Sax Notes

Early Saturday morning, before anyone else was up, I walked the dogs to the other side of the lake. I was following music that drew me as irresistibly as notes from Pan's flute. I expected I would find the source at the home of a neighbour who plays the guitar. It wasn't a guitar whose notes I followed, but it made sense that one musician would attract another. However; that was not where I found the source.

Instead the lonesome notes floated down from the mountain. A small red car was parked on the road below. I listened as the solo sax concert continued. Jazzy, bluesy, the music was the purest thing I had ever heard. I stood for a while, scanning the slope, hoping to catch sight of the musician, but I saw nothing.

The music followed me as I walked the dogs along the road and I felt privileged. It was a perfect fall day. The lake and the forest were peaceful and radiant. I was absolutely alone with the dogs and the music coming down the mountain. I felt connected to nature and to the unseen musician.

The rest of my weekend unfolded in its normal pedestrian way, but every time I performed a chore or walked the dogs, the music in my head, those clear notes, reminded me that life was precious.

That haunting music blessed me several times last night.

The raccoons had gotten into the garbage ... again ... and all three dogs (Kenya, Tango and Henry) got into it the one time they were allowed to run free since the porcupine affair. Sunday morning Kenya was up retching at 5:30. She produced bile wrapped in tinfoil. Then Tango began retching in several places as I made lavender pancakes for breakfast. He produced yellow bile which I covered with paper toweling until after breakfast. A few hours later, Kenya's diarrhea started.

Last night I was out with her at 9, at midnight, at 2 and hourly from then until 7 when we got up for the day. Each time I shrugged on an oversized fleece jacket and pants over my pyjamas and picked up the flashlight. Most times I let her lead me up the hill to the road and then I followed her staggering route along the road until she found a spot where she could turn in circles until she was released from the cramps by a watery gush. Sometimes I'd have to wash her before we returned to bed.

I was exhausted and the only thing that kept me from despair in those long dark hours was the music that played in my memory with such clarity I almost believed the sax player was still up on the mountain watching over me in the darkness.

Zoom's Musical Meme

Zoom has asked me to be a part of her attempt to save the lives of baby bunnies. It involves listing songs I love right now. It is difficult for me to think of any because I am in a very silent place right now and haven't been listening to music much at all for at least a year or so.

However; I am going to be driving thousands of miles this summer so I will list the CDs I will be taking on my road trip.

I am hoping that I will discover some songs that I like by reading your lists, so please join the game.

If you have a blog, please follow the instructions exactly. If you don't, please list your songs in the comment section (even if I don't tag you).

Here are the instructions: List seven songs you are into right now. It doesn’t matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring/summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Here is my list of more than 7 road trip CDs:

Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen ... Closing Time
Judy Collins ... The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Bob Dylan ... Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Eric Clapton ... My Father's Eyes
Bruce Cockburn ... Burn
Sarah Brightman ... Time to Say Good Bye
Roy Bonneville ... Gust of Wind
Amanda Marshall
Susan Aglukark
Ella and Louis
Kate and Anna McGarrigle ... Dancer with Bruised Knees
Tanika Tikaran ... Ancient Heart
a Mozart double CD
Flash Dance
Women and Songs
Beautiful World
Blue Sky (traditional Mongolian singer)
Cheza (African)
Joe Sealey's Africville Suite


And here are my tag names:

Tamarak
Mud Mama
Deb
Erin
Patricia
Lois
Pat and Julie