Grateful Resistance

 As I ponder what I’ve done the last couple of days, I am very grateful for a variety of activities all of which have nurtured my soul and strengthened my resistance to the political chaos in our country.  I’ve had two visits to the UC Botanical Garden in the last 3 days.  It’s been volunteering there nearly 10 years. Early on I noticed the peace I found there among all the beautiful paths, plants and benches where I could rest and appreciate the beauty of nature.  But over time, I got used to it.  Only recently, have I come back awareness of all I love in that place.  Saturday after lunch, Bob and I took Liam to the Garden.  He was glum from a couple of project failures in the shop that morning.  When we got to the Garden, he began to smile and as we walked the paths, I noticed he was skipping and singing.  He loves the Garden too and seeing his delight doubled my pleasure.  Yesterday, on my propagation shift, I noticed the community of people I’m a part of there.  It is such a pleasure to smile and greet my favorite horticulturist or see the Director as he greets me or smile at the warm greetings from other propagators.  And then there is that tangible peace I feel when I enter.  In these tough times, that peace is truly a treasure.  

A second thing that soothes my soul and restores me is music, especially live music.  Last night we went to a Schubertiade which was a part Freight and Salvage’s Monday night classic series.  A Schubertiade is a celebration of Franz Schubert’s music.  When we got there, there was already a long line waiting for the doors to open.  We were surprised.  The first part of the concert was a selection of 4 out of the 600 songs Schubert composed.  The soprano, Ann Moss, explained each song and began by reminding us how wonderful it was to be able to be at a concert and how music soothes and nurtures our souls.  How true!  The songs were varied and delightful and my friend Sharona, who doesn’t like Schubert’s songs, liked with Ann’s sweet voice, exuberant personality and evident joy.  One story she told was about one song “To Music” Schubert composed at a party.  One of his friends composed a poem at the party and then asked him to put it to music.  And so the story goes that he did so right there on the spot scribbling out the music sitting among his friends.  To finish the song part of the program, a longer piece written for piano, clarinet and singer was played.  The clarinet part was transcribed for a viola.  Both Bob and I agreed, it lost something in the transcription.  Finally the famous “Trout Quintet” was performed.   Hearing the first notes of it, I was immediately transported back to the Louisiana Art Museum outside Copenhagen where I first heard this piece in 1978 on a visit there.  The piece was very familiar and as I followed the piano part as it interacted with the strings, I was just engulfed by the music as it wove in and out going from minor to major and back again and again.  Schubert was a genius.  As all else fell away, the music filled me with joy.  This performance wasn’t the greatest, nevertheless I loved it and appreciated spending the evening listening to Schubert’s music.  It gave me perspective and renewed my strength.