Raffi was singing to me today and I was singing along with him..."All I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, and love in my family." In the middle of a full voice aria, it occurred to me that I couldn't really sing this with a full heart, cause there were some other things that I really need. Like a bathtub, a Jane Austen novel, a good hair colorist and stylist, 500 thread count or above sheets, "Project Runway", and "The Office", and..., and.... Not to mention the really important things like no wars, and the end of the torture in Darfur, and..., and...., well there we are. Hmmmm..... Have you noticed that some songs we sing with full belief when we are children are not necessarily true. But, the catch is, we think they ARE true. We grow up expecting them to be true. Like - "When Your Heart is Filled With Love, Others Will Love You." - NOT - and how about, "Families can be Together Forever", what if you don't want your extended family to be together forever? What if you have an in-law that has made your life miserable and the thought of living with them forever seems more like hell than heaven. Okay, so maybe we should teach our children, "Send in the Clowns', or, "Rainy Days and Mondays", or how about, "Cat's in the Cradle", you know that part - "...when you coming home dad I don't know when....". I'll admit I'm being facetious, I don't think we should teach our children, "Apocalyptica." All I know is that today I felt great when I was singing along with Raffi. I feel great when I sing children's songs. Even if all our childhood truths twist and change and even seem to wound us at times, I would never trade the joy I felt and still feel singing and believing those innocent and pure dreams.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt
5 comments:
What an interesting/strange whale - they have two at the Coney Island Aquarium - a mommy beluga and a "baby beluga"
Jessie still catches me singing the few lines I remember in the shower
Poor Peter has never even heard of Raffi. I think Raffi and Charlotte Diamond were the only two musicians I listened to for several years.
Memories of Raffi and the long drive to Utah....our own form of brain washing! I did love most of his stuff though. I love the depth of your message---Cats in the cradle prompts pangs.
First: Baby beluga reminds me of when we house sat at the at Noris and Mary's (I don't know how to spell their last name) and made up a dance to that song out side the front door. That is one of my best memories.
Two: Children tend to be so optimistic/ idealisic. I would hate to shut them down and say- its dooms day ahead dear
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