Of Mumford and Sons and Music in General

Music has always been a integral part of my life.  For as long as I can remember I have loved music in a variety of forms, most rap being the exception.  My high and lows can all be tied to a song or songs.  

My first love:  "I Melt With You" by Modern English and "Alive and Kicking" by Simple Minds.

My divorce:  "How's It Gonna Be" by Third Eye Blind and "Fields of Gold" by Sting

My totally dysfunctional rebound:  "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers

Someone:  "Inside Out" by Eve 6 and one to be later named maybe...

Sure these songs are wrapped around memories, both good and bad.  To this day, I find myself holding my breath when I Melt With You or Alive and Kicking are occasionally played on the air. Memories float around.  I can't say that these songs are lyrically powerful or anything other than the pop music of the day, but I still enjoy them for the emotional ties.

There is such a void of good music these days.  I'm talking about the music that endures the test of time, not today's poppy, crunchy, lyrically bereft, albeit catchy tuned drivel that passes as music.  Yes, I am sure the generations before me have said the same thing about "my" music.  Do I think the likes of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus will be heard on the air 20 years from now?  One can hope not.  

But then along come a band that is so different from the norm. You realize there is really amazing music, enduring music if you care to search.  It's the music that invades my heart.  It is as though the songwriter entered my soul and penned his/her music for me.  It's beyond just enjoying a particular song or a band. Not sure how to describe it.  Maybe it's like being one with the music.  

There has been one band that has accomplished that feat. U2. Need I say more?  14 albums between 1980 and 2009, of which I own 9.  There was a time that they became a caricature of their larger than life personas around the release of Zooropa (1993). In 2001 they achieved redemption, if only for an album, with All That You Can't Leave Behind.  

But I digress.  This post was to be about the beauty that is Mumford and Sons.  I was lucky enough to get pre-sale notice for their original show in June.  Alas, Ted had a medical emergency and the show was rescheduled for September 18th.  I was heartbroken since I was to have been in India.  As there is a greater plan for everything, the trip was cancelled and I wouldn't miss Mumford after all.

I had heard of Mumford and Sons, but I had not truly listened to them. Yes, I knew they were Grammy winners. Then it happened, one day Little Lion Man graced the speakers in my car and I really listened.  I was hooked.  Mesmerized by that one song.

Little Lion Man started a renewal of my love affair with music. I had to purchase Sigh No More and to be honest, it was the best $14 I've spend in a long long time. It's been a while since I have purchased a CD where every song is well written and you can understand the depth, the meaning, the heart of the lyrics.  I would have worn out the CD but along came Babel. 

Finally!  A new band that leaves me musically speechless.  When you stop to listen to their lyrics, you are immersed in a band that speaks to deep spiritual themes. Sure the masses will not realize it and/or will probably gloss over it.  They, in no way, promote themselves as any sort of God-centered band or believers.

On the surface, to the casual listener, they are a catchy, cool, retro, folk vibe band...banjo, mandolin, guitar, keyboard, stringed bass, and a killer kick bass drum...but deep down, where it matters, they speak of deep truths. Blending the temporal and eternal within lyrics in which is woven the themes of grace, unconditional love, and the hope of eternal love/life.  It's there when you listen with the heart.   

Now to circle back to the beginning of the post. The other song that makes me think of someone is Ghosts That We Knew.  While it has not received any airplay locally, it is by far my favorite song on either album.  It is such a heartachingly, beautiful love song.  It squeezes my heart when I heard it the first time and it induces tears right now. I was crying when they played it.  Marcus' voice is so haunting and melodic, and there is such an ethereal quality to this song when he sings it.  It hit hard, because someone knew the ghosts and saw the pain and still loved, even if it was a brief moment.

Apologies that I did not get the entire song. This will have to suffice, but the entirety remains etched in my psyche.

September 18, 2013, while sweating outside with thousands of other unknown fans and my bestie, I enjoyed the show.  I have such an unexplained crush on Marcus Mumford.  Maybe it's his lyric writing, or his musical abilities, or perhaps his nearly flawless voice while singing live.  There is something about him that holds me in awe.  They are as good live as they are on their CDs, raw, vital, and powerful. Their quick acoustic set was just dreamy, all quiet, wispy and wonderful.

For me, Mumford and Sons are modern day poets of olden times. Craftsmen whose lyrics resonate and musicianship dominates the mass-produced, teenybopper flotsam that is called "awesome music" today.  They are to the decade of the 2010s what U2 was for the 1980s.  For me, there is nothing better.

The Escalator Paradigm

Had an interesting conversation coming into the building the other day. Co-worker and I came up the elevator and got to the doors at the same time a couple of men did. There is a button to open the doors for folks that need assistance. We all arrived at the same time but the men graciously waited for us to hit the button and allowed us to walk in first.

The amusing part of this is the fact that we all waited for the door to open on it's own. The men could have simply opened for us, but I have observed that many guys have no idea how to open a door for a woman any more. But that's another post for another day.

So the discussion, upon walking in the door, was with one of the guys. We were joking about standing there waiting for the door to open and the comment was made that they could have grabbed the handle, but how that would be too easy. The general consensus is that we've become lazy.

