As I look out the window I can see flurries falling; however, if the weatherman is to be believed, we're going up to 9 degrees tomorrow. Can I hear an Amen? I took the boys out for a walk this morning and saw some real signs of Spring (although it took Benjamin to point one of them out to me). We were walking down by the lake and I was zoned out as I stared at the many ice shacks that dot the horizon.
Ben suddenly said, "What dat, Mommy?"
I said, "What?"
Ben: "That."
Instead of continuing this circular conversation, I decided to pause and discern what had caught his attention. It didn't take long to hear the birdsong. Ahhh, lovely birdsong, you unburden my soul. There were a few calls being sung, but the one that always hails the arrival of Spring for me is the "Dee Dee" sung as a descending minor third. Think the opening of Hey Jude. At least that's what I thought, and that's what Mr. Tilley taught me way back when. I never excelled at aural perception and my answers were more often guesses based on the fact that I couldn't seem to hear past the beating of my heart as I waited in fear for the intervals played at the beginning of music theory class ... but, that's another story.
So, here's to the (maybe) start of Spring. My mom is coming for a week's visit on Saturday. Hannah asked, "When Grandma Julie gets here, will it be Spring?" In more ways than one, little girl.
Ben suddenly said, "What dat, Mommy?"
I said, "What?"
Ben: "That."
Instead of continuing this circular conversation, I decided to pause and discern what had caught his attention. It didn't take long to hear the birdsong. Ahhh, lovely birdsong, you unburden my soul. There were a few calls being sung, but the one that always hails the arrival of Spring for me is the "Dee Dee" sung as a descending minor third. Think the opening of Hey Jude. At least that's what I thought, and that's what Mr. Tilley taught me way back when. I never excelled at aural perception and my answers were more often guesses based on the fact that I couldn't seem to hear past the beating of my heart as I waited in fear for the intervals played at the beginning of music theory class ... but, that's another story.
So, here's to the (maybe) start of Spring. My mom is coming for a week's visit on Saturday. Hannah asked, "When Grandma Julie gets here, will it be Spring?" In more ways than one, little girl.
5 comments:
laughing my bum off!!!
aaahhhh....the fun we had 'having' to go over to QE for that class.
As for the bird sound I always think that they are singing, "cheese-burger". Seriously!! Try it next time you hear it!!
Helen, have you ever read (i think) Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter? In it, the birdsong sounds like "Who's-been-pickin-at-my-nuts" and "Little-bit-of-bread-and-butter". I can hear the cheeseburger thing.
I have distinct, painful memories of aural perception with Mr. Tilley, too. I certainly didn't get the musical gene that Jaclyn (or Justin even!) inherited.
More than slightly OT, but I couldn't resist poking fun. And no, I'm not going with the obvious Texas vs. Canada spring thing. It has come to my attention that Jacob was commenting on how pleased he was to have a last name like Afelskie, rather than something all too common and boring like Smith. Perhaps he is unaware that Jacob ranks as the most popular boy's name given that year, each and every year since 1998, when it was number 2 :)
Nathan
I got so excited when I saw on your list of links, Sister Mary Martha - I shouted to Dad, hey Martha is blogging! He came over, looked and said "Jul... she isn't called Mary Martha." I am still having considerable difficulty with her name change. Rebomecca can explain it better than I.
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