Author Archives: singinggrandma

I am always amazed by people who attempt to accomplish things that appear impossible to most others. Accomplishments can be good or bad. If the choices made are patently stupid and/or dangerous, such as those who win TV’s “Darwin awards”, I am amazed, but not in a good way. “Darwin awards” are posthumously attributed toContinue reading “Bless the Dreamers: Icarus”

When I have attended full day music festivals, my ears and brain have tipped into overload. I don’t get to savor or recall the individual delights that have been offered. I suppose a remedy is to stop listening, take breaks, go to the bathroom a lot, or just leave before it’s too much. I knowContinue reading “Painters, Singers and Bakers”

Six years ago, I took a leap of chutzpah or a leap of faith (sometimes you can’t tell the difference), and told my singing teacher Rebecca Folsom that I wanted to share a house concert with her, rather than just do a warm-up act. She was game for either option. If Rebecca thought that sharingContinue reading “Taking Risks: Attitude Changes Everything”

My early training as a singer was to be a puffed up opera singer. Not to say that all opera singers are puffed up, but it is a very formal modality. Most likely it was my family of origin that aimed for that puffed up effect in general. It’s hard to shed all that, andContinue reading “You Have to Mean It: Angel”

I have always been aware of upcoming decade birthdays, usually starting two years ahead. When a friend plotted a surprise 28th birthday party for me, lo these many years ago, I was thinking ahead to age 30. Now, when I see a person walking around with the aid of a walker, I think, “There butContinue reading “Words Matter”

My family of origin was pretty small: I have one brother, a niece and nephew, a few cousins, and used to have a scattering of aunts and uncles who weren’t close. Both my mother’s parents died before she was twenty-five. My dad lost two brothers: one to tuberculosis and one to polio. In many ways,Continue reading “We All Belong”

For twenty-eight years in a row, I owned two large dogs at a time. Then after a three year break, in a sentimental moment, I took the plunge again, with my husband in mind. Stan was hankering after at least one dog. Sleepless on a Saturday night, I found one year old Buddy, the exquisiteContinue reading “Dog in Charge”

One spring day I decided it would do me some good to take a solo walk in a local mountain park. I had a focused hope and prayer that I would see some “sign” on this walk that might help with my confusion about myself and how to redefine my purposes, after mostly retiring fromContinue reading “The Bird/Bug as Teacher”

Tonight I had a rehearsal for a concert that I’m giving next Saturday night, May 10th, 2014. For me, being an enthusiastic but non-professional musician, it takes a little time to settle into confidence, full expression, and into a bodily experience of the music. I first brush through cobwebs of stiffness, and habits that I’dContinue reading “Finding Your Groove”

Last Saturday night at an open mic, I saw a man who had flapped his way into flying musically. A couple of years ago, he had hidden his handsome face under a cowboy hat, stared down at his guitar, mumbled his words, and hidden his light. Now, he stood upright, wore no hat, stood atContinue reading “Keep Flapping Your Wings”