April 1, 2025
NAPOWRIMO 2025 has begun! But first:
Time to Blow My Own Horn
Recently, I’ve been gathering all my Poetry Month poems from
my blog, to attempt to put them all together in one place, from childhood forward. What a project it is
going to be – but, with a landmark birthday coming up, I feel the burden of
time.
I got an inspirational kick in the butt by Herb Alpert, and
his performance we attended at Lincoln Center this week. He recently celebrated
his 90th birthday,
on tour, and not missing a beat. We attended the second performance of the
night for him (and never mind the many many performances he has been giving
non-stop for several years now). It was the first time I have ever sat in a box
seat, and it was perfect, because I could not stop moving. The on point music
was memorable, the backdrop videos amazing, and Herb’s anecdotes in between
were refreshing, humorous, and honest. To me, he epitomized “taking the bull by
the horns” (so much meaning just in that phrase!) and living life joyfully and generously.
He represented,
to me, the resilience I so often talk about in my well-being presentations, and
how you need to cultivate resilience for the times when life is not so much
fun. He not only brought me back to some of the best times of my life,
especially the days of playing baritone sax and singing with a swing band, but
also the idea that there is more to come.
Thank you, Herb Albert, for the years of delight, the inspiration
to keep moving forward, and how music helps build our resilience.
The Music Never Dies, It Just Changes the Tune
My father, who died too early, loved the sound of Goodman
and a clarinet would be my companion for many years of
learning
leading to orchestral bass clarinet, and then the swinging
baritone sax.
While I listened for trumpets in rock-n-roll,
and I heard trombones in movie soundtracks,
I loved to find the baritone sax way down at the bottom
on every new type of
recordings,
still feeling the vibration in my hands
humming along the bass line,
finding the notation for “Blue Champagne”
so many, many
years later,
hearing every deep note in my mind.
©2025 Noreen Braman
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