Uncategorized

31 Days of Joy: Day 31 – Getting Lost In Music As October Goes

Today is the end of 31 Days of Joy, and the end of October.  I will make sure the links are up this weekend to all the posts.

It is very fitting I end this month with a post about music. I love music and feel great joy getting lost in the strains of Beethoven’s Symphony #9 Frank Sinatra’s The Best Is Yet To Come or The Village People’s YMCA.

Instead of posting “The Monster Mash” or some other Halloween song I decided to post a Barry Manilow song.  After last winter I now see October 31st as Barry Manilow Day – and it gives me the shivers.  Today, October goes and that means one thing…“The snow begins to fly” – brrr.

Enjoy this beautiful song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Barry Manilow.

 

Weekend Wisdom

Weekend Wisdom: “America The Beautiful/One Voice” – Barry Manilow

Beautiful performance by Barry Manilow and others at the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986.  The lyrics to “America, The Beautiful” are below the video.

Enjoy!

 

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine!

O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Katharine Lee Bates

1913

40 Days of Joy

It Is Still NOT Just Another New Year’s Eve (2013 Edition)

12/31/2008

“It’s just another New Year’s Eve, 
Another night like all the rest.”

New Years Eve – 2008 was not like all the rest and yes it was the worst I had experienced.  I did manage to get through it but it was tough.

Normally Joe and I would have a glass or two of champagne at midnight, drinking out of monogrammed glasses I bought for our first Christmas.

Not this year.

There would be no popping the cork outside on the deck, no clinking the glasses, wishing each other a Happy New Year, and no kiss.

I felt so lonely and there was no joy in the house that night.

Dick Clark and I are usually together on New Year’s Eve.  It was even tradition for Joe and I to watch him.  However, there was no Dick Clark in 2008 as Rommie and I were in bed by 10 p.m.

12/31/2013

 “It’s just another New Year’s Eve, 
Let’s make it the best.”

It still is not just another New Year’s Eve and never will be again.  Because tonight is another reminder that the world is made for couples and I am no longer part of a couple.  Thank God this night only comes once a year.  That fact brings me great joy.

However, Rommie and I will enjoy tonight and then be in bed by 10 p.m.

Grieving?

If you are grieving the loss of a spouse this year, hang in there.

You will get through it.

Go to bed early if you want. I know it is painful but you have made it this far, it is just a couple more days till January 2nd when the world will be back to normal.  Then you can breathe a sigh of relief that the holidays are over.

Remember, just as the song says:

“But when we’re through this New Year 
You’ll see, WE’LL be just fine.”

You and I will be just fine.  Let that fact bring you joy tonight and tomorrow.

“It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve”

Don’t look so sad, it’s not so bad you know.
It’s just another night, that’s all it is,
It’s not the first, it’s not the worst you know,
We’ve come through all the rest, we’ll get through this.

We’ve made mistakes, but we’ve made good friends too.
Remember all the nights we spent with them?
And all our plans, who says they can’t come true?
Tonight’s another chance to start again.

REFRAIN
It’s just another New Year’s Eve,
Another night like all the rest.
It’s just another New Year’s Eve,
Let’s make it the best.
It’s just another New Year’s Eve,
It’s just another Auld Lang Syne,
But when we’re through this New Year
You’ll see, WE’LL be just fine.

We’re not alone, we’ve got the world you know.
And it won’t let us down, just wait and see.
And we’ll grow old, but think how wise we’ll grow.
There’s more you know, it’s only New Year’s Eve.

REPEAT REFRAIN

Barry Manilow/Marty Panzer