Music, Music, Music

The Irish/Celtic music is calling me today and it isn't even St. Patrick's (Pádraig) Day!  For the past three days I've been listening to some of one of my new CDs of the most fabulous world music - in my humble opinion of course.

It's amazing to me how music is such a driving force in our world these days.  Everyone seems to have an MP3 player of some kind, and it seems everyone walking, running, or even driving past me these days seems to be groovin' to some tune!

As a child of the 60s I was exposed to so many music genres and I learned early to love folk and of course the early forms of Irish music that hit our shores here in the States.  (I also have to admit there was a certain bit of rock music that I enjoyed as well!)  But since my life has developed a craziness about it lately I've seemed to be going back to my musical roots.  From the Irish and Celtic, to the many shades of folk and folk/rock I find myself deeply immersing myself wherever I happen to be - in my car, on my iPod, or on my home stereo.

My biggest challenge this year has been to put together compilations and share the music with my grandkids.  And I have certainly discovered they love it as much as I do!  From those good ole songs of the folk era during the 60s, to my constant companion the Irish music, they are enjoying and singing the tunes wherever we are at the top of our lungs!  We have even drowned out a few thumping cars at the stop lights which I can not believe!  The looks we get as those occupants heard the thumping beat of our song, "We're the Boys of Belfast," by the Irish Rovers will stay with me for a very long time!

Yes, I believe music drives all of us these days, as it has throughout the centuries.  Whether it was through listening to the organ, lute, tape player, CD player, or MP3 player we certainly all can find our own personal groove any time we want, and thankfully music has always been a source of fun and that's been a great thing!

A-C-C-E-N-T-U-A-T-E All Things Positive!

There is an old song that was penned by Johnny Mercer in 1946 that should be the theme song for the next couple of years. After the crash and all the economic woes that are plaguing this country we surely need one and Accentuate the Positive has just the right ring and rhythm to capture that need for positive action in this nation of foreclosures and bankruptcies and total madness.

Instead of allowing this frightening environment to get to us, we need to find a tool to help get us through these present hard times, and allow for just a bit the of joy and laughter that always is needed during difficult times.

This song was first written when the second World War was just over and all sorts of new threats were on the horizon, and in many ways today is no different. With terrorism seemingly all over, and the recent market crash we are facing much the same kind of events that haunted the families back in the thirties and forties.

So how about changing the national atmosphere with just a bit of upbeat, light-hearted playfulness along with some really good advice! Instead of focusing on what we've lost, or the hurts that have adversely affected us let's see if we can focus as a nation on the things in life we do have - family, friends and all the things we do still enjoy! Like Mr. Mercer so aptly put it-
We've got to...

Accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between.

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

Bring gloom down to the minimum

Have faith or pandemonium

Liable to walk upon the scene.

Lyrics by Johnny Mercer