Sunday, March 18, 2007


Facing Monday Head On...
Trying to keep my sanity

Thank goodness there is
only one MONDAY per week!


I had a great albeit short weekend... why do they fly past so fast? Went to the St. Patrick's Day parade in San Francisco - my Dad and family were visiting from the LA area, and it was lovely to watch a parade with my Dad... can't say I remember the last time we got to do such a thing together. It meant a lot. We both love bands - especially marching bands. When the bagpipes went by - I turned to my Dad and told him that "bagpipes make me cry". They do, and as I looked at him, he said "Yes" - and I noticed he was tearing up too. What is up with that? I can't watch them march by in all their solemn pomp & splendid ceremony, unwavering notes, drummers slowly flipping their drumsticks with pompom ends twirling, without the emotion carrying me away. I didn't know Dad felt the same way.


15 comments:

Tom & Icy said...

The energy of a crowd seems to heighten the emotions.

jillie said...

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that tears up when I hear them.

They are sooo pretty to listen to...very hypnotic.

javajazz said...

oops, sorry, i hadnt noticed you wrote something else below the large green print until Jillie responded, and then i saw some very faint words and not until i highlighted them could i read them!
i guess there is an association with certain types of music or instruments that has a certain power or potency to it...i would get like that in synagogues when the dude (cantor) would start singing, tho not with organ music...cuz i dont like the organ, but the singing was very powerful and emotional of course...specially at a funeral...

Outdoorsy Girl said...

There is something so mournful about the sound of bagpipes, yet they are beautiful.

Sounds like a good weekend! Anytime spent is SF is good in my book! ;)

Doug The Una said...

It must run in the clan.

Autumn Storm said...

Sounds like you guys had a lovely visit. :-)
Hope you have a great week ahead!

CozyMama said...

wonderful - have a great week - Monday is over.

Icarus said...

Terry, I'm confused. What happened to Europe?
And I take it that all this "wearing of the green" was in honour of St.Patrick's? I absolutely love drum bands, any percussion bands. The ones with pipes though, the drummers get that lovely high crispy tone, like leaves brushing, which when it's a slow, solemn rhthym, like for funerals, is incredibly emotive.

~Mo'a~ said...

Here it is Tuesday...sorry that I was not here for you yesterday...which was a good Monday for me...you will soon hear why ;)
I am so sorry that we will not be able to connect in Iceland this year.
I feel a SF trip coming on...as soon as a certain Bohemian can get back there...then for sure we will connect :)

weatherchazer said...

Amazing Grace on bag pipes are so haunting...

Jeanne said...

I've loved bagpipes since I was a kid. Still do. Even on a still day.

tsduff said...

Icy - is that like a pack mentality?

Jillie - :-D It is a wonderful thing to behold, emotions brought alive.

JJ - Music touches all - and crosses all languages and barriers. It is a gift which I don't take for granted.

Julie - I think the pipes are only mournful if the tune warrants it; there are sunny tunes too. The rich chords are deeply moving whatever tunes they play.

Doug: My clan is the name of McCanse - the Scotch Irish family. I believe you are right!

Autumn - Had a lovely weekend. Will be back to SF next weekend for more fun and games with my brother (for his birthday) and my father and his wife who are up for one more weekend. Going to see a fun review called Beach Blanket Babylon... should be a blast!

Jodes - Yes, hallelujah! MONDAY IS A DONE DEAL! Happy next day to you.

tsduff said...

Icarus - All is well - just not going to Italy until May 25...there is a countdown to the right in my sidebar above the moon calendar (Thank goodness because the trip isn't even half-planned out yet!! We do have our airline tix... but that is about all at this point!) Would love to swing down to the beautiful sunny beach of Portugal - but as said before, so many things to see - and so little time!

I'm with you - percussion bands are the best! There was one in the St. Patricks Day parade that really got people movin and stompin when it went by.

Mo'a - I love it when you stop by :-D Monday was good for you? Better jog over to your place for a look-see. You betcha - when that bunch of Bohemians make the journey, so shall we all get together. Will be great fun. Wish I was zooming down to a certain Dawg's place this weekend, but alas it just can't be.

Weatherchazer - love your avatar
:-) I know Amazing Grace on the bagpipes - it is thoroughly moving. I thought of you when I watched the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" yesterday (now that sounded funny!) because of the huge tornados in the movie. It was grand - although seriously I never would want to be in harms way, I would just love to actually see something so stupendous as those large tornados/hurricanes/tidal waves... they are completely and fascinatingly scary.

Jeanne - even on a still day? In the stillness of a quiet morning or foggy eve I suppose it would be even more emotionally wrenching to hear the bagpipes. I'm usually okay, when just hearing one... but if there is a group of them playing all together, their strong beautiful sounds blended and strong, with all their solemn paraphanelia of tartan, tassels, socks and hats... I am overcome.

G said...

There is something so haunting yet soothing about bagpipes. I may be part of your clan too ;)

Jeanne said...

Terry, my subtle obscure humour has slid past unnoticed. I was referring to a previous discussion of kilts, and what they can expose on a windy day. Otherwise I agree with you. It's like watching the beginning of Highlander. Scotland wrenches at one's heart for some reason. It's the sadness of beauty, or the beauty of sadness.