Happy Friday! Another successful work week is in the books. This morning, I am feeling like a fan girl. Tonight I am heading to the Paul McCartney concert with my oldest. An absolute legendary song writer, whose prowess with the quill of a pen, is second to none. To see one of the Beatles live is an absolute dream. I cannot wait to share our experience with everyone!
When I think about a revelation, I think of a big, salacious announcement, Armageddon or a major personal break through. The definition of revelation can vary across people. Some may find new details of Taylor Swift’s love life to revelatory, while others could not careless. Many of us our looking for revelations in our own lives; the meaning of life, our purpose, or our path.
In looking for our revelations, we often look for big signs. As if there will be a billboard pointing out our path and purpose with an easy to follow map. That would be awesome, but it doesn’t exist. In our everyday lives, there are often revelations that we overlook. It is these small revelations that overtime add up into wisdom if heeded.
Music makes the world go round. If it has a good beat, good rhythm and I can dance to it, I am a happy camper. Music is a universal language. If it has no words or is in a foreign language is a matter of little consequence. Music is revelatory. When we here a song, it can transport us to a meaningful moment in our lives. Every time I hear the Beatles, “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” I am transported back to the tram in Germany travelling down the rainy hill from Neuschwanstein Castle to our where our tour bus was parked. We all have songs that transport us back to magical moments in our lives or songs that carried us through the difficult times. Which song is your favorite?
I fondly remember tracking the milestones when my kids were little. The first time they slept through the night, their first bottle, their first words, the first time they crawled and the first time they walked. I particularly remember being so anxious for all of Jacob’s first and not being able to wait until he could walk. Of course by the time Goalielocks and the Mayor were born, I knew we’d be better off the longer they were immobile.
With every new milestone hit, we’d always be looking forward to the next one like wondering after the first bottle when he would enjoy his first taste of carrots or squash. I never understood how quickly these milestones would pass us by and wish I had enjoyed them as they came and not been in such a hurry to hit the next milestone. As Jacob grew, I began to understand that our children are much like a gift that keeps on giving as we unwrap a new layer with each stage of their childhood. Like an onion with many layers, each year a bit of the onion is peeled back revealing its gift. As an aside, I’m not sure I would characterize the puberty stage as a gift, but that’s a whole different post.
I remember once they started daycare, my hubby and I were anxious to get them into school and out of daycare. Not realizing that the costs from daycare would be reallocated to things like travel hockey, tennis or tutoring. It is easy to look forward from elementary to middle school, who wants to pay for aftercare in perpetuity – not me. Of course you have to accept all the nonsense that comes with middle school and puberty, but at least the aftercare bill will be done and it seemed like a reasonable trade off. I’m currently rethinking that logic.
Tonight started what will be the first of many lasts. His last high school choir concert. He was never a singer and not really into music and then he mistakenly got choir as an elective his freshmen year at OHS. What started off as a clerical error ended up being a transformative moment in his life. A love of all things music quickly followed leading him to the discovery of new music, like Nirvana, Green Day, the Beatles, Jonny Cash, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and the Travelling Wilburys. This new and incredible passion for all things music was born and accordingly he acquired guitars, a keyboard, a ukulele, and a harmonica.
I relished the boys’ firsts undoubtedly, but I don’t think I understood that they would eventually come to an end. I mean I knew they’d grow up, but whiskey tango foxtrot, it wasn’t supposed to come this soon. I wasn’t supposed to blink and have a high school senior. I’m struggling to grasp that we’ve progressed from a world of firsts to a world of lasts this month. The last choir concert, the last report card, the last day of school, the last choir banquet, the last awards ceremony and the last day of elementary for the Lorbach boys. WTF – seriously – WTF I’m not ready for this at all… Meanwhile, my boys are totally ready and I couldn’t be prouder.
This song’s for you Jake In My Life