Music- James at One Years Old 10.7.2

James,

We were very fortunate that your mom was able to get the week of your birthday off from her busy work schedule as a doctor to bring you down to Virginia.  To celebrate your first birthday (September 20th), we invited friends and family out to Poor Creek Farm for the day. 

It was so much fun. Because your parents, especially your dad loves to sing to you, the theme of the birthday celebration was “Sea Shanty.”  Sea Shanties are traditional folk songs that were once commonly sung as a work song to accompany rhythmical labor aboard large merchant ships. Your Grandma Gizzy chose this as the theme for your first birthday party because the song that your dad sings to you the most and seems to be your favorite is “Wellermen” (Sea Shanty).  With six versus, the song is about an epic battle between a whaling boat and a great whale.  

Just before singing happy birthday and eating your cake, your dad sang a verse of that song to you while holding you, as you happily flapped your arms.  It was a special moment. 

Speaking of special moments, in addition to being a gifted physician, your mom plays the guitar and has a wonderful voice.  During your parent’s wedding reception, she played and sang a song to your dad that she had written.  That was also a special moment.  

James, always love music and always keep it in your life.  I am so glad that your mom and dad sing to you.  When you are older, and if your mom and dad encourage you to learn to play a musical instrument, embrace that with all your soul. 

I say this now because I was reminded of the importance of music and song during our recent vacation.  Right after your birthday party, we left for Germany to hike on the Rheinsteig, which is a beautifully elevated hiking trail located on the right bank of the Rhine.  

They also say that music is food for the soul, and I believe it. If that is true, the souls that hiked with us on the Rheinsteig last week enjoyed a grand buffet. This is the same group that we hiked with on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain two years ago. Because two of our friends could not make the trip this year, our friend Rolf, who organizes these trips, added John and Mary, who live in Switzerland. A retired world-class opera singer, John also conducted professionally and plays several musical instruments, including the guitar, which he was able to bring with him on the trip.  It was not only John’s music and voice that provided sustenance, but his passion for music also encouraged each of us to participate. 

Through his gentle encouragement, John gave us permission to drop our inhibitions and to sing along. Thus, our own joy during these communal moments became encouragement for others to sing.

A few of my favorite musical moments included John and Leslie, a fellow traveler from NYC, singing Glen Campbell’s “Gentle on My Mind” and Richard, a corporate CEO and seemingly reserved Brit, singing “Country Roads” with gusto. The Leslie and Richard I thought I knew during the Camino hike would never have done that.

By the way, your dad will tell you that you can go to any Irish Pub in Europe, and that there are Irish Pubs in almost every city in Europe, and the people will know the lyrics to “Country Roads.”  I think your dad is right.

Adding John to our group of 16 totally changed the dynamics of the trip.  Unlike the Camino excursion, we would sing songs on this trip during many of our dinners, which made the evenings more festive and communal.  I also found myself singing while hiking.  And like the sea shanties, which were sung to accompany rhythmical labor aboard ships, I sang my songs to accompany the rhythmical steps on the beautiful Rheinsteig. 

So, I do believe that music is food for the soul and that music brings people together. Our fellow hiker’s willingness to offer himself to us through his music allowed us to give the gift of music to ourselves and to each other. So, I encourage you, as you become an adolescent, and then a man, to always embrace being in the moment with music, and to experience the joy that comes with it.  

With much affection,

Papa Johnny