Parties and explosions of rhythm and music mark moments in my life. Beginning with the Glenn Millar Orchestra and my being danced around the room by one of my doting relations; Uncles, Dad, Neighbours. They all danced to that great band and it was socially beautiful because a Party meant that everyone was welcome. Come on in. Drop your cake and your beer and get yourself moving to the music. Urban people who mostly came from country areas and combined to make a great community to grow up within. Accepting and fun. Yehahhhhh! How good it was to be two years old and to be danced around.
Later in my life: a truck pulled into the street and a blast of music began to blare across the area. People opened their front doors and ran to hear the music. And a crowd joined the music on the back of the truck jitter bugging and moving to the rock. Bill Hayley exploded onto our senses. And “We will Rock Around the Clock”. Made us all jump and eventually jive. Laughing at the release this great rythme gave us. The joy of Rock and Roll had begun.
But life was not all joy, There was sorrow as there must be in life. And when I was feeling particularly sad my Dad used to sing to me: Smile Even though your Crying. And I cried when I sang. A dog had died; a cat, a relative or just losing sight of a friend. Sorrow was expressed with Dads method of recuperation. “Smile. When yours smiling the whole world smiles with you”. And that song comes into play quite often even now. Heart breaking but the smile can be mustered to make your soul know and remember the good times past. And give hope for the future to come.
Adulthood and I began to find my own songs for inspirational living. Or just survival! One stands out: “You have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them.”
Analysed into the simple act of holding a situation or letting a situation go. Thus avoid severe frustration and eventual illness. I heard a story just today about a lady who's husband had died. He was a violent man who beat and abused her. He died and she cried because she had been released from this awful existence. She was not in a position to walk away until providence/God/Fate/ His time had come and he left her in Peace.
The rythmes of adulthood. The vibrations of sound that make life explanatory and easy to understand. The Beatles; Aretha Franklin; Credence Clearwater; Guy Sebastian; Jimmy Barnes; and hundreds of other great songs and artists. A remembrance of a life full of rythmes and tunes and movements and good times. Always followed by hard times. But knowing that there would always be good times again. Not the good times of parties; and tennis; and kids growing into wonderful adults; and travel and exciting careers; but knowing that the good times of the past are always reflected in the rythmes and vibrations which give life and remembrances.
Good Good Good Vibrations! The vibrations of living; breathing; moving; loving; writing; watching loved ones grow and allowing you to share their lives. And always there are songs being written that will enable the memories of life and its joys and sorrows.
“Softly I will Leave you;” thinking of your life and the prompts from music that give you momentum and memories which enthrall and make the days shine with the rhythm of life.
Helen Treloar Duggin