TheSixtyOne

I think one thing that connects us all together is music.  Let me explain - think of when you're in the shower, or taking a drive, or at a social gathering with friends.  I can bet there's got to be at least music going on in the background, right?  Or think of pertinent moments of your life... you hear a song and it makes you think of ______ moment.  Let me explain further - my father's mother has had Alzheimer's for years and although she has had few moments in recent years where she truly knows our family, I can tell you one thing... music is still alive and well within.  One Christmas, we had carols playing in the background, and although she didn't really know why we were there with her, she could sing along.  My point being that music is a truly unifying thing.  And what's so fascinating is how truly unifying it is across cultures.  One summer, I was on holiday in Rome and enjoying a pleasant evening with my sister on the Spanish Steps.  A group of younger Italians were sitting only a few steps below us and began to sing the Oasis classic, Wonderwall.  Every time I hear that song, I am immediately transported back to that spot, a perfect early summer evening.  


As we embark on the summer season, we get closer and closer to opportunities to enjoy music in unconventional venues.  Here in Milwaukee, we have my favorite music night on Tuesday's called Chill on the Hill.  It takes place in a local park a top a hill featuring a local artist.  It's the best.  Milwaukee is also known for SummerFest and in August our nearby neighbor of Chicago will host the infamous Lollapalooza.  Basically, I can't wait to get a taste of some new music during these upcoming months.


And speaking of new music, I needed to share something that I don't think I've shared before.  Like I've stated earlier, I love music.  There are a few people in my life I would consider to be my music gurus... people who over the years have introduced me to the sounds of Ben Folds, Beirut, Blind Pilot, City and Colour, Bon Iver and many more... One of these gurus pointed me in the proper direction of a website called thesixtyone.com thesixtyone's concept is easy - let's play a bunch of independent music for free - people can join the site and vote on songs to keep them on the site, they can also have the opportunity to create their own playlist, and heck - if they really like the songs, we'll let you download them for a low price. A few year's back, I was introduced to a band called Beautiful Small Machines through the site.  Their song Robots in Love is one of my favorites.  Seriously, listen to it - I think you'll like it too.  Tonight, when I got home, I naturally put on some music and instantly, that song played.  So, naturally, I had to share.  Because what is music worth if it is not shared and enjoyed by others.  Just like books, or banana splits.

The Wild Rompus

One of my favorite courses in college was a children's literature course where we studied and analyzed picture books, children's poetry, fairy tales, and classic books.  One of the books was the beloved story of my childhood: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.  Forever I will cary with me how incredibly intentional Mr. Sendak was in creating this magnificent work of art.  Not only are the words to the story appealing - an idea to escape from our current world and be transported to another, but also the images of the story truly take you away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  


Let me get super nerdy and share with you some analysis from the book that I learned forever ago at Western Michigan University.  You start the story with our main character, Max, parading around in costume around his home - a few items scattered around, but what takes up the most space on those first few pages is this: white space.  That's right, blank white paper consumes you.  This is because Max is in the real world.  A world of reality and practicality.  As we move from page to page, the white space decreases as Max begins to use his imagination and we get tag along for the journey.  As he delves deeper, so do we - we take the boat to get to the place where the wild things are.  We are so involved that we eventually reach the point where we too are so enthralled with the tale, words do not even need to describe the great and wonderful Wild Rompus.  This rompus takes place for pages, no dialogue or white space needed, we are 100% using our imagination.  And although Max likes being in this place, he needs to get back to reality.  So, as he begins to move toward going home, words and white space appear again, until he's safe at home.  


It's truly a remarkable tale that I think serves as one of those stories that as a child you instantaneously cling to...  "I want to go where the wild things are!" you may say to your caretaker.  This is exactly what author Maurice Sendak did so perfectly - he created a world that one could only imagine, but everyone wanted to visit.  He created a world that will be forever preserved perfectly in our minds.


I was saddened to hear that this morning, Mr. Sendak passed away at age 83.  And although I'm sure he lived a very long and fulfilling life, I can't help but be a bit saddened that the man who contributed so very much to my childhood imagination has passed.  Thankfully, he gave us a world that we can always visit, and have a wild rompus of our own.