MUSIC IS THE WINE THAT FILLS THE CUP OF SILENCE

The other day I was driving and while stopped at a red light, I witnessed a young woman singing (windows closed)at the top of her lungs. As the radio blasted, her face exuded sheer delight. She seemed to be in ecstasy. Her happiness was contagious, and it immediately put a smile on my face. I began to reminisce and remembered that as early as five years old, I have loved to listen to music and I have loved to dance. I still do! Everyone who knows me, also knows, that as soon as the band starts playing, I am the first on the dance floor. Therefore, my table is usually situated as close to the band as possible! At a concert, I am up from my seat and dancing along with the music much to the chagrin of the surrounding audience! My love of rock and pop music began with American Bandstand and Dick Clark. I would tune in each day with my (much!)older sister. As the music started, I would grab the den curtains and utilize them to stand in as my dance partner. I have to admit it was quite a visual! "Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." George Carlin From the earliest age, as soon as I got into the car, I played the roll of DJ in search of the best song- and, to this day, I still erratically flip the stations from the Beatles, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Todd Rungren, Buffalo Springfield, Sinatra, Allman Brothers, Cindy Lauper in a matter of seconds. I am frantic to find what is the best song playing RIGHT NOW! "On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty miles more if you have the right music very loud on the radio." Hunter Thompson Another passion is watching television musicals and attending original and revival Broadway shows. When I was too young to attend Broadway, my favorite television movies starred Fred Astaire. Astaire's sinewy body showed off his incredible fashion sense. His style and grace, in combination with his immense dancing and singing talent could mesmerize me for hours. He is one of the greatest dancers of all time, and two of my favorite films are Top Hat and Daddy Long Legs. If an Astaire movie comes on, I must watch from beginning to end. All t.v. musicals entice me - The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Music Man, Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors, Mary Poppins, Fame, Dirty Dancing..... I could go on forever. Nothing gives me greater joy than singing along with each and every song from these musicals. " Music is the universal language of mankind." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow We can all agree that music has the power to lift us up, refresh you, energize you, feed the soul, and cure what ails you. It seems we are most content when we can pursue the things that make us feel fully alive. Music is that 'thing' for me. So, when I became old enough, my parents would regularly take me to Broadway Shows. At $25 a ticket, it was reasonable to take your family often. An ideal outing for me was getting gussied up, attend a great musical, and then end our day with dinner at Van Rapoport's Spindletop on West 47th. A double sirloin for two was a mere $16!! My love of musicals expanded once I started this ritual of going to Broadway. My epiphany was that I could look around the theater and see how the power of music would somehow unite all types of people from all over the world. We could differ on everything, but when Jennifer Holiday brings the house down with "And I am telling you", we all have the chills from that outstanding performance in common. A special song has the ability to elicit the fond memory of your first kiss, the first day of middle school, walking down the aisle, your wedding dance with your father, or the birth of a child. Because Broadway has been dark due to Covid, I spend time in my car listening the the radio or at home listening to old albums. I love Pop and Rock and Roll. That scratchy sound of the needle on the record player is oddly calming to me. Joni Mitchell, Prince, Sinatra, Buffalo Springfield, Bruno Mars, the Beatles, the Turtles, Traffic-they all fill me with delight. Music brings me peace, and has washes away the stress of the day even if just for a few minutes. I wonder how music can sometimes make me ache, and yet at the same time make me feel so good (think Adele). "Music makes the world to round Music makes you feel the groove Music makes you feel glad Music makes you higher than skies above Music turns your darkest night into blinding light" The Hamiltons Debie's Top Broadway Performance picks: Jennifer Holiday in Dreamgirls 1983 Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple 2016 Sammy Davis Jr in Golden Boy 1964 Ann Reinking in A Chorus Line 1977 Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen 2016 Mary Martin in The Sound of Music 1961 Raul Julia and Sheena Easton in Man of La Mancha 1992 HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR! DANCE LIKE NOONE'S WATCHING! PEACE OUT-ONE B

"GET THE STRIFE OUT OF YOUR LIFE"

Okay-I admit it. I am a huge fan of Joel Osteen! Yes, I am a Jew. But, I am not a religious Jew. Nor do I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. How did my fondness for this preacher come about? I am a news junky. I never leave the house on Sunday mornings whether it's Winter or Summer. I must watch all the political morning shows and finally at 11:30, when they all end, Joel Osteen magically appears on my television! This attractive pastor (not so young, but looks very youthful) always starts his sermons with a joke and more often than not, they are very funny jokes. He is also a great story teller. So now, he gets me hooked with the amusing joke or story, and I go on to listen to his sermons. All sermons have themes, and sometimes Osteen's themes are just mediocre. But generally, somewhere within the sermon, he offers advice that speaks to me, and helps me navigate towards positive thoughts for the day. I'll get to all that in a minute-First, I need to address my close relatives and friends who are totally appalled that I could like this man! They point out that he didn't open his church to those in need during winter floods and hurricanes. They insist he is a grifter that takes money from those who don't have money to spare. They rant that he is a Capitalist over a Christian. That he is not a spiritual leader but rather a cross between greed and religion, etc. etc. This may all be true, but it doesn't impact my new habit of listening to him each day for a few minutes on Sirius in the car! I can ignore the above criticisms and ultimately, I find him to be more helpful and hopeful than any hour long session with a shrink. I feel uplifted, happy, and more optimistic after a few minutes of listening. So what is his mass appeal? And, specifically, why does he appeal to me? For me, he is merely a motivational speaker with a religious bent. He is not overtly religious and is more ecumenical. I easily ignore the religion aspect. He delivers messages of hope during our bad times: such as the covid pandemic, death, sickness, money issues, and relationship issues with spouses or relatives, and betrayals by friends. In essence, he has figured out a way to market religion to a wider audience. He doesn't call people sinners or judge you for wrongdoing. He doesn't instill guilt or fear. Rather, he talks more about morals and integrity. He doesn't scold or insist you repent for mistakes. He is the ultimate optimist. He wants us to rid the negativity in our lives. Prosperity for him is peace, feeling blessed, and being able to pay the bills! He teaches me to let go of the strife and the stress and move toward a productive outcome. He teaches me to compromise with those that matter to me; to make allowances for the sake of keeping peace; and not to keep a record of every mistake. He preaches that strength and weaknesses complement and complete each other. And, yet He also suggests we let go of the people who bring negativity into our lives, which is often hard to do. We should have acceptance without expectations which is also not an easy concept for me. And finally, he ends his sermons with a "SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT"! I love that!! All this may seem like hooey to you and I understand why. He may seem disingenuous and I certainly understand that perspective too. But, for me, those few minutes in the car each day, when I'm stressed out about a work issue, a friend problem, a family health situation, or whatever else-Joel Osteen has the ability to calm me down. He makes me take a breath, and gives me a little chuckle at the same time. He's like an edible with a shot of vodka...mellow and pleasurable simultaneously. PEACE OUT-ONE B `