Lovers' Waltz

When trying to describe romantic desire, as these blog entries attempt to do, often words alone seem incomplete. The song "Lovers' Waltz" by Jay Unger and Molly Mason provides a slow moving melody that combines romantic desire with a feeling of pleasure when the music ends. Like love itself, the music is sweet, intelligent, and heartfelt.

"For the record Molly Mason and I wrote this one together. We’re happy that people are enjoying playing it and dancing to it. English majors will affirm that the apostrophe belongs to the right of the letter S, unless one lover is waltzing alone."(Jay Ungar)
   You can hear more of Jay and Molly's music on their radio show "Dancing on the Air."

Flower of Beauty

There are all kinds of preparations before a wedding, but this song of contemplation called "Flower of Beauty"  describes a man's reflection on his soon-to-be bride. He calls her a "tender flower of beauty." What a great song to listen to before your wedding day.
     Flowers bring beauty and fragrance  to your home.  Just as Hawaiian Plumerias (pictured below) produce fragrant pink and peach flowers that will transform your porch or patio into a tropical paradise with their rich and memorable aroma, so too, is a beautiful marriage. 
 

Hawaiian Plumeria

The Tree of Love

“Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin. The inexplicable fact is that the blinder it is, the more tenacious it is. It is never stronger than when it is completely unreasonable.” 
― Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Charming Tree in a Hotel in Paris

If you are lucky in this life, you meet someone who grows with you and the two of you together create branches on the tree of love. It is my belief that this tree will continue to grow in ways that  are unknown even after death. The branches and leaves may fall, but the roots are still there  and still stay strong in the hearts of those who remember.

  Think of those who have gone. Do you not remember mostly the love they gave you? The material things have very little endurance. But beauty and love are stronger and last into the infinite  dreams of space and time.

  

Dream Your Dream

"Sow a seed and the earth will yield you a
flower. Dream your dream to the sky and it
will bring you your beloved."

     ~Kahlil Gibran

Keep looking up. Our dreams are up there. When you close your eyes at night, do you see the face of your beloved? Or do you dream by day? Maybe one of the important parts of sleep is that we can pursue our dreams.

The Great Peconic and Great Loves

Great loves, like great musicians, scientists, or writers come once every two or three generations. Those who find  great love, make deep connections, that extend beyond death into eternity.

Great Peconic Bay, Long Island, New York

Here are some thoughts from Kahlil Gibran  that are part of the corresponedence between him and Mary Haskell:

Among intelligent people the surest basis for marriage is friendship - the sharing of real interests- the ability to fight out ideas together and understand each other's thoughts and dreams.

(Gibran's words quoted from Mary Haskell's journal dated 26th May 1923)

What difference does it make, whether you live in a big city or in a community of homes ? The real life is within.

(Gibran's words quoted from Mary Haskell's journal dated 27th May 1923)

Something wonderful begins within us  when we find the right person in our lives. It is real. Let's call it love.

On My Way

     In this age of cellphones and instant messaging, one message stands out above all others when it comes across your phone:
                                  "I'm On My Way."

     While your brain is picturing that person, the pupils of your eyes are dilating and your ears are open and listening for the sound of the car that will bring that special someone to you.  It is a very, very happy feeling.

     When you set off into this world, whether you are getting ready to graduate from school, or just coming home from work, love follows you. Sending someone on their way lets you love them in new ways.

    Here's a great book by Nancy Tillman that reminds us that love will follow us wherever we go.
 She writes:  So climb any mountain...
                     climb up to the sky!
                     My love will find you.
                     My love can fly!

Let It Be (A Mother's Day Tribute)

When I find myself in times of trouble 
Mother Mary comes to me 
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. 
And in my hour of darkness 
She is standing right in front of me 
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
   ~Paul McCartney from "Let It Be"

Tomorrow we celebrate Mother's Day. Paul McCartney's mother died from breast cancer when he was only 14 years old. During a difficult time in his life twelve years later: the breaking up of the Beatles, doing drugs, and not having any support person in his life (before he met his future wife, Linda Eastwood), he had a dream about his mother, whose name was Mary.

    "My mother appeared, and there was her face, completely clear, particularly her eyes, and she said to me very gently, very reassuringly: “Let it be.”

    These were comforting words back in 1968 and they still are today. There are many questions in life, but these three words provide an answer: "Let it be."

     McCartney expands the list of troubles to those involving love:

And when the brokenhearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer: let it be
For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer: let it be

When loving relationships end unexpectedly, many questions arise. Paul's motherly advice is helpful to all of us who have suffered the sadness of heartbreak. 
  So to all mothers,  all over the world and for their years of sacrifice and great advice, thank you, thank you, thank you.