I forget what I was going to say...

I tried to email you today. But the words died on my lips... or on my fingertips, I guess. The stories I wanted to tell have faded. The things I felt have become somehow muted. How long is too long to go without talking? When is it too late to reconnect? Is it ever?

I wonder.

"Rise and shine"

In the past two weeks I have had the unbelievable priviledge of seeing two of South Africa's greatest musical exports: Ladysmith Black Mambaza, and the Mahotella Queens.

It was extremely difficult to stay in my seat. Both shows were at the Windspear which is our fancy schmancy theatre and dancing in the aisles is...well...I'd say it's frowned upon although I don't really know because I'm not sure anyone has ever tried it. But as I glued myself to the seat while my feet and the top half of my body still did their best to dance, I found myself marvelling not just at their considerable musical ability and the absolute joy that filled the room, but also at the fact that these two groups were founded in 1963 and 1964 respectively and both groups contain founding members. The lead vocalist for Black Mabaza is 64 years old and the Queens range in age from 58 to 61. For anyone not familiar with South African music, it is expressed not only vocally but through dance. Dance that would rival any aerobics class invented by the gym rats of the western world. High kicks and shimmies that I am not sure I, at half their age, could manage... no, in fact I'm sure I could not.

One of the Queens introduced their group, mentioning their ages and how long they've been together. Then she said "to all you girls out there of 30 years who think you are old, who think you cannot do this.... Rise and shine girls, rise and shine"

It made me think. These women and men who, in their young lives likely knew oppression that most of us cannot imagine, who seem so full of joy and laughter and love of music and performing, who are twice my age but look like they could be my peers. Maybe that's the secret. Maybe I don't need a gym or a trainer - I just need to dance more, and sing, and smile while I do it. Maybe we all need that.

Ok, I've gotta run and get myself a couple South African CD'S.

Rise and Shine Girls!

Ta da! Here I am!

I have these two friends who blog. I affectionately call them (well, alot of things but in this instance...) my Walking Wordsmith and Mr. Thesaurus. They're "artists". The kind of writer I am not. WW's was my first blog that I read regularly and whew, she's intimidating! And then, through a strange set of introductions, Mr. Thesaurus (who was called that long prior to his blog) set up his own blog. Now these are lovely and thoughtful and phonetically challenging blogs that I read fully and completely to keep up with the wonderful writings of two people I am intensely fond of. They are like wee windows into parts of them that are not fully revealed in everyday conversation, they are poems by my favorite poets, songs by my favorite songwriters.... you get it - I like them.

BUT. (Didn't know I was heading for a but did you?) The fact that I had these crazy and wonderful bloggers around me has hindered me in a way I am not proud of. I've been, yes, intimidated by their greatness! I have yet to make this blog "public" - in that grand scheme of the internet. I mean, maybe some people have come across it by chance but I haven't put it out there, haven't given anyone the link, or any such self promotional thing.

But I've decided I will. Today in fact!

And perhaps my blog will not be as lyrical or full of lovely words as theirs, and perhaps it will have too many commas... but I am generally a "tell it like it is" kind of person, sometimes even "appallingly honest" (sorry, couldn't resist ;-) ) and I'm thinking that's how my blog will be. Mostly pretty simple, lots of random thoughts, opinions, maybe a review or two of theatre or music since I do those things.... a hodge podge of musings - as I said in the beginning...

So here we go!

Tada!