How Can I Keep From Singing?

My uncle Dale has a song for everything!  Seriously.  My Mom's oldest brother has an uncanny knowledge of underground/folk music and it never ceases to amaze me.  On Thursday he brought me a stack of music. One song was based on a true story about a young father who is diagnosed with cancer and his friends and community rally to support him.  I don't know how Dale did it but other than some minor details I thought I was hearing my own story in a song - it was very touching.  Here's a link if you want to check it out: "Manuel Garcia" by David Roth

Thank you uncle Dale :)

The music was only getting started with uncle Dale's stack of CD's - on Friday my 3rd grade teacher (and family friend) Marsha McBride came to visit with her guitar and book full of sing-alongs. If you've ever watched "The Magic School Bus" Ms. McBride is basically the Irish "Ms. Frizzle". Her class was such an adventure I would have to dedicate a whole blog post to fully explain it. 

Aside from making every other subject fun and interesting (we named a teddy bear "56" so we wouldn't forget what 7X8 equals), Ms. McBride also taught us to play and perform music. I don't remember how she had the patience to sit with twenty-some-odd hyperactive 9 year olds and teach them to play the ukelele! What I do remember, is sitting in a circle and tuning up... "My - Dog - Has - Flees" was our phrase for the pitches of each string (still makes me giggle). 

This is where I got my first taste of what it was like to strum and sing - life would never be the same.  And I'm not the only musician to come out her class either - many of you have probably heard of the local talent John Schmidt; he is also a graduate of Ms. McBride's 3rd grade class.

So Friday Marsha comes by for a surprise visit at the hospital and we get to talking, and then we get to jamming. After a couple of songs, she's on her phone rescheduling her guitar lesson because there is no way she's leaving in 5 minutes; we're just having too much fun. I uploaded a couple of the videos on YouTube; you are welcome to have a listen :)

If I Had a Hammer

The Cat Came Back

Speaking of guitar lessons, I have to mention a very special gift I received from Styles Weiler (one of my most dedicated students). Last week he stopped by the hospital and presented me with a "Leukemia Guitar". Its custom design and fashion are said to have special cancer fighting powers. According to Styles I am to keep it with me always because it will "rock away my leukemia". Thank you Styles, you are a true friend.

To wrap things up I have a little bit more to share about uncle Dale. In addition to the Bill Cosby he brought - which had me laughing out loud this morning - he also brought me just about every album that Enya has ever released. I was listening to the "Shepherd Moons" album and track 3 really hit me. I listened to it again and again and the words have now become my personal anthem to beat this cancer.

I researched the song on Wikipedia - better do it now while the SOPA and PIPA legislation are still pending - and found out that the original music was written by a Baptist minister named Robert Lowry. The lyrics are attributed to Pauline T.

My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?

Click here to listen