Oh the People You’ll Meet: Spontaneous Sing-a-long

She speaks Mandarin," he replied, "but even Mandarin speakers struggle to understand her dialect." Her caregiver had just arrived to take her home, interuppting our spontaneous hour-long multi-lingual park sing-a-long.

"She's 100 years old," he informed me. "She says 'eat fish, it's good for you,'" he translated. My partner and I laughed. We had been marveling at and delighting in the mysterious woman in our midst.

She talked or sang through, or over, or with my guitar playing and singing. It was hard to say which. Walking with her rollator along the sidewalk on the high end of the sloped park, she made a bee line for us, all the while talking, gesturing, and pointing.

I was somewhat familiar with this type of communication with her based on a prior interaction. On that occasion,I sat near her on the far end of the park along the chainlink fence, in order to benefit from a direct splash of the dwindling evening sunlight. My dogs made the first introduction, with my nearly 12 year-old boxer vocally engaging her, apparently curious why someone in such close proximity had not yet begun petting him.

Even with that previous connection, I shocked to see her make her way to a side of the park I had never previously seen her utilize. And that she charged towards us, immediately contributed to our Tuesday evening park jamboree.

Throughout our time together, she frequently flashed her smile, pocked with broad gaps between intermittent teeth. She gestured flute and harmonica and possibly violin or cello. She pointed to her ears, her arms, and trees in the distance, and then to my partner. All the while words flowed from her lips. Not hearing a single English word we spent the hour talking and singing, to and with each other, applauding and enjoying each other. Although we were not singing the same tune we sang synchronistically, some more melodic than others - her voice in no way would be described as musical, but that didn't stop her joy, nor ours in her contribution to the spirit of our gathering.

"Of course music can do this!", I realized, surprised. Of course human connection trumps language and age barriers and abilities.

Of course, presence begets presence. While this experience was so suprising, it also made so much sense. People want connection regardless of age, language, ethnicity and musical capacity, they just need an excuse or a bridge to connect!

Had her caregiver not come for her. I'm sure we'd still be sitting out there, sun now set, singing and chatting beyond words.

I can't wait for my next sing-a-long in the park. All are welcome.

Questions for Contemplation:

• What keeps you from connecting with "strangers"?

• Have you considered what you miss out on when you limit who you connect with?

• What are the memories that emerge when you've let a passing person become part of your conscious experience for your day?

• How has music allowed you to connect with someone you otherwise would not have?

May you always see the blessing, beloveds.

-esb

P.S. - Thanks for being here. I’d love to hear how you’re doing!

P.P.S. - The art and information in these emails is my copyright, unless otherwise indicated/credited.

P.P.P.S. - Join the Spring Theme Retreat Saturday April 5th, for a pause and connection to your deeper self. Let go of the go-go-go for three hours and be with yourself for a good listen.