Escalators are a prime example of that. In the elevator, going up to our respective floors, we had a good laugh about what happens when escalators fail. Have you ever noticed that when they stop, people will actually walk away from an escalator? Seriously. As if walking down or up the escalator is a horrible task. However, the beauty of a broken escalator is automatic stairs. What to do, what to do...a broken escalator...wait, I think I'll take the elevator.

Please note, when a escalator breaks, you don't have to call the fire department. You clear the equipment and unlock it and voila! Yes, being rescued from a stopped elevator by a hottie fireman has its advantages, but the thought of being enclosed in that small box strung up by cables strikes a certain amount of fear into my heart.

Maybe it would just be simpler to stay in ground level establishments.

Confessions Of A Former Out Of Control, Mad Diabetic

Warning:  May contain worry inducing commentary...don't be alarmed.

Diabetes runs in the family on both sides, so it stands to reason that the curse would find someone in the immediate family. Not to mention that my ethnicity also contributes, along with all the other factors; sedentary lifestyle, poor eating and exercising habits.  I guess I was destined to be the chosen one in my immediate family.

Somewhere between 2002-2005, I was diagnosed with diabetes.  I remember the doctor telling me, prescribing the meds and having her nurse show me how to use a glucometer.  I remember walking out of her office in a daze, sitting in my car and bawling.  I called my mom and cried some more.

Living with it is a challenge.  Yes, as a Type II, I have it somewhat easier than Type I sufferers. Either way, it's not a pleasant disease.  To effectively manager Type II, you have to make some serious changes in your life.  Watching your diet, exercising, taking meds until you can get it under control.  Easier said than done sometimes because to master those things, requires some mental preparedness.

But what the doctors don't often mention in the diagnosis is the sheer mental exhaustion with fighting against it.  Every stick of the lancet, every insulin injection, the feeling of being chained to the disease.  They don't tell you about the overwhelming depression and self-hatred, the "why me?" and, "what did I do to deserve this?"  They don't tell you that you feel like an epic failure when you haven't managed your condition.

They want you to take care of yourself, but when you go into the office and you get your A1c back and you get lectured...you walk out feeling like a failure and when you're down, how do you manage to do the things you need to do.

I've cried, I've raged, I've contemplated really bad things.  Emotions up, emotions down.  Good days, bad days and days when everything else is falling apart so it's even worse.  

The upside; however, is that I am getting better at managing it.  It truly comes down to what you are putting in your body.  Sure I have my junk every now and then, but for the last 5 weeks I have been filling my body with good for me foods.  I haven't eliminated carbs at all.  Yes, I'm watching my sugar intake, my carbs are low on the glycemic index and I watch my carbs in the evenings.  It's worked.  For 5 weeks, I have conquered my diabetes.  I've had normal readings.  This from a person who averaged 250, I haven't seen normal in years and now, that's where they have been every time I've taken them.

That should be enough for a super emotional high and it is, but sometimes beating the beast isn't enough.  I'm staying the course and while I am not eating My Fit Foods, I'm doing my own version of them.  We'll see how this goes.  Now if everything else can get on track :)

Random Jumbled Thoughts

I could write for days lately...it's a way of giving voice to my feelings, but with these I can't.  Maybe the only thing I can say is that life does truly suck sometimes.

Unexpected...

In the normal course of events, "unexpected" typically causes much consternation or, on occasion, surprise; a flat tire, a dead battery, a new project at work due immediately, an unexpected gift.  In my life it has never been the return of someone from my past.

That has been the case until August.  "I think I might know you... its been a long time.. You might remember me... Honesty not trying to be creepy.. forgive me if this comes across that way..."  Out of the blue a message appeared on Facebook. To say it was unexpected is an understatement.

A flicker of recognition.  I knew that name a long time ago.  Memories of long conversations.  His angst, my pain, music, life, friendship, common bonds.  Memories of pouring out the pain I had while he offered an ear and a solid shoulder.  Giving him advice as he tried to manage his tumultuous life.  As quickly as we bonded, we drifted apart.  Our lives taking different paths.

More than a decade later, he was back with a simple message and details.  Undeniable that we'd known each other back then.  Facebook messages back and forth.  After determining, he wasn't a psycho stalker, an exchange of cell phone numbers and we were off to the races.  I joined the world of unlimited talk and text.

Three, four weeks of daily texting, I've really lost count.  Thanks to the most ridiculous work schedule I've even encountered, an actual call at least once a week.  Yet, there seems to be no lack of things to discuss.  I'm not even sure what we talk about all day long, but we do.  Lighthearted conversations, deep conversations.  I've been humbled and scared, nervous and anxious, insecure and doubtful, tongue-tied and shocked, happy and joyful, amazed and bewildered with every word that has left our fingertips or mouths.

It's sometimes amusing how things happen in my life, but I have to say this has been the most bemusing, confusing, and utterly AWESOME event that's occurred. 

So here is to the past that started it all,  the amazing present, and the unforeseen future.  It just goes to show that when you least expect it, the unexpected can happen.