voice – nope! Of course, there are many times when I will pretend to sing as I hear my voice straining for those high notes, those REALLY HIGH NOTES that I used to reach. High Soprano was I – singing “Oklahoma” like I had been singing it half of my life. And now, after years of TOO MUCH, I am lucky to find my voice. What I do know, is I have definitely learned how to read between the lines.
What does that mean -”reading between the lines?” Have you picked up a newspaper recently? Trust me, you have not missed anything. If you read anything, it is obvious at first glance, that one or more “new author” took little bits from the original story and put it in this tiny space that previously was 12 paragraphs or more, but now consists of 6 lines in order to fill the white space that is causing the editor to pull hairs out of his already bald head. Ok. That has nothing to do with “reading between the lines” but I think you guessed that already.
Whenever I happen to pick up the newspaper (actually, that is a rarity), I laugh at the stories. They are so banal, and so far from the truth, and what the heck are you trying to say – just SAY IT already! I love opening my computer each morning and scanning the NPR, CNN and Yahoo websites. “Oh, the little white lies…” We are inundated. It is overwhelming. “84% of voters are unhappy with our politicians.” “9% of ducks prefer honey over seeds.” ”12% of fleas are brown.” “95% of women use deodorant but not 6-year old boys.” “36.5% of men wish they were sleeping instead of skipping through the park.”
Truth – don’t fail me now!
My mother was a true journalist. A story teller. Her facts straight; her emotions in-check; a woman of truth, and a woman definitely able to create the space for those who read between the lines. But, even knowing what she knew, she still struggled to make the story possible, to change someone’s mind, to share the truth, even though sometimes, she softened the blow so we could enjoy our morning paper without spilling the beans. She loved the click, clack, click of the black keys, the words floating from her mind to the brown paper, with few changes and much to digest, and always, always, always, the truth…except when it wasn’t.
Let freedom ring!
- Homeland
I want my country back
and a good dream to stand up for.
Got my hand over my heart,
but I don’t feel at home here anymore.
Big, big flag above the big, big mall,
and the shake rattle and roll to the core.
Things sprawl after they fall,
and I don’t feel at home here anymore
Homeland of Sojourner Truth
and Chief Joseph before,
Many quiet words of wisdom drowned out by TV
and I don’t feel at home here anymore.
Blind engineer, war train on the track,
many, many a heart is sore.
We want our country back;
we want to feel at home here once more.
I want my country back.
- Greg Brown
