State of Trance

There was a parcel in the mail today and my son cannot stand to have those things unopened. It's insufferable in an eight-year-old's mind. I tortured him a bit with guessing but then opened it to reveal a compilation CD of a brand of music I like.

When most others I know hear my music I get a comments like "a ten minute song?! I've got a life to go live" or "I don't have the patience to wait that long for the good part." But this is great music from a world-class DJ and my son's heard my ipod before, so I put it in.

He began to shake his proverbial groove thang. He's not had any dance classes, so his brain just moves his limbs as it interprets the rhythms. He's never heard these songs before, so he is completely in the moment. He makes mistakes and doesn't think about it, just keeps on gettin' down. It's beautiful and free.

I couldn't watch.

I kept my head down and watched his feet, trying not to make eye contact. I ate my dinner as if there were no robust movement or distractions.

As I thought about why, I discovered something about myself. I averted my eyes because such a lack of restraint is unseemly. Shameful even. Uninhibited expression is akin to nakedness and somehow inappropriate. It's not to be observed.

This is why I'll never be an artist of any appreciable merit.

Why I Love Snow

We've had a big snowstorm come through and despite all the moanings and groanings of others, I love it! I know it's cold and wet and icy and hard to drive on, but on the other hand it's SNOW! Allow me to explain:

Snow is peaceful. Unlike rain that comes down with thunder and lightning, flakes (blizzards excepted) fall with quiet leisure with no sense of effort.

The earth looks like heaven. The brown, soil-smelling ground of winter is covered in a majestic white that glitters in the sun. The whole landscape looks clean,fresh and unadulterated.

The community comes out. There's a park by my house and all the kids, middle schoolers and high schoolers came out to have snowball fights and build a massive snowman. Some people even walk their dogs.

Snow hypers up my dog! I love the brisk air, but she goes crazy with it. She becomes energized and loves to wrestle, fetch (a.k.a. find the ball in the snow) and roll around in it. The way she bounds around shoulder-deep is hilarious.

Hot chocolate tastes better when there's snow on the ground. That's a science fact.

Life slows down and forces us to change our routines. We slow down when we drive, if we drive at all. We get up earlier and see a part of the morning we normally miss (or if it's bad enough we sleep late). Snow almost forces us to be more meditative.

Newton tells us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action. Snow's equal and opposite is a fire in the fireplace. Dramatically different, but a perfect compliment after the sun goes down.

Snow tastes like snow-cones!

Snow makes me sing. Specifically, it makes me sing "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland." I'm not a great singer, but snow makes these songs spill out of my mouth.

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year!