Weather in the Tries: Quite pleasant, actually. Our upcoming week will range from 72-86, with lows 41-48. That’s pleasant. We had a smidge of rain the other day, well, it wasn’t really rain, but heavy sprinkles which helped clear the air. And winds which sometimes clear the air and sometimes make it worser. 

Have you ever had a chance encounter with someone who made a major change in your life?

When I was a kid, my mom and my aunt loved opera. To me it sounded like someone was disemboweling a live cat on stage without benefit of anesthetic. Nope. Didn’t like it.

Then many, many years later, I started dating a gentleman who did like opera. He saw GI Jane one weekend, and a couple days later took me to see it, not because the movie was so good, but because of the aria in the movie, O Mio Bambino Caro. It was OK, but not worth sitting through the move for a second time. But, because we were at the beginning of our relationship, I stopped off at the Silver Platter on my way home from work a couple nights later and found someone who was helpful. He knew exactly the piece I was interested in, and I either bought a CD (silver platter) of the opera from which it came—Gianni Schicchi—or a CD of several of Puccini’s best-known arias. I ended up with both at different times.

We were talking and I explained my antipathy to opera, and he looked down his nose (he was somewhat taller than I) and explained it was time for me to look upon human voice as musical instrument. Huh? What? I love instrumental music, why hadn’t I thought of that? I think I may have bought both CDs. Anyhow, I gave one to my friend, and he was thrilled, and I kept one for me.

Then my friend decided we should get the DVD of Madame Butterfly to watch. No. I did not like that opera. That was the first (and at that time only) opera I had seen, and I hated it. No. NO. NO!!!! Several years later, I moved to Florida and going someplace listening to the Matinee at the Met and there was this beautiful music on. I pulled into the parking lot where I needed to go and sat and listened to the opera until break time. The act finished and the announcer said, “We shall return to Madama Butterfly…” and I broke into great belly laughs at the joke on me. I hurried up with my shopping and made it back to my car before the next act. When it was over, I called and told my friend and told him what happened. We still laugh about that.

I probably still wouldn’t like opera if not for that young man in the Silver Platter, and my friend. I do miss that store! Gianni Schicchi is a delightful comic opera I’ve seen a couple of times and own the CD. Puccini was a fantastically wonderful composer. And if you haven’t listened to or seen Gianni Schicchi, it’s a comedy and great fun, and only an hour long.

I love it when I meet someone who can make me think and see a new way of looking at something.

Before I met the gentleman above, a young friend Brandon, was a radio DJ. He was really a friend of my son’s, but he and I became friends, too. We were talking one day when I lived down on the Oregon Coast and he had settled in LA, and I mentioned something about the primary choice of music available where I lived—Country Western or Country Western. He laughed and said music is music. Made me think, and by golly, he was right. While CW is not my favorite, I really do enjoy Rockabilly music. CW can get to be a bit whiny for me. Too much victim. But I can enjoy it and do now and then listen to it. By the way, I haven’t talked to Brandon in years, but his radio station is still going strong, check out https://substation.one which may or may not still be his, but still the same great music, especially if you’re not in the mood for Bach or Billy Joel 😉

Photo of the Week:

Entertainment:

Netflix: Watched the final episode of Hospital Playlist. They haven’t made up their mind if there will be a Season 3. I hope so, but I’m not gonna hold my breath. A fun two-season K-Drama series.

And the final, sixth, season of Lucifer is playing. I’m trying not to binge on it. But don’t think I’m doing very well. Truth to tell Lucifer is a bit on the corny side, but there are some real honest to goodness belly laughs. Pure calorie-free enjoyment 😉

Books:

Still reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. I have a couple weeks to get it finished 😉

“Music can change the world because it can change people.” —Bono

And there you have this week’s missive. Hope you enjoyed it. See you next week. Honest. Trust me.